This is not a review but more info about the Starboard Airplane 255 that a few people have been talking about.Article is in German but you can put it through Google Translate. In essence they will have three boards 255 / 285 and 300 cms. Weight around 12 kilos. Price similar to a Starboard Go. No word on release dates or board volume. Certainly would be interested in the 255 depending on volume. Now the big question: Is Severne working on a rig to go with it?www.dailydose.de/story/airplane/index.htm

Here the Google Translate version in English:

translate.google.com.sg/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydose.de%2Fstory%2Fairplane%2Findex.htm

The concept can have a huge market in summer/family windsurfers if manufacturers also develop good performance rigs that fit inside of the trunk of the car that

- with good enough planing experience and top end stability
- in sizes (7.5m2?) that allow, say, Bft 4 planing

Of course, never matching rigid board/monofilm sails kit. But IF close enough AND can fit in you car/in the apartment, this can be a huge comeback for windsurfing (and kiteboard decline?)

Currently there are rigs that fit inside the trunk of the car:



but not planning oriented (and I imagine very handful in higher winds) so very limited range.


On the other side, the technology to make compact and peformance rigs is already available. There are good/light performance sails made in Dacron:

www.hotsailsmaui.com/sail.php?uid=21

As far as I know this material can be folded (battens will have to be removed. We cannot have it all! )

What do you think?

A wally sail and a 4 piece mast. It's not a "performance" rig.
However you could have a dacron sail with removable battens easily enough. Hmm.. long battens wouldn't work would they.