WindSUP: Sealion XL vs Exocet 10'0 / 10'2

[jingebritsen]

to date, i've heard of very few windsurfing rocker windSUP's. the industry has abandoned its base to pander to a crowd with money. if the wind is 5-10 mph any board will do.

if the wind is 9-16 mph, planing long boards rule. so few options, it's sad.

banana rockers help with turns, but if one cannot stay upwind/plane what's the use? oh, the surf community has to be catered to.....

[Windnc]

Having been avidly sailing Wind-SUP's over the last few years here in Eastern North Carolina primarily on Exocet Kona 11-5 and the Exocet Wind-SUP I have to agree with Jingebritsen about the benefits of planing long boards especialy for the side-on conditions so typical of what we have here. I also have a Naish 11-5 Nalu SUP with the windsurf foot insert. Although once on a wave it surfs well because of the typical surfboard oriented rocker it is a lousy planing board and just will not plane effectively. This is true of a lot of SUP boards made for sup surfing which also have mast foot inserts.

However, I think it is important in this overall discussion to differentiate between what I see as two Wind-SUP wavesailing mindsets.

First there are a lot of individuals, especially those lucky enough to live where they have ready access to side off winds and waves like at Hatteras, who when it comes to wind-sup sailing on the ocean are primarily only interested in waveriding! They want to be able to use the smallest sail they can on a shorter more manueverable sup board. They are looking for just enough sail size to give them enough power to sail out through the surf and then cruise around while waiting for a set wave. Then they turn and catch the wave for surfing rides etc. For them wave riding is pretty much the sole priority and they are not really interested in planing around on the outside. The sail is just the motor to get them out past the break so they can then turn, catch and surf the waves.

Certainly there is absolutely nothing wrong with that as we all know how fun wave riding and surfing is. For those primarily wanting to just wind-sup waveride and especially who have access to sideoff wavesailing spots, a more rockered surfing oriented board typical of most SUPs designed for surfing but also equipped with a mast foot insert for sailing, work great.

The other mindset, which I believe includes sailors like Jingebritsen, myself and others is that we like being able to combine wind-sup wavesailing with windsurfing outside the break. We especially like being able to get up on a plane on a board that peforms well powered up and planing and with larger wave sails for added power. Additionally for the side-on conditions we frequently sail in, the extra power of bigger wavesails like the Aerotech Phantom 7.5 or 6.8 really help you power and punch out through the often rougher surf and breaking waves in light wind sup conditions. Plus riding on boards like the Exocet wind sup's thanks to their more windsurfing oriented design, really helps give you upwind drive and speed to keep you upwind in side-on conditions. Then once outside you can putter around if you want and wait for a setwave to ride or you can sail around with greater speed still catching waves and/or just enjoying classic windsurfing out on the ocean. Once planing it is great to have the speed on the outside to catch and ride ocean swells too. When up on a plane they offer significantly improved windsurfing longboard like planing performance too and are quite fast for big boards. Finally as a big 200 pound guy I find that the larger volume of these boards really helps when winds are light for ease in uphauling the sail, making non-planing jibes and slow tacks in amongst the ocean swells, chop and inside surf zone.

So my point to this discussion is just to say that both forms of Wind SUP wave sailing are certainly valid, fun and enjoyable. I think that it is just important to realize that if you live in an area where you have primarily side-on conditions, and if you want to combine some waveriding with classic windsurfing on a SUP in light wind conditions on the ocean; that chosing a the right kind of wind-sup is critical to maximizing your fun.

Good winds and waves too,

Chuck

[Sailboarder]

[btbill]

Well, gotta chime in on this one. Sealion proponent here and active wavesailor on the OBX. Indeed, we are blessed with frequent side off conditions for which the Sealion excels and is likely the best option out there.

Though for onshore, I have recently found that the Sealion works actually quite well! I have been riding the sealion since 2010 so my experience is relatively high, but I have not had it out much in onshore. Early when I tried it in onshore, it seemed to "sweep" out from under my feet due to the wave pushing in at the same direction as the wind and no straps to keep board with feet. Additionally, I found it difficult to make work in the onshore conditions. However, I now believe that those early misgivings were due to lack of experience in how the sealion works.

Now, only a few days ago on a whim (warm water, sunshine, etc..), I had it out in onshore waist plus crumbers and it worked surprisingly well! Was able to easily ride backside, cut up into the shoulder, float onto and down the whitewater, turn DTL opening the sail hard and hit this downside lip for a clean cutback. Basically, I could wave ride it onshore very much like I would ride my standard kit. I have the Sealion Pro model which has a thinner rail and only 115 ltr volume. It the most aggressive of the line, and works great for my need. I also sail small sails on the Lions. 4.5m is my standard for all wind speeds from 5 to 20 mph. Only change up on this is that I found in onshore, I would go a little bigger in sail (5.3m) in about 10 - 15 mph wind.

All in all, the sealion works great, is the best board I own (or at least a tied/close second to my Quatro 92 twin) and I am saved by the sealion as it allows me to get out just about any day I want to as long as there is a little wave out there!

See more of my experience and local Hatteras sealion action.
(note link is a search result for "Sealion" on OBX Beach Life" blog. Thus, simply scroll down though the search results posts to see photos, commentary, etc... over the years!)

PS: also one of my favorite aspects of the sealion captured in this photo... Hard to head carry with the other large WindSUPs out there!


Additional note:
Indeed, I fall into the first mindset of Windnc's post. Basically, I use the sealion as a surfboard and the sail to replace a paddle. I remain only in the wave zone and do not free sail in the ocean with the sealion. Only time it planes is when on a wave. Thus, if you are looking purely to ride waves, the sealion is good/best option, if looking to freesail in ocean and ride waves secondary, then likely other options out there may be better fits. One additional thing to note, regarding the pure wavesailing boards. The sealion is only option out there with a standard windsurfing mast track. All other surf SUPs have a screw in option for a mast base. Depending on conditions, that may be risky for failure due to heavy stress on the area when down in the impact zone. I have broken many extensions due to the stress of the impact when waiting for a set to clear while down in the zone. The sealion does not move much when hit by the wave energy while the rig pushes hard against it due to wave energy. Given all the extensions I have broken due to this scenario, I find that the screw in option may blow out easily if under similar stress. After all, the surf SUPs out there are not windsurfing boards. They are SUPs with windsurfing as a secondary option in how to use the board, while the Sealion is light air wavesailing first and foremost.


bb

[isobars]

[isobars]

[windowsurfer]

I find these windsurf SUP forums fascinating! Lots of smarts. Thx to all.

My chronology: 15 years windsurfing. Sailed a lot of stuff, incl pwered up Equips in the straps, a lil' racing; enuf to understand long parallel rails, dagger, etc...Caught some tiny waves on a lo-performance SUP in Cabo 5 yrs ago -- kinda fun...Saw sooo many cars with $2k 12' SUP boards on the roof more recently. My reaction: WTF?! Mystified - having found no great love in paddling my 12' Vinta around on flat water...Saw Douglass (Fla) "suckhole, ducktail, etc." vid. Thot that was cool. More interested. Wondered where to go for wave sailing like that - looked fun...Went to Bucerias area in MX this winter and saw some expert SUP wave guys/gals, did a bit myself on junk equip at our resort...Hmmm. Remembered that "suckhole" vid and then heard that there were windsurf-SUP boards that could do BOTH. Holy carbon, cabron!

Now I was gettin it...Started researching what to buy to combine SUP (for no wind days at local lake spot); windSUP and/or SUP for future trips to surf places like Bucerias and also for light wind WS at the lake. I have other lightwind boards/sails for the lake, but adding in the Aerotech WindSUP sail/rig (Superfreaks, et al) seemed kinda cool...love the 1 min rigging aspect, reasonable price.

Remaining issues: 1 - WHICH BOARD? Starboard Whopper, Exocet 11'8" or 10'2", Sealion XL or 83, Bic, yadda. 2 - Declaring myself wealthy & spending $1500+ CAD on a board. That's friggin tough seeing as I always buy used/demo and have nvr sprung more than $700 on a schtick!

Anyhoo - thx for enabling this: wasting soo much of my employer's time, but allowing me to daydream through a few minutes and re-charge my batteries. (Yeh, that's my justification) I continue to hunt the elusive windsup hybrid fauna - part flying fish/part sealion/part fast food...Mitch from Chilliwack

[MalibuGuru]

Exocet has a new xwave 129 liter board. Not an SUP, but sounds cool because it is a dedicated wave board.

[surfersbeach]

Can hardly wait for that board
Should be great between the 9'5 and 10'5

and yes....in three fin mode

[antonputman]

@ windowsurfer: read carefully Windnc's post. He just hit the nail on the head and I admire him for being able to describe 2 subcategories.

My spot and what kind of sailing I was interesting in exactly fitted his second mindset. Ingebritsen told me how my sport and conditions reminded him his situation in Florida and advised me the Exocet 10' WindSUP.
I could not have been happier with this board, it is just so polyvalent and a nice freerider as well. My TOW (time on the water) has been doubled at least. The daggerboard is a bit of a PITA but in the end has been useful to me in many situations.

- If my spot would feature more consistent waves and less onshore mushy crap with less dense wind, I would have gotten the Exocet 10'2.
- If I lived very close to a beach with light offshore winds and good waves I would have gotten a Sealion.

Anyone interested in WindSUP-ing here 2 interesting articles:

Peter Hart Masterclass - Wave riding the long and SUP of it
http://issuu.com/arcwindltdpublishing/docs/harty321novdec

WINDSUP BUYERS GUIDE
http://www.windsurf.co.uk/windsup-buyers-guide/