Starboard Windsurfing : Starboard windsurfing test results

Starboard Acid 77
Windsurf, UK Jan/FEB 2003

The Acid board series are developed by Svein Rasmussen and Scott McKercher, with input from the new wave scene young gun Australians - Ty Bodycoat and Luke Walmsley. Starboard describe the 77 as being a board for all conditions and all seasons - a real all rounder. Supplied in the wood construction for this test, it is a beautiful looking board set against metallic silver. The weight too is extremely impressive, as is the standard of fittings, including the deck-pads, footstraps and fin.

On the water we found the Starboard to be a very unique board. Firstly it is completely effortless to sail. It pops up onto the plane and takes off at a surprising speed. Once up to pace it is supremely comfortable - the angle of the rear deck, the stance of the board in the water and the fin all interact to give a fast but completely solid, trusting and secure feel. The nose itself rides at medium height, clear enough to keep out of trouble, but not high enough to be blown around. As such, the Acid also has the capacity to be used for high wind freeride, rather than being quite a specialist wave riding tool. That said, when used in waves, the 77 is unique in that it gives so much feedback to the rider that you know exactly what is going on. If you fall riding you can identify exactly what you did as opposed to wiping out with no idea. In this sense it is a very rewarding board to ride. Performance wise it is capable of carving as hard as most other boards on test, but its progressive and easy nature means that you can concentrate solely on what is going on around you instead of what the board is likely to do - it is extremely reliable at all times. This is especially useful in confused choppy breaks, where sailing can sometimes feel like a fight, rather than a session. For 77 litres of volume it is surprisingly buoyant, coping easily with 80kg and a 5.3m, whilst when the wind picks up it remains composed without complaint. The Acid 77 was a favourite with all who sailed it from intermediate to expert. It comes well recommended.

Overall
A fantastic balance of performance and ease of use that endeared itself to all levels and conditions. Effortless to sail, giving a lot of feedback with a wide wind-range, it is a strong test favourite.

STARBOARD ACID 77

Early Planning