Cult real world speed boards?

Hi I'm thinking of taking up a bit of speedsailing again and I was wondering if there are any fast board shapes with a well know reputation.
I know the JP speed 45 has a reputation as one of the fastest production boards but I am looking more at the 55/56 cm wide 80 litre boards.
I remember the early fanatic falcon 80-2007 was know to do some big speeds, and other ideas? What about the mistrals... I remember they had a following


Also it would be good to know which boards are fast for their size in all sizes to expand the debate.

I already have a F2 missile small with airpipes but not sure if that has a reputation for being particularly fast.

I about 93kg and have a Mistral Speed 95 and love it. I even use when the wind is 15 knots.

That JP 54 is a really nice shape, especially the tail. Is there much between the 3 boards on the GPS?

The mistral 95 appears to have great pedigree and a following. More versatile having 95l at 55cm wide rather than the usual 70-80l vol at that width

56W 80L

I had the Mistral 95 as a loaner during our recent Oz trip (big thanks again to Pacey!), and loved the board. For my 90-95 kg and somewhat limited skills, it was great both at the bottom end (easy to slog and get going thanks to its length) and at the top end (got me a 41 knot PB). I have also have a Missile with the pipes, but the only reason I'll use it is that I don't have a M95, and can't get a similar Chris Lockwood-designed Tribal speed board here in the US. If I could get (and afford) a Tribal similar to the M95, I'd get it in a heartbeat.

Regarding top speed, I'm not sure there is that much difference between boards, except with respect which board matches your skill and preferences. It seems the guys who got similar speeds in the low 40s last summer in WA and LG were on quite a variety of gear. There often is one guy who simply goes a few knots faster than anyone else (like Stroppo in WA), but I think the difference is usually mostly due to skills and not gear.

it depends on what speed you are aiming for, how big you are and how good you speed strip is. (Your 'real world' speed sailing conditions will bet different from almost everyone else's)

After 30 years of speed sailing at some of the best venues in the world, I can tell you for certain that when conditions are really good I can always go knots faster on my 40cm wide, 60L Carbon Art speed board, than larger speed boards or slalom boards. (But I am only 73Kg)

BUT, if you are over 80KG, and dont have an ideal speed strip, almost any 50-60cm wide small modern dedicated slalom board will get you over 40 knots if you get get to be in the right place at the right time. I have done over 42 knots a few times on my 80-87L slalom boards, almost by mistake when caught out on a really great speed strip by an unexpected squall. But if the right conditions I can go faster than that, and a LOT easier, on my small speed board. Riding a small speed board takes a lot of practice to get the skills tuned. If you cant do it regularly, you are better off on a larger board, even though it is theoretically slower.

Getting to 45 knots and beyond, especially if you are not 90-100KG+, will need a smaller board, more wind and very good speed conditions.

Going very fast is a lot to do with reducing drag, and if you have sufficient power (wind) to get started and get to over 40 knots, a hard that has the minimum wetted drag area will have less drag, and a smaller board will give you better control on the limit in truly wild winds. There are a few other things that come into it, but the principle is the same.

One can't compare the pre 2000's speed 'needles' with modern speed boards. They were a lot harder to sail and didnt go any faster.if as fast.

Bigger guys rarely use boards over 45-47 wide in places like the Luderitz speed canal where they are gunning for 50 nots and there is all the wind power you can handle.

There is a complete graduated spectrum between that and whatever conditions you have at you local accessible speed strip. In many places, you dont have the power to do 50 knots, so a larger board to carry a larger sail in less wind is the best combo to get to what your conditions allow. So to repeat: If you are over 80KG, and dont have an ideal speed strip, almost any 52-60cm wide small modern dedicated slalom board will get you over 40 knots if you get get to be in the right place at the right time.