Windsup Exocet 11'8 comp to RS 380 Elite Carbon Race board

[wernerhickey]

Greetings, I posted this in another string and it was probably a bit off topic. I have a Windsup Exocet 11'8 - which i use a lot an get a plenty of fun from. I have an opportunity to buy an RS 380 Elite Carbon Race board Exocet for about $1900 perfect condition. How will the two compare?

I would appreciate any feedback - I do not intend to race so just recreational use.

[Awalkspoiled]

I’ve sailed both, although only briefly, and not in strong winds. I had the 11’8” out in knee-high surf with a soft 5.8 up, and in flat water with a Retro 7.5. I had the RS out in 15-20 with a 10.0, but only sailed about 6 miles on it - two long beats upwind and then a bunch of broad reaches back home. The 11’8” is a great funboard, adequate upwind, fun in small swell and small breaking waves, and fun for freestyle. It’s plenty fast on a plane for most people, but wouldn’t be competitive on a racecourse against anything more advanced than a Kona or the like. An old Superlight would crush it upwind for instance, because you really have to work to rail it up on the smallish centerboard, and the lack of adjustability in the track makes a difference to trim. The 380 Elite is a high-strung raceboard, narrow, tippy off a plane, huge centerboard, relatively narrow tail. Once on a plane it’s pure joy, whether riding the fin or jamming upwind railed over, but for pooching around, for teaching, for freestyle, it’s really no contest - the windsup is just much more fun. I’d never take the 380 out in surf, although it would be hard to beat for long crossings in even very big swell. If you’re not into maximum speed, long open-water crossings and racing, I think you already have one of the best boards ever made. Personally if I still raced I think I’d maybe prefer the RS D2 (I admit this is just from intenet porn since Ihaven’t even seen one in person yet) to the 380 - just looks like a more progressive design.

[wernerhickey]

Awalkspoiled thanks for your detailed reply. This site always amazes me with the level of expertise that people have - I really did not hold out much hope that anyone would have had direct experience with both boards. The availability of the race board is the thing that started me on this track. I don't want two long board - your input has given me some pause to think more.

[whitevan01]

raceboards are very technical to sail and are built to be light for max. performance NOT for durability like a windsup would be since it can be sailed in waves.