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w100 said..

Got the chance to have a small test 137/7.8 Loft Blade 2013/Z sl 38.....

38 z fin is too small for that board. You need at least a 42. Or one of my 38s.

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slowboat said..

w100 said..

Got the chance to have a small test 137/7.8 Loft Blade 2013/Z sl 38.....

38 z fin is too small for that board. You need at least a 42. Or one of my 38s.

Got to agree with Slowboat...not just because he designs them..but i bought the 137 and tried to get away with smaller fins.
Combinations are interesting in fins and fins ain't fins..
On my 137 for a 7.5 I run a 42cm fin and it great...If its howling and Im wanting to increase my level of personal stupidity by seeing how fast i can get a 137 to go, I will use a 6.6 and a 34cm full carbon LOCKWOOD fin (it works, but its tricky...but lots of fun)..the 42 is my go to fin.
I have a 38 in another brand (same as yours) and it is simply TO SMALL... speed and pointing ability both suffer
Upping the sail size to 8.5 I use a 46cm Lockwood. This fin stuns me every time...powerful and predictable..it rocks.
The board is brilliant...right fins and the combo absolutely is brilliant.
(Yes I did buy all my gear)

Hi all,
in the end I received my '14 Mistral SL 91, 112 and 137.
The boards look great, gorgeously finished. The feel on the water is amazing, too, once the boards are 'lit up'. Problem is: I don't get properly 'lit up' often enough!
I am 6'3", 85 kg. I use Maui Sails 6.3 to 8.4. I set the footstraps the same way on all three boards: back, inside and full back; front, full front and outermost. I had Carbon Art '12 boards before, liked them but were embarassed in heavy chop and when maxed out.
I tested the SL137 in varied winds with 8.4 on Sonntag SL-P 46 and 43, felt a lot tiresome on the back leg, definitely better with the 43 (which seems to contradict what I read here about the board going well with 46 - 48 finds on 8.4). Tested the SL112 with Talons 36 (7.0), 38, 40 (7.7) but had a poor trim and no upwind; way better on a Sonntag SL-P 40. Seemed very nice with a carbon Rockit 35 and 7.0 when maxed out (a very brief session before the wind died).
To make things easier and quicker: any suggestions about fins for 'general freeslalom sailing' (meaning: seldom between marks; like to be able to decide where to go up or down with no problems; like to get good speeds when going downwind)? I am looking for a smooth ride over chop (lots of kite trails in my spot) and like a "glide" feel much much better than a "physical" one. Better check some 'soft' carbon fins, or better look more deeply into 'classic' G-10 Talons, T-43s, Volts ... searching for the right size? Or ...?
I remember of my old RRD's from the late '90s (281 and 278), Anders Bringdal era; I used to sail those from the tail, with a shortish stance between feet and a very tall boom; maybe that was/is 'Bringdal style' and maybe it's somewhat back on these new boards bearing his signature too?

The mistral boards are incredible. The rocker & board shape outline is perfect for my style of riding . My only let down is fin choice which will be better when l invest in some new fins made by chris. The 137 feels smaller than it really is amazing in chop must say the shaper slowboat really knows how to design a fast slalom board .not to mention A.B. (the flyin Finn) for his involvement too.

Had a decent session yesterday, at last; and the varied wind conditions (gusts and big holes) let me test a 36 Talon (which I consider as some sort of 'industry standard') and a 37 carbon Rockit on my SL112.
To my surprise, not only the Rockit felt much easier at speed in chop and waves; but also much easier to point upwind. The trim of the board was incredibly nice, while with the Talon the board just could not find a proper balance.
This is not to say that the Rockit is "the fin" for Mistral boards. But only to share a feeling that the board (SL112 at least) seemed to prefers that kind of fins, stiff and with not too thin a foil. Probably T-43's could go, too.

A few more sessions and a few more tests ...
The SL137 seems to have no problems with my Sonntag SL-P's 46 and 43, the first as a light wind option "I should get me a 9.3", the latter as a well balanced option with an 8.4. Guess the 40 will do OK with the 7.7.
The SL112 really doesn't seem to like the Talon and Rockit fins (unless maybe the Rockit in nuking conditions) while I had a very nice feel with 7.7 and my smaller Sonntag SL-P left, a 40. Biggish for the combo, probably good as lighter wind option, but a truly great super easy trim, lots of power, total control, plenty of upwind. Really seems to me the design fits the boards well so I am ordering a 34 and 37 again for 7.0 (both on the SL91 and SL112) and 7.7 (SL112).

this is an extract from the windsurf test:

The Mistral is a classic slalom racer in modern construction form. It goes extremely fast in a straight line and cuts a fast turn around the mark. The shape works well in a wide range of conditions, particularly in gnarlier settings. Best suited to the more experienced and maybe heavier rider who wants a dependable shape to race around the slalom course or for blistering GPS speed sailing runs

As a lightweight sailor ( 70 kgs) are the mistral slamloms the best coice? I am frustrated with my 2007 Iso 105 which I have always failed to make go faster then 30.5 kts. So a 112 could be the answer ( although I would probably choose a 63-65 wide board rather than 68 if the world were perfect!). I know of several sailors who love the Mistrals, but most are 15+ kgs heavier than me.

hit the pies,maccas and kfc evets .
inside every skinny man is a fat man bursting to get out.

The 112 is SUPER ! Say that after many seasons on the IS 111/107. You don't need to be big to be fast. And you'll be fast easier than ever.

I have tried all three of the Mistral Slalom boards. At 70kg I found the 112 and 91 to be slow---sorry Chris!

Did not give them a long enough ride though. Found they ride quite a bit different from other boards--sit quite low,similar to the Sonics but more forgiving in chop.

That said would consider one day buying the 137 As a super light wind board.

As a medium wind board I find the Patrik 92 is ample big enough for me with a 6.5m and 36cm G10 Rockit.

Welcome events to try this combo.

Next size up for me is a 80 wide with a 7.8m.

there you go evets.
now that they have the p.m seal of disaproval how could you consider getting one.

I wouldn't say they're slow as the whole slalom range got 40+ in speed mode. Are you meaning they're slow while free riding or racing? Every weekend I train vs the usual buddies (equipped with the top stuff in the market) and can see the facts... By the way. On a match test vs the PD 135 2 the 137 was faster despite the 8.6 vs 9.3
.. ...and was faster along the marks...

Everyone who has them loves them,but when I tried a extended go on the 112 with the recommended 38 Lockwood carbon fin I felt I was going a bit slower than normal.

Then again I tried the latest 105 RRD and was even less impressed.

Think it's more to do with what you are familiar with.

Evets

I reckon all the Mistrals are super fast for GPS downwind sailing and GPS results back up this assertion. I'd ignore the opinions of somebody who jumps on a board twice.

I'm 80 kg and often get equivalent speeds on the M112, to others out on 90L boards. And it's great having the extra float in gusty winter winds.

My guess is that at 70kg and using the M112 in 15 to 20 knot winds, you will easily exceed 30.5 knots. The board is designed to be controllable - you can make the most of stronger gusts that might have you tail-walking on other similar sized boards. JJ

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petermac33 said...
Everyone who has them loves them,but when I tried a extended go on the 112 with the recommended 38 Lockwood carbon fin I felt I was going a bit slower than normal.

Then again I tried the latest 105 RRD and was even less impressed.

Think it's more to do with what you are familiar with.

PM,
Okay, only having one go of JJ's and Slowie's 112 I don't have a great deal of experience with them, but my first impression was they are much smoother in the chop than my iSonics and I probably put that down to the longer drawn out shape, and I suspect that whilst as fast as any other board out there the speed of the 112 might be perceived as 'feeling' slower due to the softer ride. As JJ mentioned above, just have a look at any of the mistral rider's speeds on the TC - the GPS numbers don't lie.

Also are you sure the 38 Sl2 is the recommended fin for the 112. JJ and Slowie had 30's in both their's and surprisingly worked brilliantly.

At 70kg I struggle to make any board around the 110 size reach 30 knots,especially with a 7m plus sail on it. Guessing my 92 Patrik with a 6.5 I peak around that. The i87 which has heaps of nose rocker,softish tucked rails and a narrow tail is still the best board for speed in choppy water,best I've been on anyway.

Standout for me on the 112 and 91 was its smoothness in gybing especially in flattish water. Very tight arc and smooth as silk.

Rode my 137 for the first time today. Not really enough wind to really test the capabilities of the board, however there were enough gusts to see the potential.