I got back into windsurfing this summer after 20 years. I ended up spending most of my TOW this summer windfoiling due to conditions and relative ease compared to slapping.

I got back into things by initially buying a Starboard Carve 124L which I've now sold. I'm looking for the right next board for Port Phillip bay when wind is ~18+ knots and looking for recommendations. Below 18 knots I'm happy foiling.

In Severne's lineup I've been eyeing the Dyno but also possibly the Fox. While I'm leaning towards the Dyno freewave style of board I read somewhere that the Fox was originally specifically designed with the Port Phillip bay in mind.

I'm a bit of newb when it comes to gear so looking for some advice on what I should be considering when making this decision. I understand that the Dyno and Fox are two very different types of boards so I'm trying to understand what makes them different and when/why I might enjoy one board vs. the other.

A bit about myself and current gear:
Weight: 82KG
Sails: Severne Gators (4.5, 5.5, 6, 6.5), Severne FoilGlide2 (6, 7)
Boards: Fanatic Stingray 140L for foliing, Starboard AIR Freewave 103L (bought on a whim, barely used, not attached to it)
Skills: Spent years sailing in <15 knots winds when I was younger. Just learnt to waterstart. Pretty hopeless at jybing in strong wind.
Location: I live in Beaumaris so keen to get the right board to my local spots on east side of the Bay (Elwood, Hamptom, Rickett's Point, etc.)

Thanks

I think the Dyno would go well with your gators quiver, haven't ridden a Fox yet (would like too) but chose the Dyno and love it in those type of conditions, have a 5.7 gator to use with it. With the Dyno you can change between double or single rear footstraps and also use it with a single fin.

Yes Ian Fox, sails down at Bon Beach designed the Fox. I've got a Fox 105 which leans toward slalom for 18 to about max 25 and I want the Dyno 85 which leans toward waves for windy more wavey days. I currently have a Starboard Kode 93 FSW for that. Broadly speaking if you want to go as quick as you can in the washing machine that is Port Phillip, get the Fox. If you want to surf those washing machine waves, get the Dyno.
You would want to be more powered up on the fox, so would need a 7.0 or 7.5 for typical 18-22 seabreezy weather. I probably wouldn't put a 7.5 on the Dyno.

I have been sailing the Dyno V3 95l on the Bay since purchasing it mid Jan. I weigh similar to you (on a good day). My largest sail is a 5.7m though so need a constant 18 knots to get going on it. I debated the pros and cons of getting the 105l v 95l - even contacted Severne who were great coming back with a list of things to think about. Their advice was spot on - 95l would be better when the wind and chop gets up. The board sails great in 22-25knots fully powered with a 5m on, and I'd suggest these days are when you'd prefer to be on the Dyno v the Fox. When the Fox is at it's best in 15 - 20knots you're probably foiling anyway.

I sail in Adelaide rather than Melbourne, but I have a 105 fox, and really enjoy it for coastal blasting, and yes it eats chop incredibly. It sails flat and fast. I prefer it most with a 6.2 freeride sail.
I also have a 90l naish starship bump and jump board that sails more like a dyno. I sail it with severne blades from 5.7 to 4.2.

If there is sufficient wind and waves for jumping then I prefer the Naish for pure fun..
If I want speed in the rough, I sail the fox.

I'm agreed with Dyno - especially as you said you have trouble gybing in strong wind.

I have both Fox and Dyno. Use to live at Bonbeach and now at Scarborough QLD. The water conditions here are close to Elwood.
I'm also 82kgs. With my dyno I also use Gators 6 and 5.5 then 5 blade. Like most of the other comments and that you are foiling in less than 18 knots, then go with a dyno 95, but get a extra 23cm centre fin for the larger sails. The dyno can get up planing earlier, with its tail volume and good early planning techniques.

For surfing waves or jumping it's Dyno, no question.

For blasting I'd say it depends on your comfort vs speed preference. If you want to go fast and willing to spend some time and effort on building the skill of sailing overpowered with the board flying over the chop, then definitely Fox. If you don't care about going fast and want comfort, then Dyno

It depends not only on the conditions, but on what you want to do :-)

Fox=freerace blasting over choppy seas with rather overpowered sails (which this board needs)
Dyno=bump&jump surfing, ridingsmallwaves, freeriding

While I never used the Dyno, I (81kg) have the Fox 105 and mostly sail it with Overdrives 6.2/7.0/7.8 in 18-25kn in choppy waters. Those are the perfect conditions for this board. But it is really freerace, almost aslalom like board, so you really need to have your sail a size bigger to have enough power, put the footstraps into the outer position, go downwind to get enough speed, close the gap, and then really fly the boardonthe fin and lee rail.
If thats what you can do or are looking for, definitely go for the fox.

If you look for more moderate sailing, cruising in the swell, riding some small waves, the Dyno is probably the more suitable and also versatile board.

Although I have to say that I used the foxalso with a 5.5 and 6.5 Gator and footstraps in the inner position, which makes board then to feel more like a bump&jump board. Meaning, there is some small overlap between the Dyno and the Fox, depending on your sails and board trim.

But again, take the fox if you are looking mainly for high speed blasting and a bit of bump&jump riding.
Take the Dyno for moderate freeriding in bump&jump conditions, or riding small waves or learn jumping.

best
mariachi76

I used to sail a lot in the bay before I moved to Qld. I also sail a dyno, have not sailed Fox. From your own description of your sailing, I think you would enjoy the dyno more.

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WindRider said..
I have both Fox and Dyno. Use to live at Bonbeach and now at Scarborough QLD. The water conditions here are close to Elwood.
I'm also 82kgs. With my dyno I also use Gators 6 and 5.5 then 5 blade. Like most of the other comments and that you are foiling in less than 18 knots, then go with a dyno 95, but get a extra 23cm centre fin for the larger sails. The dyno can get up planing earlier, with its tail volume and good early planning techniques.

Hi Windrider,

I have a Fox 105 which I use mostly with my Freerace/Slalom sails (Severne Overdrive 6.2/7.0/7.8, but also sometimes Gator 5.5 and 6.5) in 18-25kn conditions.
I am thinking about buying a Dyno for high winds from maybe 23-32 kn, but can't decide between Dyno 85 and 95.
I weigh 81kg, sea conditions are typically 1-2m swell. I would use it mostly for blasting around, but also a bit of jumping and riding swell waves. I have Gators 3.7/4.2/4.7/5.5/6.5 in my quiver.

Since you have both boards - would you think the gap between Dyno 85 and Fox 105 would be too big? And r
rather go for Dyno 95? Or is the overlap between Dyno 95 and Fox 105 too big?
How does the Dyno 95 in 30+ conditions behave?

best regards
mariachi76

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mariachi76 said..

WindRider said..
I have both Fox and Dyno. Use to live at Bonbeach and now at Scarborough QLD. The water conditions here are close to Elwood.
I'm also 82kgs. With my dyno I also use Gators 6 and 5.5 then 5 blade. Like most of the other comments and that you are foiling in less than 18 knots, then go with a dyno 95, but get a extra 23cm centre fin for the larger sails. The dyno can get up planing earlier, with its tail volume and good early planning techniques.

Hi Windrider,

I have a Fox 105 which I use mostly with my Freerace/Slalom sails (Severne Overdrive 6.2/7.0/7.8, but also sometimes Gator 5.5 and 6.5) in 18-25kn conditions.
I am thinking about buying a Dyno for high winds from maybe 23-32 kn, but can't decide between Dyno 85 and 95.
I weigh 81kg, sea conditions are typically 1-2m swell. I would use it mostly for blasting around, but also a bit of jumping and riding swell waves. I have Gators 3.7/4.2/4.7/5.5/6.5 in my quiver.

Since you have both boards - would you think the gap between Dyno 85 and Fox 105 would be too big? And r
rather go for Dyno 95? Or is the overlap between Dyno 95 and Fox 105 too big?
How does the Dyno 95 in 30+ conditions behave?

best regards
mariachi76

Hi Mariachi,
I have a fox 105, dyno 105 and 95. The only reason for 2x 105 boards is for different sailing styles. As I use my dyno boards in wave thruster mode. I tend to use my dyno 95 to high 20s, maybe about 30. Then I jump on my Kode freewave 86 for 4.5m weather. So the dyno 85 could be more suitable for your sail and wind range.
Regards,
Stephen

Cleverku, you have quite a sail range in sails 4.5 to 6.5, which really covers a two board set up.

I would consider a dyno 85 to cover your 4.5 & 5.5 and a fox 105 to use with your 6.0 & 6.5

I have a FSW 85 & 105, as well as a fox 105 and 140. I've also had the fox 95 and 120. I've got Gator's (5.7 &6.0), Blades 4.2 to 5.3 as well as some M3 race sails (5.0-8.6). There is some wave boards in there as well (yes too much stuff). I'm 88kg.

I love my fox 105 for blasting around with a 6.0 & 7.0, however if it gets winder than that, the chop starts to get big and very uncomfortable to sail in going fast. I just drop to my FSW85 and a 5.3 and slow things down a little and enjoy the bump and jump side of things. I have tried the Fox 95, which an awesome board in chop, however the conditions are getting very choppy now and you need to be brave at speed, no matter how good the board is.

I do have a FSW 105, however i use that as my light wind wave board with my 6.0 gator, as we do get some very good side shore waves. I find while my FSW 105 is ok with a 6.0 or 7.0, it gets a little boring blasting round on the chop and the big sails aren't quite as manoeuvrable compared to 5.3 down, hence you don't really get do the bump and jump thing .

That's were the Fox 105 is a lot more fun with a 6.0 or 7.0 (the 7.0 to 6.0 drop is easy, i would consider in the future dropping the 6.5 and getting some thing like a 7.0 turbo, which still rigs on a 430 RDM)

You have a great range of sails and with a two board set up will be able to cover a big range of conditions

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KJ said..
I have a FSW 85 & 105, as well as a fox 105 and 140. I've also had the fox 95 and 120.

Hi KJ
A bit off topic, but how do you find the fox 140 compared to the fox 120?

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WindRider said..

KJ said..
I have a FSW 85 & 105, as well as a fox 105 and 140. I've also had the fox 95 and 120.

Hi KJ
A bit off topic, but how do you find the fox 140 compared to the fox 120?

The 140 is great, favorite Fox. Use it with a 8.6 overdrive. 120-125L boards never work with me that well. The optimal sail size for these boards typically is around 7.5, which i never seem to use. I go from my 8.6/140 to 7.0/105, the gap works for me. I've tried the 120/95 but it was the wrong board sizing for my conditions and weight.

Really depends on your sail sizes