I'm looking pick up a light wind board to extend time on the water (Port Philip Bay)

73kg and currently ride a JP FSW 85 in 17 knots + but looking to get out in 13-16 knots with < 7m rig.

Have narrowed it down to a Magic Ride 105 (68 cm wide) or a 2014 Rocket 115 (66 cm wide). I also see that the 2015 Rockets have gone wide 108 / 73! Anyone ridden one of these?

I'm after early planing, chop eating, nice gybing and comfort. Speed good too

My question is which way to go for a light wind board - more classic 2014 Rocket shape or the new breed of thin, wide, short, lower volume "potato chip" boards?

Any advice or comments much appreciated.

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crustacean said..
I'm looking pick up a light wind board to extend time on the water (Port Philip Bay)

73kg and currently ride a JP FSW 85 in 17 knots + but looking to get out in 13-16 knots with < 7m rig.

Have narrowed it down to a Magic Ride 105 (68 cm wide) or a 2014 Rocket 115 (67 cm wide). I also see that the 2015 Rockets have gone wide 108 / 73! Anyone ridden one of these?

I'm after early planing, chop eating, nice gybing and comfort. Speed good too

My question is which way to go for a light wind board - more classic 2014 Rocket shape or the new breed of thin, wide, short, lower volume "potato chip" boards?

Any advice or comments much appreciated.

My 20cents worth - I'm a big fan of the new 'free-move' style - I've got a 100l starboard Atom and it ticks all those boxes very well - it's my 15-20+ board in open water, typically 6.7 or 6.2 and I'm 87kg. Haven't sailed the magic ride or rocket wide but suspect they'd be the goods - 73cm wide might be getting up there for 73kg and less than 7.0, is there a 68cm version?

Cheers for that.

Yeah the smallest Rocket in the new range is 108 / 73 according to the website.

The Rocket is reputedly the closest in feel to a FSW so you will like it I think. Be easier stepping off one to the other.

Mike, the Atom was not well received by many so I would like to hear more about what you think

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crustacean said..
Cheers for that.

Yeah the smallest Rocket in the new range is 108 / 73 according to the website.

That's the Rocket "Wide" a new range of Rockets

I understand the Standard rockets will still be available just Tabou is a bit lax with their web page

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elmo said..

crustacean said..
Cheers for that.

Yeah the smallest Rocket in the new range is 108 / 73 according to the website.

That's the Rocket "Wide" a new range of Rockets

I understand the Standard rockets will still be available just Tabou is a bit lax with their web page

That makes more sense!

Crustacean, I think any of the above mentioned boards will be good for salt water. Fresh water you might slug more on the 105L than the 115L size, so depends exactly what you are doing. Try to go with a carbon board. These sizes tend to cop it for rough handling more IMO and a strong board in this size, you'll be able to be more creative without worrying about breaking the nose.

BTW: the planing of my 85L FSW board + 4.7 and my 109L JP Supersport + 6.5m is very marginal in summer conditions. Maybe 1-2 knots earlier on the big gear.. BUT, I don't mind slugging around and soaking in the views on the big gear etc. Most W/S'ed hate slugging and don't see the point of getting anything more than a 95L board and won't sail in anything less than 15 knots. Depends on what you want to do.

loving my Atom, I wanted a blasting board for open water and it's been great - easy plug and play

biggest thing to get used to is the feel when jumping, really feel the width, but that would be the same for all 'potato chips'. Power box was a draw back as well

windsurf magazine (pommie mag) had a test on 110l free move boards a few editions ago which may be of some interest

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jn1 said..
Crustacean, I think any of the above mentioned boards will be good for salt water. Fresh water you might slug more on the 105L than the 115L size, so depends exactly what you are doing. Try to go with a carbon board. These sizes tend to cop it for rough handling more IMO and a strong board in this size, you'll be able to be more creative without worrying about breaking the nose.

BTW: the planing of my 85L FSW board + 4.7 and my 109L JP Supersport + 6.5m is very marginal in summer conditions. Maybe 1-2 knots earlier on the big gear.. BUT, I don't mind slugging around and soaking in the views on the big gear etc. Most W/S'ed hate slugging and don't see the point of getting anything more than a 95L board and won't sail in anything less than 15 knots. Depends on what you want to do.

Thanks. Prefer to avoid slugging... Wow that's a small difference in low end wind range between your kit.

The boards (Magic Ride 104 & Rocket 115) are pretty much the same width - wonder which will plane earlier? Is there any disadvantage to having the extra volume in this wind range?

Didn't know there was a wide Rocket now so ignore my previous....

If you compare width, the JP 104 is 68 wide and 239 long. Compare a Rocket @69 wide and it is 250 long (125L).

One difference I have noticed going from a short wide slalom to a (relatively) longer, narrower outline, (very similar to the Tabou) is that gybing foot placement is significantly more forgiving. I guess the extra length compensates a little for my sloppy footwork, keeping the board trimmed better. I haven't noticed the length & volume being negative in the high wind range, probably a slight positive for me. It doesn't truck upwind as well but I reckon that is the sharper rails of the slalom rather than the length. In certain conditions - running with chop, the extra length has caught the back of the swell giving a slow down. I think the longer shapes are probably better suited to burn and turn rather than looser freemove stuff. Either way, your gonna have a smile on your dial.

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paddymac said..
If you compare width, the JP 104 is 68 wide and 239 long. Compare a Rocket @69 wide and it is 250 long (125L).

One difference I have noticed going from a short wide slalom to a (relatively) longer, narrower outline, (very similar to the Tabou) is that gybing foot placement is significantly more forgiving. I guess the extra length compensates a little for my sloppy footwork, keeping the board trimmed better. I haven't noticed the length & volume being negative in the high wind range, probably a slight positive for me. It doesn't truck upwind as well but I reckon that is the sharper rails of the slalom rather than the length. In certain conditions - running with chop, the extra length has caught the back of the swell giving a slow down. I think the longer shapes are probably better suited to burn and turn rather than looser freemove stuff. Either way, your gonna have a smile on your dial.

Yes, and Rocket 115 is 66 wide and 242 long - bit narrower and longer as you say. (sorry I've corrected my original post where I quoted 68)

In higher winds (18 knots +) I have the FSW so I guess the extra volume wouldn't bother me.

I've got a 2015 115 L Rocket at 66 wide. It's a brilliant board that is easy in open water to sail as hard as you like, very easy to gybe, and very entertaining for a freeride/freerace board that is just plug & play

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jn1 said...

BTW: the planing of my 85L FSW board + 4.7 and my 109L JP Supersport + 6.5m is very marginal in summer conditions. Maybe 1-2 knots earlier on the big gear.. ... ... Most W/S'ed hate slugging and don't see the point of getting anything more than a 95L board and won't sail in anything less than 15 knots. Depends on what you want to do.

+1

Before you buy any boards go hire an a couple of boards from the Zu in St Kilda. I did and got hooked on the Atomic 110. Great bay board with thick pads, Isonic rocker. These boards are great to gybe planing or not and can up haul easy. You need the width if there is a bit of chop in the bay. I use my board with a 6.5 and 7.5 and then go to JP FSW 92 with a 5.7m as it gets winder. Go the potato chip for lighter winds.

i've got an exocet xcross 115ltre . 75cms wide. i test sailed next to a 115 rocket and although rocket slightly softer ride in chop felt a bit boring. xcross livelier and so forgiving in gusty winds or gybing.my favourite board.i weigh 64kgs and i needed something fir 5-18kts gusty. downside is wider isn't as fast for gps. i notice they now make a narrower version of it for speed use. mine is very well behaved in chop and user friendly.sorry on a tablet and can't find caps function.

Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone.

There are Rocket and Atom recommendations but has anyone ridden the Magic Ride?

Crusty

I am. 74 kg and have an 85 l 3s and a JP FSW101. I sail in port Phillip bay.

I find the difference is not great enough. If I could easily swap I'd keep the 85l for strong winds and get a 110l free ride board for light wind.

Hi, I have the 104 Magic Ride and had it for about a year now and I will say it is one of the best boards I have ever ridden, I ride slalom and speed boards most of the time and I use the M Ride as my bump and jump board, it is very fast on the plane, handles the worst chop easy and is very quick in a straight line, sometimes I use my Evo 6 race sails on it, I have used my 7.8 race sail on it many times and down to my 5.8 wave sails, it is just a great all round do everything board, you will not be sorry if you get one.

Do you think the "Magic" ride of these wide boards through chop is partly due to the thinness allowing them to flex a little more?

I'm with Yuppy on this one get a slightly larger volume spread. Speed is going to be related to current water conditions. After speaking to Foxy (who works for Stbd) he said the atomic is faster than isonic in the chop. The free moves have a bit more V in the hull as opposed to slalom boards.

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Ian K said..
Do you think the "Magic" ride of these wide boards through chop is partly due to the thinness allowing them to flex a little more?

Perhaps the thin rails help with this?

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F2 said..
Hi, I have the 104 Magic Ride and had it for about a year now and I will say it is one of the best boards I have ever ridden, I ride slalom and speed boards most of the time and I use the M Ride as my bump and jump board, it is very fast on the plane, handles the worst chop easy and is very quick in a straight line, sometimes I use my Evo 6 race sails on it, I have used my 7.8 race sail on it many times and down to my 5.8 wave sails, it is just a great all round do everything board, you will not be sorry if you get one.

Thanks - can I ask how much you weigh and what strength wind you reckon you'd plane in with a 7m?

I wondering if the 104 is enough volume for 13 knots or whether I should look at the 111?

Hi Crustacean, I weigh around 83 kg, 15 knots of wind with a 7.0 sail and I am flying, but maybe if you want aboard for light wind maybe the 111 M Ride would be better, that board would get you going in very light wind, which ever way you go you will be happy with the Magic Ride, I am getting my new 2015 M Ride in about 2 weeks the 104,, hope this may help you .

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crustacean said..
I'm looking pick up a light wind board to extend time on the water (Port Philip Bay)

73kg and currently ride a JP FSW 85 in 17 knots + but looking to get out in 13-16 knots with < 7m rig.

Have narrowed it down to a Magic Ride 105 (68 cm wide) or a 2014 Rocket 115 (66 cm wide). I also see that the 2015 Rockets have gone wide 108 / 73! Anyone ridden one of these?

I'm after early planing, chop eating, nice gybing and comfort. Speed good too

My question is which way to go for a light wind board - more classic 2014 Rocket shape or the new breed of thin, wide, short, lower volume "potato chip" boards?

Any advice or comments much appreciated.

JP All Ride II - 106 F'king Amazing Board