After 6 rounds of Wednesday night racing a clearer picture of what works seems to be appearing. We’ve had 4 races in CT, one in Langebaan and then there was one in Durban. Out of 6 races 4 were won by Wavequads 6’0-6’1 with bigger fins and two races were won by Race boards. Both Raceboard wins were in lighter wind (around 15 knots).
So if someone wants a cheap quick-fix way of going faster (and this applies to TT’s as well) – put in bigger fins. Just be mindful that it may not work in your board depending on your fins system and they way they are set up - maximum performance and speed will only be achieved in a quad set-up.
Berzack Luke and myself use 4wayfinssystem which allows us to toe the bigger fins out a little more than what is ideal for waveriding + we can add 4degress of extra splay which so far seems to be working with myself in 2nd, Berzack 3rd and Luke 4th – all on Geraghty boards. Greg in 1st has been using 3 or 4 different boards + he is Greg…………although he has been beaten when we’re really powered up….
The holy grail will be to make a raceboard that also works in the predominantly stronger winds we experience here in CT. I’m working with Dean Geraghty on a model which should be able to go in 30 knots+ and still keep you in the top 3 when we face lighter winds. Luke’s raceboard in 4th (as a Junior) has shown that our initial ideas aren’t that far off.
If anyone is interested in getting onto one of these boards please contact Dean on deang@geraghtyshapes.com - they will cost R4500 VAT incl. with fiberglass 4way quad race- fins (pads and straps are an optional extra)
We will initially only be making them in PU and polyester for faster production as getting the shape and fin set-up right is the key.
Turnaround time is 1-2 weeks and factories close 20th Dec and reopen 6th Jan - so orders have to be in before Dec 10th for delivery this year.
Peter Petersen
NAISH SUP Merchant - purveyor of Stand Up Paddle boards from NAISH....
082 658 7033