Riders:

180-80kg-expert-good level in light wind
175-73kg-expert-very good level in light wind

JP SL 85 / CL sl2 46
Mistral SL 137 / CL sl2 46
Starboard Isonic 127 / Z sl s- 46

NP evo 6 8.5 / flx 100 520
North Warp 2016 9.0 / platinum


11.13 kts
flat water with small side chop
tide in favor of wind


Rider with 127/9.0 in the water tracks good and friction free.
Even the rider with the 137/9.5 has no problem to easily keep planning.
On the way out (in favor of tide and small chop) acceleration, speed and ability to stay on the wind edge are the same. Maybe, as soon as you bear off, M°/sl2 feels better at home (both board and fin design help that). Viceversa, on the way in the Isonic has more drive to not slow down against tide/chop. So,in figure 8 course (with this wind range) the Starboard has the edge;in down wind course stuff get on pair if not better for M°.
Gybes are good with both combos. M° steers smoother and needs less leg pressure on the rail. When already gybed the M° saves a bit of inertia that allowes you to better keep going face to the Isonic. Something special about the M° is that it seems always to steer with the right radius letting t the rider continue planning.
In this wind range, the 137 coupled with my 9.5 suffers as the sail is heavy for the planform and has a lot of side way pull. It’s like you’re sailing the mid size board with the 8.6. You don’t get more planning ability.Just increase the torque at low revs.I think that in order to increase the performance in this wind range it could be better stick a softer,more raked back, different fin outline (sl3) and a smaller yet powerful and less side way pull sail.
As soon as the wind is steadier than 13 kts (to over 25 kts) there's no problem. Then M° will be as fast as smaller boards with all the advantages of a big boards... Just charge it with the right fin sizes.

Charged my sl2 46 on the Jp, settled the footstraps and mast base, it’s time to give it a go.
Now the planform is way bigger. It’s not only the max width but it’s wider all over the lenght of the board. It feels like a small Fw.
Planning is istantaneous and,just as the fw,you can start to pump up the sail having already your fore leg in the footstrap. The mast track needs to be placed 2,5 cm back from the centre of the rail. Boom need to be high. Then it will tracks free and balanced. Now the 9.5 is perfect. All the side pull helps to push against the fin and find the power/lift to stay high and hoover along. The Jp is a powerful (yet easy) board and needs da power from the sail. It won’t disturb the ride but it’s like the fw. No power,no move! I have all the power to defend my position from upwind attacks or to stay high on the wind edge. Still not sure if bearing off it’s faster than the M° despite all the power available. Maybe it needs to find a better set up for that. It doesn’t sticks on the chop and rides high. It’s a safe ride with no much feedback to the rider. You just have to think at the race.
Swapped for the 9.0 (and raised the boom) we had the feeling the board was not plagued at all. Just good feeling and great balance. No better performance.
Overall the board is easy and balanced. I think if you're big and powerful it will better but even light riders won't find easily troubles. Sails form 9.5 to 8.6 are OK as the double cut outs allow even good rides with smaller sail sizes.
Construction quality is on pair with the best of the market. Footstraps are comfy but maybe too heavy.

Isonic 127/9.5 is a safe bet. You won’t find surprices. It suits better the average weights in search of light wind weapon. More “alive” board compared to Jp, more feedback available for the rider while sailing. I think the rider will work a bit more compared to the Jp. But it’s still a super design and it will still deliver if charged with a good fin

P.s. now I know the M° is NOT a stuck or sticking board!


That's not a total test. Any people will find his way to have the best experience possible. Just some opinions...

_________________
Foil équipement:: Tribal - Loke

Quelle est la plage d'utilisation ciblée ?

_________________
CHS aero / FMX 88 98 118 138- / Sonntag.

As written, test has been done in 11-13 kts

_________________
Foil équipement:: Tribal - Loke

Je ne parle pas de la plage d'essai du test; mais de la plage d'utilisation envisageable pour ce type de combo.

_________________
CHS aero / FMX 88 98 118 138- / Sonntag.

Sorry, my French is bad.
It depends from really many things but usually the 85 cm boards are supposed to be used easy and effective in 10-15 kts. Then you'll find people blasting in 8 kts as well as pushing in 20 kts.
The Mistral is 82 cm.

_________________
Foil équipement:: Tribal - Loke