Best performance board with a daggerboard?

ittiandro · Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 294

Can anybody comment or recommend a Mistral Prodigy for light wind cruising, possibly faster and livelier than my Bic WindSup or would it be the same thing, or worse?
My Bic is good for cruising around in light winds, but I 'd like a board with more teeth, possibly even for early planing, but it has ti be good for 12 knts winds.

I might have a good deal for the Prodigy. THis is why I am asking

Thanks

Ittiandro

grantmac017 · Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946

gregnw44 · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 783 Location: Seattle, Wa

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

Although I haven't sailed a Prodigy, I have read about them and seen them in action. Basically, it does everything, but nothing really well. The wind SUP will likely glide better in winds under 10 knots. The Prodigy will stay upwind better because of the dagger. The Prodigy will plane with reasonable speed, but it will take good power to get it going in 12 knots. It was designed for "one design" racing, something like an Olympic class board where is can be raced in light to strong winds, upwind, downwind and reaching. The only thing I see as an advantage in light wind cruising (no planing) is upwind ability.

GURGLETROUSERS · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 2643

I bought a Prodigy, but sold it within a year. As Techno says, 'Basically it does everything, but nothing really well.'

It could certainly be fast when fully powered up, but its sheer weight and swing momentum (shorter length) in nasty chop made it very uncomfortable to lever about, and hurt my ankles when in the straps at speed. (heaving it to tame the swinging action.) That was what tipped the balance to selling it, for me. A Kona, for example, is much nicer and easier to blast on in chop because its length means it bucks and swings a lot less.

As a cruising board, it gained easier balance than a narrower longboard owing to width, but sacrificed a lot in that glide ability that good longboards have, as they effortlessly ghost along in lighter winds.

That was a big minus point with the Prodigy, though it was quite good pointing wise, with a very good carbon daggerboard. (The racing version, that is. The standard version had much less more efficient fittings. ( i.e. daggerboard.)

ittiandro · Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 294

grantmac017 · Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946

We sail a LOT in winds you describe. The vast majority are using raceboards or formula and 9.5-12m sails.
If the wind only peaks at 12 I prefer a raceboard, if it averages 12 I'll take a formula.

Width is the enemy unless you have enough wind to be planing most of the time.

ittiandro · Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 294

grantmac017 · Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946

Because formula is either on plane or nearly stopped and in light winds the sailor works their butt off to get it planing.
A raceboard takes less physical effort to maintain decent average speed in lighter winds, especially with a sail designed for the purpose.

The RIGHT 8.5-9.5 might help a lot, but not as much as the right board.

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

A formula board is light in weight and has a 70cm fin. With a big sail, it planes quicker than anything else on the water.

A bigger sail on your bic would help just a little, but it's not worth the size, cost, weight, effort, etc. Stay with something comfortable on the windsup, then find a big freeride board that will plane early, but with your weight and wind, you will need something like a 9 - 9.5 sail to plane in 12 knots.

I weigh 77 kg and plane on my formula with a 9.2 sail in 10 knots (small white caps just forming), but it takes pumping to get going. I also have an 11.0 which will get me going a bit sooner, but the range is limited and in gusty conditions it can be a handful, so it doesn't get much use.