CarbonArt FR116 & SIC V2 Bullet 14′

My winter trips south was great for getting out on the water windsurfing with my CarbonArt SL121 board hand built in New Zealand by James Dinnis.  The best board I have ever sailed.  Fast, smooooth, and makes you laugh out loud when you jibe.  This board is great for sails from 9.2 sq-meters to 7.6 sq-meters.  So this poses a question, what do I do when the wind gets in the low to upper 20’s.  Last few years I sailed on Kincora and still will at times.  But now I have ordered a new board from CarbonArt the FR116.  This board is great for sails from 5.5 sq-m to 7.6 sq-m.  So now I am good from 12 kts of wind to 30 knots of wind with two boards.  Got to love the efficiency of the CarbonArt boards.  And the build quality, well it is tops.

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My CA SL121 with years of sailing on it.

This board will arrive late May.  Look forward to expanding my windsurfing range and also giving the new Tectonics Fury 38cm and 48cm skegs a go on both boards.  I have been using a Tectonics Talon 48cm on the SL121 and love it.  But Dennis Parton from Tectonics assures me I will love the Fury skegs.  So I have lots of new windsurfing gear to get up to speed in the coming months. Come on SeaBreeze.

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Carol enjoying her first ride on a Bullet

On my way driving North in March I stopped at Carolina Paddleboard Company and met with the owner Jason Colclough who helped me test a couple of boards.  I was a bit sleep deprived having been up most of the previous 36 hrs but excited to test paddle. I have been looking for a 14′ downwinder for our smaller waves in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound.  My first choice was the SIC V2 Bullet 14′ and second was the new Bark 14′ Downwinder.  And luckily Jason had both as demos and new ones in stock.  So I gave it a go and loved both boards.  With a little back and forth I decided on the SIC V2 Bullet 14′ x 27.5″ SCC demo and glad I did.  The Bark was nice but not the shape I was looking for in the forward third of the board.  I prefer the feel and shape of the SIC for the conditions I will paddle and just love Mark Raaphorst refined designs. I do not link very often to videos but Mike Waltze is a real pro and knows how to film water sports with the best.  Here is a link to a film about Mark.

Carol on my bullet
Carol on my SIC V2 Bullet 14′

Knowing my Quickblade V-Drive 91 sq-in paddle is a dream on my MHL 17′ x 25″ displacement board I know it was not the right paddle for me on the SIC.  The V-Drive is all about the catch and long catch with early power.  For downwinders you do not always get the chance to have a long catch in your stroke.  Most of the time downwinding you paddling mid stroke power and that lead me to the Quickblade Trifecta, which is 86 sq-in.  This blade is a dihedral edge paddle and perfect for downwinders. With both paddles I go for the oval tappered shaft.  I love the flex when I am on it and Jim Terrell is the master at build quality and design.

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My MHL 17′ x 25″ displacement board

This week I have finally had slight downwinder conditions and wow, what a fantastic combination of paddle and board.  The best way to describe the board is what most reviewers say, “It is the mountain bike of SUP. stable, stiff, fast, and a pure joy to ride.”

I went for a paddle Sunday with Carol and she gave the SIC a go. Well she loved it so much and wants to go out in more wind that she purchased a SIC Bullet 12′-6″ yesterday.  Both of our boards are their SCC single carbon composite.  We always prefer lighter boards for the feel and response.

So we are set up for a lot of fantastic hrs/miles on the water this summer.  Get out and have fun every day on the water or what every activity you love.

 

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