Here they are !!

very nice!!

Photos of new boards seem to be dominated by closeups of cutouts? ? Do the details of the cutouts matter or is it just an area of latitude for designers to make this year's model obviously different from the last without messing up how it actually goes?

Double stepped cutouts! Surely at speed both steps are dry. What difference can it make?

Mmmmm delicious im going to order a new 114.

I have a 112 for sale used from late summer, great condition. PM me if interested

Only replacing since it was my most used board and you gotta have a new board arriving each season or its just not windsurfing

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Ian K said..
Photos of new boards seem to be dominated by closeups of cutouts? ? Do the details of the cutouts matter or is it just an area of latitude for designers to make this year's model obviously different from the last without messing up how it actually goes?

Double stepped cutouts! Surely at speed both steps are dry. What difference can it make?

I guess you could ask the guy who is leading the PWA.
You should try them you will be suprised how a large board can feel so small and locked in. These are race boards not free ride boards.

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AUS4 said...

Ian K said..
Photos of new boards seem to be dominated by closeups of cutouts? ? Do the details of the cutouts matter or is it just an area of latitude for designers to make this year's model obviously different from the last without messing up how it actually goes?

Double stepped cutouts! Surely at speed both steps are dry. What difference can it make?

I guess you could ask the guy who is leading the PWA.
You should try them you will be suprised how a large board can feel so small and locked in. These are race boards not free ride boards.

When i can go sailing in medium wind on a 7.7 and 138 and smoke fast guys on 7.8 and medium boards in top speed then there is nothing else to say except this is the slipperiest combo of my north/Fanatic quiver. Might need a 44 Zulu to go with this. I have been using a 46 until now. The range is incredible.

I can go out with the 9.0 and 138 and sail ridiculous light breezes and plane through huge lulls.

I haven't had any gybing issues since changing from a previous brand they just have a gliding sensation out of the corner

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AUS4 said..

Ian K said..
Photos of new boards seem to be dominated by closeups of cutouts? ? Do the details of the cutouts matter or is it just an area of latitude for designers to make this year's model obviously different from the last without messing up how it actually goes?

Double stepped cutouts! Surely at speed both steps are dry. What difference can it make?

I guess you could ask the guy who is leading the PWA.
You should try them you will be suprised how a large board can feel so small and locked in. These are race boards not free ride boards.

I would if I could but he's not on the forum. So you can pick the benefit of two step cutouts over one steppers?

My free ride board has one step cutouts.

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AUS4 said..

Ian K said..
Photos of new boards seem to be dominated by closeups of cutouts? ? Do the details of the cutouts matter or is it just an area of latitude for designers to make this year's model obviously different from the last without messing up how it actually goes?

Double stepped cutouts! Surely at speed both steps are dry. What difference can it make?

I guess you could ask the guy who is leading the PWA.
You should try them you will be suprised how a large board can feel so small and locked in. These are race boards not free ride boards.

I think the outer cutout is more of a wing for deck real estate and extra heel leverage. The Isonics do the same.

is there any proof that cut-outs improve speed or anything? looks good but dubious evidence.

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sonny2727 said..
is there any proof that cut-outs improve speed or anything? looks good but dubious evidence.

Hey Rick,

Any feedback on the 136? How does it compare to the awesome 138?

Cheers,

Chris

Hi Chris,
i haven't used the 136 as yet, it looks to be wider between the front and rear straps. Will let you know.
99 is unchanged and the 114 seams to glide a little more through the gybe.

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Cluffy said..

AUS4 said..

Ian K said..
Photos of new boards seem to be dominated by closeups of cutouts? ? Do the details of the cutouts matter or is it just an area of latitude for designers to make this year's model obviously different from the last without messing up how it actually goes?

Double stepped cutouts! Surely at speed both steps are dry. What difference can it make?

I guess you could ask the guy who is leading the PWA.
You should try them you will be suprised how a large board can feel so small and locked in. These are race boards not free ride boards.

I think the outer cutout is more of a wing for deck real estate and extra heel leverage. The Isonics do the same.

Not sure what the technical answer to this is, but I find the outer cutouts useful to allow the board to heel over onto the leeward rail.

So are the latest ones any better? What's the feedback?

Havent had much time on water with my new boards but they definitely feel like they glide over chop better and keep planing through lulls easier.
Sailed the 129 in a light sea breeze and was stoked with how easily it planed.
The 114 feels sweet. Once again only a quick sail on Sunday in way underpowered conditions but it feels very stable underfoot and accelerates super quick.
The 99 I used at Canton on Saturday in decent chop and it felt a lot smoother off the wind and over chop than the older 99 without the cutouts.
Johnny Miller was on his 99 as well and blazing everywhere. He did a 23.9 Alpha in that sloppy stuff!!!
Rick will know a lot more than me.

thanks Rick, will be looking out for your first report even if it's just as good as the 138 it will be an awesome board

I have the 2016 129l (80cm wide) which I understand is unchanged this year. I also have the 2017 114l (71cm wide).

The 114l is very quick! As with the other Falcons, I have the mast set quite far forward with the North Warps. The board sails quite flat. Gybing takes a little getting used to. It seems like your weight needs to be further forward than on the 129l. It tends to pivot on the tail a bit more. Initially it felt quite wide when going over the chop but I either tweaked the setup or just got used to it and now I find that it floats over the chop quite nicely. It definitely has more low end than other medium boards I've tried in the past. I'm anxious to see what the top end is. So far, top speed has been 29.6 knots with the 7.0 Warp.

Video of the 114 here - www.instagram.com/p/BLTXkYAjZR4/

I've sailed a lot with the 129l. It's a very comfortable board, easy to gybe and fast in a straight line. I find it quick to get onto the plane, but keeping it on the plane is sometimes more challenging. It isn't a board that once you get into the strap, you can just relax. If you hit a lull, you will need to work to keep it going. As with the 114, I initially found myself catching the nose on the chop. If that happens, the board does come to a very abrupt stop. I actually twice got off to check if I'd hit something with the fin. Gybes beautifully and even if you pop off the plane, it accelerates super fast back onto the plane.