Exocet WARP X-380 Report – “torpedo“ which will sink your opponents hope of winning…

It was only 3 days previous to the Raceboard European that I got my new Warp X380. Uniquue look, break thru desing. That is something you can notice immediately. But does it really kick ass or not??? That was a question.

Day 1 : Light wind in Mondial du Vent in Leucate. Got on the water ….. Before you can notice some serious pressure in the sail board goes on the rail and starts to fly. It wants to go fast and only think you should be carefull about while sailing upwind is that you do not get over excited by speed and don’t forget to point upwind high enough. Long straight water line (with tail section) helps to keep board on the rail and it does not take long until you find that “sweet” angle where board feels “light” and responsive and ables you to get most out of big centerboard.

Day 2 : Once I figured out the comfortable settings, because I am a racer I wanted to go faster and started to experiment. Masttrack second position from front helps to keep the nose of the board out of water in very light winds and choppy conditions. But it requires more concetration to control direstion in which board is going. I also tried bigger fin. 54cm wider that original, helps to pump the board into the planning. Thanks to a finbox position, still no problem with respons of the board in tags. It also gives a board bit more lift upwind in light conditions.

Day 3 : Windy, gusty, nasty !!!

When going gets tough, tough gets going. Tail off. Bandol, gusting 15-35knots, wind from everywhere. When I was taking board to the beach I was already shitting in my pants. I thought there is no way that with 72kg and 170cm I am gonna be able to keep the board on the water. Surprise, surprise I did. I was amazed that even with the big centerboard I could keep the board under control upwind. Downwind it was more radical. But show me a longboard which does not get scared shit out of you in 30+ knots flying downwind…. Flat rocker line and thick nose helps to keep the nose down on the tight reaches. You can feel the influence of Patrice Belbeoch (the designer). With his physique, 120kg and power surfing style he definitely use a different strap positions than I need. Even with getting the reaching straps as far back as possible still did not feel like far enough back to me. Flying downwind even a chicken strap felt like a good idea to me. Since the board is different from anything I have ever sailed before, I need a bit of practice to dial the jibes in. The only thing, that is dangerous,, when you try to go too low on downwind is hit the chop with the nose you get in serious trouble to avoid some catapult. But it you are crazy enough to sail with 35knot on a longboard you have to be prepared for some punishment here and there.

Racing in Europeans :

Where is wind for love of god!!! Week of strugle. Tricky, light, shifting all over the place. I started the championship as bad as it gets. I still wonder why the committee did not abandon the race where wind made twice 360 and whole fleet changed the position completely about 4 times. My mistake on the last mark and I had to retire after finish. Rest of the championship was just waiting and for me no more risky moves and hitting the corners in a search of winning puff. 2 second places in the following races proven the good speed and the fact that maybe defensive tacticks still pays of compare to winning one but finishing bad in another race. Last day I did not handle the pressure. First race I did really, really really bad first upwind and then I was catching up all race and still did not make it better then 12 in race which took 17minutes…. Another thing that sorta surprise on the race like European championship. Last race 2^nd again. Overall 4^th. Not too happy about it. It’s a sport next time I will do better.

SUMMARY :

(+) – great speed upwind

- early planning downwind, good speed (tail off)

- board keeps nice speed thru the lows

- easy handling on the rial upwind

(-) – for lighet and shorther experienced sailor, need a reaching footsraps further back

- masttrack all the way to centerboard would not hurt and could improve the downwind performance

- needs some time to get use to working with the centerboard system

Patrik POLLÁK (SVK1)