Starboard iSonic 111 Wood

Despite double equipment, the perfectly fitting fin was missing, which cost a few points. Even upwind, the 44 was too slow against the competition. Otherwise, the board dominates the control rating and manoeuvres at the buoy and, with a better fin set-up, is a contender for victory, especially in difficult conditions.

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[Board] Starboard iSonic 111 Wood : [Tester] Bart de Zwart

On land: Small "wingers" in the outline just in front of the rear loops combine a larger overall width with a slightly narrower stern. The underwater hull shows a continuous, slight V. Overall, the outline appears wide, compact and angular. The stern is also angular, with jagged cut-outs. The deck shape is concave with a deep trough in the area of the mast track - the mast track is lowered, so to speak.

On the water: Would you like a little more chop, or a few unpleasant hammer gusts on the course? Yes please! The iSonic screams "give it to me" on every course, the board feels most comfortable when powered up. The planing position is very flat and underpowered, the board tends to surf slightly on the windward edge with the smaller fin, and it is more difficult to maintain speed. Only with good pressure in the sail is the trim with the 38 perfect (with a 7.6 sail).

The fin set-up was a bit of a problem in the test, we would have preferred a 40 mm fin as the 44 mm was too slow on all courses. But with the 38, the board knows no limits and is a top contender for the top spot when powered up. And it also successfully defends this position at the buoy. The iSonic glides smoothly through any desired radius, maintains control even on the rail in crowds and in choppy water and thus allows for all kinds of tactical variations at the buoy. No matter what you do, you always come out of the turn with good speed.

Overall, the board requires a slightly more powerful riding style; you feel more pressure on the rear leg than on the Tabou, for example. In return, you get a "chassis" that can cope with even the most powerful motorisation - and that's what real racers are all about.

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Price1599 Euro

Material/manufactureWood-Sandwich

Fin: Drake Slalom 38+44 cm/ Tuttle-Box/G10

Web: www.star-board.com