I've read this forum for a long time, but do most of my posting on another windsurf forum. However, there's little knowledge of raceboards on my home forum and I know there's quite a few RB fans here.

I sail in a rather light wind spot. Sea breezes under 12-15 mph are the norm, and I've found that my best bet for consistent fun on the water is my raceboard and 9.5m sail. My board is a Mistral Equipe II, sail is an Aerotech Dagger 9.5 (a raceboard sail). I'm a bit hefty at 98kg sans wetsuit.

As long as there's a breeze i can get the board going moderately fast... enough that I'm having fun railing the board. Lots of times I am planing with the centerboard 1/3 of the way down and not quite able to get in the back foot straps. Getting fully planing and in the straps is more of a rare occasion. I was wondering if adding batwings, a la Starboard Phantom, would help with full-on planing ability. I am rather adept with carbon and epoxy and vac bagging, so I am confident in my ability to add some batwings to the board.

Has anyone tried a modification like this? Are my chances of negatively altering the board handling pretty high? Do you think it will help increase my planing time, or am I better off just losing some weight to increase my light wind performance?

I about the same weight and can plane in about 12 knts on my 377L with a 9.5m sail. I think the bat wings combined with the extra 60lts volume allow that to happen.

I think an equipe is low volume board to start with and we both would be better off losing some weight

I think adding batwings is a waste of time. I understand that the F2 380 Race (last F2 raceboard with a lot more volume) has no batwings and can be extremely competitive even worldbeating. I think in the right hands so too a Mistral Equipe II. Indeed above 18 knots the IMCO MOD (and its Equipe equivalent) can infact be faster.

MEQ2 heavy weight sailor here too ...
so, what is the effect of having or adding batwings ??

http://www.star-board-windsurfing.com/2017/news_events/dave-hackford-reviews-the-new-phantom-race-377-bat-wing

"I have to confess I read the brochure text on the benefits of the bat wings after sailing so I was not directed on what should happen. I did not really notice much effect in non-planing conditions downwind, however upwind it did seem to help tracking and this was not mentioned. But the biggest improvement was the desire for the board to stay on the plane. It is fantastic. Usually I am pumping like mad in marginal conditions to keep planing downwind. This wide tail meant you could go broader, faster and stay planning. Brilliant, because I hate pumping. It does ride higher in full planing mode, so is still 'fast and free'. The other characteristic I noticed was how the gybe changed. Looking at those wide wings made me think gybing was going to be tough. The board will not let you make a snappy tight turn as before, and it forces a slight wider arc which is easy to control and stay on the plane as you exit. Makes the whole turn very smooth. I am sure there is more to come. It looks super cool - that's maybe enough already."

NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA .....BATWINGS.

Bat wings are rubbish!!! Just lose a bit of weight.??

Thanks for the replies. In the back of my mind I knew it was a marginal idea at best, but I just needed someone to tell me "NO!"

The board is going to be getting some minor surgery soon (adding footstrap inserts to move the railing straps inward for my giant feet), and my mind was going a bit crazy with all the things I could do with some fiberglass and epoxy.

I think I'll leave well enough alone

yeah - NOT worth the trouble
i ask sometimes - should i go from MEQ2 to SB Phantom
people ask," are you nuts ?"
yes, but has nothing to do with the question

One of our sailing group did exactly this to one of the smaller versions of the F2 Lightnings, around 225L. Seems to have made a positive change to it. I am sure he will comment we he sees this.
Haven't done it yet, but I now have exactly the same board in very good original condition. We should do a comparo and report back.

I'm heavy and moved on my MOD the planing foot straps forward by 150mm and now feels as comfy planing as a free ride board. Almost made my first fully planing gibe exit on it . Still a bitch to turn non planing .

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Imax1 said..
I'm heavy and moved on my MOD the planing foot straps forward by 150mm and now feels as comfy planing as a free ride board. Almost made my first fully planing gibe exit on it . Still a bitch to turn non planing .

Interesting... I can hardly ever get in the planing footstraps on my Equipe. My back foot usually ends up in front of the back footstraps when I am planing and 90% powered up. I might doing what you did and adding new footstraps inserts. It always feels more satisfying to windsurf in the straps than out of them!

My 2 cents.

I had a 377 with batwings and sailed it as a recreational board with a severne 9.5 rb sail.
85kgs sailing fresh water - decent sailor with many years of sailing shortboards.
No other experience on longboards.

I could plane the phantom in 9 knots plus and found it to be an excellent light wind planing board (although quite big and obviously not very 'dynamic').
Planing in the straps was very natural and planing downwind was it's strong suit. Planing upwind was very strange - very hard to point upwind - could have been my ability (lack off) but my guess is the bat tails don't lend to pointing upwind on the plane.
I have heard often (like above) that other longboards were hard to sail in the straps (and some people would just take the straps off) - my 377 was the opposite - very easy to plane and very easy to sail in the straps. I would speculate that it is probably due to the batwings.
Cheers
Joe

Hi Rhorton1, as Ballast says a local guy here has done a great job of adding wings to his F2 Lightning. Not sure of the sailing pros n cons. Offtopic, I sail a 380 Phantom (no wings) im 105kg using 9.5m Lion. 8-10kts n im planing on the gusts. Not in the straps but planing. I find it hard to have feet in straps. Only when powered to the max are my feet anywhere near the straps. Interestingly if i use 9.5 Severne RB sail my feet are the closest to the straps. This sail has grunt. The board really responds to backfoot position close to front of fin.Drive off the fin. While my front foot is just infront of strap position. Feels comfy n quick.
RBs RULE

I believe if you think your straps should be more forward you should move them. These old RBs were designed together with old style sails which made you hang more off the back of the board. Newer sails seem to have more drive through the mast . Also when comfortably more forward in the straps your not as contorted and it's easier to ride thru lulls in the straps and also go upwind better. It's easy to put extra foot plugs in , anyone can do it

Yes! Raceboard absolutely do rule! I wish there were more people here So. California that would see the light so I could have some other RB fans to sail with. I get odd looks from the other local windsurfers when I take my raceboard out...they're always asking why I don't upgrade my gear. I just smile as I pass when they're slogging and I am railing upwind to the wind line :)

I am am going to take my Go-Pro out next time I sail and see where my feet spend most of their time when I am planing. I'll add some new footstrap inserts based on that info.

Something like this?

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rhorton1 said..
Has anyone tried a modification like this? Are my chances of negatively altering the board handling pretty high? Do you think it will help increase my planing time, or am I better off just losing some weight to increase my light wind performance?

Have seen pics on facebook from European raceboarders of F2 lightnings with batwings. But no reports on their performance.
I would only try this mod on an old raceboard that was in poor condition and needed significant repair.
If your MEQ II is in good condition, keep it original.

I have phantom 377 and F2 Lightning. The Phantom has a slight edge in performance on the Lightning when planing at deeper angles on a downwind leg in 8-12 kns to achieve a better VMG. Although the older boards are still very competitive in the right hands, and perhaps more enjoyable in some conditions. I still prefer to use my Lightning when the win is over 20kns, especially in rough seas.

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Bone's said..
Something like this?

Yes! That is right what I had in mind. Looks like the footstraps on that board were also moved forward from their original position.

Last comment was spot on, i rode and loved a mates phantom so wanted to replicate that feeling on my budget. Found an old ****ter and did it, end result was good but it still missing the volume of the phantom i feel. It is only the smaller lightning i used. I still feel it never gave me the sailing/blasting fun of my last original big volume f2 lightning, so i have now bought another original lightning. My two cents worth from an average sailer.

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Bone's said..
Something like this?

Nice job , looks comfy.
Ultimate light wind weapon

On Gumtree now , $ 150

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Imax1 said..
On Gumtree now , $ 150

From a Donkey to a Raceboard Stallion..has anyone seen my Donkey ?

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Imax1 said..
On Gumtree now , $ 150

$1 a kilo. That's exceptional value.

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Bone's said..
Something like this?

WooHoo! .........You're giving me ideas for a foil board!