After browsing the latest waveboard offerings from major brands websites (Starboard, Patrik, Naish, Severne, etc) it seems swallow tails are now in vogue.

Is it just a fashion trend or has there been some design revelation ?

There's plenty of info describing the characteristics of different tail shapes for surfboards:
www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-different-types-of-surfboard-tails

Back in the 80's when windsurf waveboards were mostly custom made by local shapers, there were all sorts of tail and bottoms shapes, but by the 90s designs seemed to stabilise on the rounded pintail and stayed that way for years. I noticed some brands offering square tails a couple of years back but that seems to have died off.

How do these latest swallow tail boards feel compared to the classic rounded pintail waveboards, in typical east coast Oz conditions?

I think it's fashionable. I think swallow tails look amazing but I can't feel any difference on a wave.

Only on jump landings. Pin is smoother.

I have found pin or rounded pin bit more stable in high speed and rough conditions. I feel it's harder to alter the turn radius but it's good reliable grip in turns. It could sure be characteristics of the shape all together not just the tail. For properly windy I'd still take pintail as having a good experience with it.

1. It the tail is long, that is if the distance from the rear strap screw to the tail is 20cm +, different tail shapes will not make a whole lot of difference if you keep the width of the board at the back strap the same. 2. For shorter tails, the tail shape comes into play much more. Again, fixing the width at the strap area, what happens is that an edgy tail, is a square tail or a swallow, is faster rail to rail. A rounder tails, ie a rounded squash or a round tail or rounded pin, give a more connected feel. So edges gives agility and roundness connection.3. On very short tails, the actual "corners" of the tail starts to matter too, and you can get the feeling of a less powerful and faster rail to rail feel but cutt?ng off the corners, like on a jet tail. 4. The absolute most important tail shape variable is the length of the tail. +-1cm of tai length with everything else the same makes a significant difference.My personal boards all have very short tails, which makes any tail alteration quite important. I have over the years had more or less the sam boards with different tails. This is how I from experience developed my understanding of tail designs.

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Ola H said..
1. It the tail is long, that is if the distance from the rear strap screw to the tail is 20cm +, different tail shapes will not make a whole lot of difference if you keep the width of the board at the back strap the same. 2. For shorter tails, the tail shape comes into play much more. Again, fixing the width at the strap area, what happens is that an edgy tail, is a square tail or a swallow, is faster rail to rail. A rounder tails, ie a rounded squash or a round tail or rounded pin, give a more connected feel. So edges gives agility and roundness connection.3. On very short tails, the actual "corners" of the tail starts to matter too, and you can get the feeling of a less powerful and faster rail to rail feel but cutt?ng off the corners, like on a jet tail. 4. The absolute most important tail shape variable is the length of the tail. +-1cm of tai length with everything else the same makes a significant difference.My personal boards all have very short tails, which makes any tail alteration quite important. I have over the years had more or less the sam boards with different tails. This is how I from experience developed my understanding of tail designs.

I do not know too much about tails. In the beginning the tails seemed too wide and I thought I had wasted my money. But obviously Ola H knows his business. I can say that for a second year I am riding G 6 flywave 72 and 78 l and it has been the most rewarding experience . I have been tempted recently by the new goya quads mostly due to the claimed reduction of weight. After watching Alessio's performance at Pozo I will definately stay on Flywaves. (and Evoqs ha-ha). Cheers!