While talking to Randy Naish in Merimbula I was surprised when he told me that they are using the Javelin on down-winders in Hawaii and only use the Glides when things get very rough.. I thought jeeez.. I'm very wobbly on it on flat water let alone take it out in the rough water on a down-winder.. Jacko used it on the DW'ers at Merimbula but he's freak.
Anyway.. today I took mine on our down-winder and found it hard work.. tippy.. but very fast when you can stay on it.. 
We only got about 15-20 knots of wind.. and I took this vid.. It was a real stinker here in Melbourne today so I didn't mind falling in a few times.. 
DJ
I tried the Javelin once in a 10-15knot downwinder with a lot of chop - couldn't get it to go as I was bracing more than I was paddling - my average speed on GPS was lower than when I paddle in flatwater with no wind. Having said that I caught a few waves and it actuaclly handles really well when on the plane - I reckon it would be really fast if you have clean conditions with no cross chop and refraction.
BTW - DJ now has 6500 posts to his name - quite an accomplishment!
it was pretty warm out yesterday but it was a good run down to Sandringham - managed to catch a few nice little runners
heading for the St.Kilda pier kiosk at the start of the run
regrouping midway
I'm 85kg, so not the lightest, but I paddle a lot and am quite comfortable on the Javelin. I don't fall off much, but as I said I can't always put the power down as I want to - and as I can on the 14' Glide in pretty much anything....
A lighter rider will probably be able to use it in a much wider range of downwind conditions. In the flats it's the ****zel though....
Going for a DWD now - it's gusting to 35knots....think I'll take the Glide 14'
I'm 85kg, so not the lightest, but I paddle a lot and am quite comfortable on the Javelin. I don't fall off much, but as I said I can't always put the power down as I want to - and as I can on the 14' Glide in pretty much anything....
A lighter rider will probably be able to use it in a much wider range of downwind conditions. In the flats it's the ****zel though....
Going for a DWD now - it's gusting to 35knots....think I'll take the Glide 14'
