I have had three sessions now on the Falcon 89 and I have to say I am thrilled with it! Sailed it on ocean and river with 6.3, 7.0 and 7.7, using a Tectonics Talon 32 fin. The fin balances well and has no trouble getting the board upwind on the 6.3 and 7.0, though I think an extra 1-2cm worth of fin would help on the breeze with the 7.7.
The board itself is quick by being very easy to stay on. Feet stay in the straps and the board has no tendency to tail walk - remaining nice and flat through nasty chop and this gives a lot of confidence to drive it harder. We all know confidence = speed!
When gybing the board seems to do everything you expect it to and nothing you don't. You can step hard on the tail or lean right forward and it will continue to turn, unlike some of the other slalom boards out there which can be quite technical to gybe.
If it has any weakness, all I can find is that it feels a little sticky when underpowered; it planes up easily enough but doesn't really sit up on the tail until there is a bit of juice applied through the sail - but who wants to sail underpowered anyway? Better to have a board that fills you with confidence when you are fully juiced, and that is where this board excels!
