Hi all,

I'm thinking of getting a new board and was after some advice. I've got a ~2003 Fanatic Cross Cx 120 (all round board) and a ~2006 Isonic 92. In Tassie I mainly used the Isonic 92 as the Fanatic 120 doesn't really seem to get on the plane any easier even in light wind. In New Caledonia I've reverted back to the Fanatic as I wanted the extra volume for safety, this made me realise that I should probably get back to using a higher volume board more frequently when I get back to Tassie, hopefully something that planes better in light wind (an ongoing frustration) and will hopefully make learning to gybe a little easier.

So what do you think I should get to complement the Isonic 92? Whilst I like to (try to) go fast, I mainly want to be able to plane easily and be able to spend more time sailing around on the plane (wave sailing etc. is still a long way off). My main sailing opportunities are on the Derwent off Taroona or Nutgrove. Is something like the Isonic 111 that Al Planet is selling a good idea or should I get something bigger e.g. a 120? Would I notice the difference?

Oh, and the sails that I have are Koncept 5, 5.8, Koyote 6.6 and Maui Titan 7.5

Thanks for your help!

We own a Isonic117 and JP SuperSport118 and while they're both big enough to carry my fat a** (95kg) back home when the wind dies they are completely different boards. The isonic is VERY wide and planes in almost no wind but is kinda scary in the chop. The SuperSport on the other hand planes a little bit later but will still sail throught the lulls and is much more comfortable when things get a bit bumpy

Great advice above, dont go isonic . Bumpy waters and you want to get your gybes then dont even go near a slalom board.

I would say Large freestyle wave or freeride. or wide style and shorter board like Atoms, Gekos or STarboard carve, Futura, many options just dont buy a dedicated slalom.

Ben has nailed it in saying same volume totally different style/behavior of board.

Big problem i think with windsurfing is people get sold secondhand gear that is totally inappropriate for there needs/ level.

Better to get get correct advice and buy once. plenty of great freestyle wave/ freeride/ freemove boards on SB

Great, thanks a lot for that! It does make me wonder whether I would notice that much difference from my existing 2003 Fanatic Cross 120. Might be more a shortcoming with the operator than the gear! How much better do you think a more modern wave or free ride board would feel?

My main issues are that I struggle to get planing early (often others with the same size sail are zooming around whilst I'm struggling to get going) and that I'm only getting about 1 in 20 carving gybes. But I think the latter is mainly due to lack of targeted practice...

I think your Fanatic Cross 120 is only 64cm wide, so maybe go for a wider board if you want to get planing in the lighter winds. Maybe a board more around 70cm wide? Some may even suggest going wider (75cm?) which would be great in the light winds but would get harder to control in medium wind strengths and chop.

Thanks for the good advice everyone. That reminded me that when I got the Isonic 92 I was surprised that it had almost the same shape as my Fanatic 120, just a bit thinner, so I guess it isn't too surprising that it doesn't plane earlier.

Does anyone have any experience with a Starboard Futura 111 or 121? There seem to be a few secondhand ones floating around.

Hi will Steve and I are always on the Derwent
We usually use isonics 117 120 and mine is a 127
Plenty of buoyancy in case the wind drops on crossings
Feels safe and good for a longer session.
Nice and wide makes for an easy plane.
If conditions are strong something smaller is needed
maybe the 92 or something more wavey.

Be careful here, you are getting advice from both sides.

Go the futura or other brand model unless you are a slalom champion or hunting a gps team challenge title.


So you want to go fast and have difficult times in chop and gybes then go slalom. i.e isonic
or you want control in chop and easier gybing but very bit slower then go more freeride style, you then decide wide style/ narrow etc.


There are a lot of guys in Tassie who can hardly gybe because they only ever owned a slalom board, and now have purchased a freeride etc and have finally
GOT IT!!..


Also the top end freeride boards like a starboard futura are only a couple of knots slower than the top end isonic but i know which is going to be a heap more fun all over and easier to develop skills on.

Are you out there to break the Tassie speed record or have fun, guys at sandy point or Stanley have 38 knots on a freestle wave board.

plenty of options

Thanks for all the perspectives! I'm certainly not out to beat any records. If I occasionally hit 30 knots I'm happy, more important to me is to be able to sail without stopping due to falling off the plane or (as usual) stuffing up a gybe. So it sounds like a free ride board would be a good next acquisition. Thanks again for all the advice!