Just unpacked the 2020 boards (44, 55, 60, 67 and 83). Style and finish looks fantastic. Nice shapes, with a fair bit of volume under the straps. Can't wait to test them out. Will provide further comment as they get sailed! Well done Starboard on what looks like a another great set of boards for 2020!

Nice quiver Dave. You will be well setup with those boards

Wow, love em. Has the W44 shape been updated or is unchanged?

When business picks up, the W44 and iS60 are on my shopping list. (or possible the iS55 instead of the iS60,, I'm still unsure about which one to go with).

I don't think the W44 has changed - apart from the colour! Quite different to my 2014 board though, with a less square nose and what appears to be a little more volume under the straps.

The 55 and 60 do look quite similar, so if you're lighter, the 55 would probably do for a mod-high wind speed/slalom board. I got the 55 as a lighter wind speed board for flat water and the 60 as a higher wind blasting board in chop for 1hrs, etc.

Superb lawn.
Probably the best I've ever seen

wow! isonic porn!

now that starboard is getting rich with the ifoil btw maybe they are going to revive the ultrasonic that I wish they hadn't sacrificed on the shrine of foiling...

wish they would return the HyperSonic

Great looking quiver. Will look forward to word on how they go!

Nice Dave!! Now it will take you a day to put all the footsteps on

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Imax1 said..
Superb lawn.
Probably the best I've ever seen

Yeah, what species is that?

looks like instant lawn from Strathayr

Yep, instant lawn, laid about 18 months ago. Kentucky Bluegrass I think. It's absolutely brilliant!

Foot straps all went on pretty quick, the screws tend to locate easier and all went in without any issues!

Sounds like the 55 works well Dave

Yes, 55 is going well. Have sailed it three different times over the last two days. First time for a late afternoon sail yesterday at the West Inlet (my first go on the sand bar). Sailed it with my MACH2 6.2 and a 23cm Tribal Weedspeed (didn't have my trailer and forgot my main fin - a 23cm Slingshot)! Wind was up and down, but the board felt great. Easy to get on the plane, gybed really well and felt good off the wind. Managed a 40 knot run, so all good.

This morning sailed the same spot with the same sail and fin. Wind was a good direction for a few runs, but then went more broad and strengthened. Top 2-second was a 41 knot run, but the board (and rig) felt a bit big for the conditions once the wind picked up (quite choppy in the lead-up to and then at the end of the run).

Drove 5hrs back south and went out again this afternoon on the 55 with the 23cm Tribal weedspeed at Dorans, but this time with my MACH2 5.5 as it was howling, bump-n-jump conditions. Board felt great.

First impressions are that it is easy to sail and sensational for gybing, as the gybes I did, although not within the alpha 500, were fast and controlled. Super easy to do 40 knots and will no doubt go quicker with a bit more tuning and a better fin, as I did spin out quite a few times in chop heading into the run, which made me a little hesistant to go full-speed into the run.

Cookie was sailing with me both times at West Inlet and had identical gear, except for the fins and got similar speeds and enjoyed the board.

I think anyone would have been a bit hesitant to go full speed at Dorans on BIG Wednesday Dave.

Quick sail on the iSonic 60 (86L) yesterday with the MACH2 6.2, wind was very shifty and gusty and not a great sail, but board felt nice and did 35.8knots off the wind in one small gust. Noticed the board had more volume in the tail and less up front when dogging in the lulls, as the board would sink pretty quick once the nose went under!!

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Imax1 said..
Superb lawn.
Probably the best I've ever seen

Great boards but yes the lawn stopped me and a great view!. You must get better rain down there.. We've only got dirt.

Hi Dave,
How have you got on with the 83? I sail the 2019 85 using max 8.6 Mach2 but looking at Starboard website it recommends 83 for my 80 Kg.
I am might be best pumped or gyber so the extra width on th 85 help A in really light winds but it doesn't take much for it to be a handful as the wind increases so I move to my 72/7.8 sooner than most. Grateful for your thoughts

Hi Martin, have only sailed the 83 with a fin once and a few more times with a foil. I had the 2019 85 previously and it was great. My next board down in width is the 67, so to close that gap ever so slightly, I chose the 83 this year over the 85. My thoughts were that the 83 might have a little more top speed than the 85, with plenty of power to use the 8.6, but not too big for the 7.8. I also thought it might be a bit more controllable in rougher water. My first go with the 83 was with an 8.6 in 20-25 knots (wind picked up) and it felt pretty good - it was a race and I managed a first place. I've since been using the board with a 6.0m (Foil Glide) for foiling and it feels great, easy to get up on the foil and very stable. I'm over 90kg and wouldn't want anything bigger, volume-wise, so it should be pretty good for you at 80kg, especially with an 8.6. I would definitely recommend it over the 85 if you are planning to use it in windier conditions with a 7.2 or 7.8m.

Hi Dave, have you had a chance to try out the new W44?, how's comparing to the older 2014 shape? It looks like the iS55 is going well

Back to double step cut outs ?

Haven't tried the new 44 yet. The 55 is great, good for flat water speed and rougher water blasting. All of the range have the double cut-outs except the 44 and the 67 (unchanged from previous year).

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AUS02 said..
Hi Martin, have only sailed the 83 with a fin once and a few more times with a foil. I had the 2019 85 previously and it was great. My next board down in width is the 67, so to close that gap ever so slightly, I chose the 83 this year over the 85. My thoughts were that the 83 might have a little more top speed than the 85, with plenty of power to use the 8.6, but not too big for the 7.8. I also thought it might be a bit more controllable in rougher water. My first go with the 83 was with an 8.6 in 20-25 knots (wind picked up) and it felt pretty good - it was a race and I managed a first place. I've since been using the board with a 6.0m (Foil Glide) for foiling and it feels great, easy to get up on the foil and very stable. I'm over 90kg and wouldn't want anything bigger, volume-wise, so it should be pretty good for you at 80kg, especially with an 8.6. I would definitely recommend it over the 85 if you are planning to use it in windier conditions with a 7.2 or 7.8m.

Brilliant and sound advice mate. I really struggled and got left behind when racing when i was on the 2018 127 Ironic (81 if i recall) hence I stepped up to the 85 for light winds. After one season I am finding the 85 very limited in light winds especially when going down to 7.8 which is ok on flat water but really doesn't work in any chop. Given your 90 Kg I really think it's time to try the 83 so will keep my eyes peeled as they don't seem to be a popular size over in UK or maybe I'll go new. My fav combos are my 72 with 7.0/.7.8. My 2018 87 was great for straight line speed but in open water Aand stronger winds it just didn't work for me as just to uncontrollable. Now have 2019 Fox 95 for mad wind days so we will see how that does with OD and NCX for this season
Thanks again for a graet thread and feedback on Isonics??

Found this picture of an isonic 2021 on FB, looks like nothing changed for next year (for obvious reasons), just subtle graphic changes. Personally, I'd prefer manufactures to make changes every two or three years.

that's because you haven't seen the isonic hybrid yet !

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seanhogan said..
that's because you haven't seen the isonic hybrid yet !

Hybrid, tell me more ??

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mark62 said..
Found this picture of an isonic 2021 on FB, looks like nothing changed for next year (for obvious reasons), just subtle graphic changes. Personally, I'd prefer manufactures to make changes every two or three years.

That pics was taken in Singapore. Small board for there conditions

Can't remember the rider but one of them just posted a video of him testing the 2021 isonics so guess there has been some changes

This year the colour scheme has been developed to deliver 10% more power and acceleration ....

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powersloshin said..
This year the colour scheme has been developed to deliver more power and acceleration ....

Ha! But actually some truth in that. 99designs.com.au/blog/tips/how-color-impacts-emotions-and-behaviors/

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mark62 said..
Found this picture of an isonic 2021 on FB, looks like nothing changed for next year (for obvious reasons), just subtle graphic changes. Personally, I'd prefer manufactures to make changes every two or three years.

Ok guys, it time for me to get new mid-low wind boards. After I sold my Patrick 100 I was left with a 2008 Isonic 111 and an inherited Exocet Warp 62 ... they are getting old!

For the mid board I am kind of set on a Futura 63, that the local Starboard store guy tells me will be in the 2021 lineup, although an Isonic 60 is tempting.

Futura 71 for my big board. It might be a bit smaller than the Isonic 111 (not in volume, the 111 was about 107) but the biggest sail I will ever put on it is a 7.3 so it should be ok.

The question is: will I be losing much if anything getting a Futura 71 vs the Isonic 72 given that I do not race? Other alternatives?