Enter the RS D2 ELITE
Here comes the Exocet RS D2 ELITE, the first production board could be available before the summer in Southern Hemisphere. Patrice from Exocet has mentioned, the board will be eligible to race in the raceboard class and testing has shown it a clear advantage upwind in basically any wind strength. On the reaching leg the RS D2 ELITE increased speed especially when it is on a shy reach, this is due to the fin sizes used on the board (47cm). You will need to get use to going straight down wind however, if you've ridden an older style D2 you know all about this.
Over the past few months images have appear over the internet:
The LBWS Forum and Raceboard Windsurfing's (windsurfraceboard.blogspot.com) Photo Gallery
These images show a board that is quite wide, with strong chines (3 faces to the underside) and two fins. It appears the the final production board has come back to the one fin and the chine and step have remained on the final production board. This is good as it will be essential to railing on such a wide board and consequently upwind speed and performance.
Patrice comments. "The two finned board was really interesting but in the end it was not an advantage upwind, those boards are still not railing like a boat and therefore the upwind fin was still in the water. On the reach the two fins had strange rid and board would suddenly spinout without warning, this is not the case in single fin mode. Overall the challenge was to have a board that railed very quick especially with a big tail, in that aspect it does work well."
"The 380 ELITE will remain in the line, of course. The ride between the 2 boards is quite different, sailors whom tested the board said it is a lot easier to ride a D2 on the reach and upwind compare to other raceboards of any brands. The discussion on the forum mentioned that our board is a lightwind dedicated board, this is quite true but R&D around it was to have a really quick board in planning condition, any board of this length is easily manageable until a strong 20knots then it is a bit up to the skill of the sailor I think"
