2016 Exocet RS Slalom

The 2016 Exocet Slalom RS range is in. We have had the chance to test the RS4 (111L-69cm) and RS6 (135L-82cm) for a couple for weeks now and certainly show some improvements from previous model.

Presentation:

The larger model RS6 (135L-82cm) has had a complete rework with more V around mast track (better upwind ability), thicker rail (more power in lighter wind) more parallel outline between footstraps and the tail recess/cut-out.











The smaller models, RS4 (111L-69cm) RS3 (100L-64cm) and RS2 (90L-59cm) keep the same shape (outline and rocker line) and now include the tail cut-out.







The whole range shows some pretty cool graphics with light sanded finish. Accessories have also improved with footstraps (feel exactly the same as the top of the range Dakine Primo).




Test- [b][b]EXOCET RS6 – Mauisails TR16 8.4 – 9.3 – ERD 46:[/b]

[/b] So far we have had the board in winds from 10 to 18 knots, flat to small chop. 8.4 and 9.3 are definitely the ideal sizes for this board. We did not feel it needed a larger fin for the 9.3. It can certainly carry up to 10m. A 7.7 would be slightly off its range but possible (all depends on rider’s weight and water condition).

A few adjustments during planning and jybing phases had to be done (quickly moving back to further load the fin and free up the board), contrary to initial thoughts. The board felt lively and fast straightaway. The general feeling of the whole range is a very smooth comfortable ride, especially in choppy water. The tail cut-outs balance nose and tail lift very efficiently which translates into a hovering over the water sensation.

Some good speeds were achieved, nothing mind-blowing but nevertheless PBs for us on that size board. The general comfort definitely helped in achieving the 1hr PB with some great top speed as well:

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2016-02-19&team=33




Test - Exocet RS4 - Mauisails TR16 7.7 - ERD 38:

From gusty to steady wind up to 20+ kts and flat to choppy water. On the smaller sizes we were initially sceptical on efficiency of the tail cut-out; having tested other brands we felt it compromised early planning and speed out of the jybe.

Contrary to initial thoughts early planning became one of its strong asset. The combination of tail cut-out and long flat definitely works, carrying speed through the turn and the same stability as previous model.

Overall the range has improved offering a wide range of use with still a lot of control and performance being easy to achieve (plug and play). As a bonus the board was recently tested in PlanchMag Special Test (French windsurfing mag) and voted “Tester’s choice”.

please write faster

Which board did Byron ride when he won the Aust freerace title ?

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WindsurfSystems said..
Which board did Byron ride when he won the Aust freerace title ?

Not sure but he usually 'lives' on his c 90ltre excocet.. sorry don't know the names of them..

Byron, the board looks great on the water, very fast and out points everything on the water.

Thanks for the positive comments.
I Have just finished the Burrum heads competition winning overall by the narrowest of margins to Vando.
I used the RS4 and 8.4 for 4 days and the RS2 and 7.7m on the last day but was underdone as only just over 15 knots.
I clocked 36.5 knots on the RS2 with the 7.7m today and have already clocked over 37 on the RS2 with 6.6m at coal point yep they are fast.
RS4 I have done over 35.
RS2 over 26.5 knot alpha.
very happy they "flight " a bit more than previous models due to the cut outs.
If you want a board that anyone can use and be super quick but don't have to be a PWA sailor this is it.

Had a sail today for 20 minutes of the 2014 Manta 116 litre with a 40 carbon Volt and a 7m. Board is 71cm wide.

Compared to my 107 Sonic - it feels identical In size.

Was going upwind better on my Sonic with a 38cm fin by some margin but that could be down to the footstraps on the Manta being slightly too large for me.

Topspeed in the 18 - 20 knot gusts was better on the Tabou!

it sits higher out of the water - and the trim is easier to maintain. Therefore the ride is seriously,seriously smooth.

Want to test this board again with my carbon Lockwood 42cm fin - hopefully get it upwind better.

There is always a compromise!

Prefer the feel of riding the Manta's in the big chop over the Sonics.

Not ridden these Exocet boards before. If they are as smooth as the Manta's over biggish chop then I want one.

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petermac33 said..

Not ridden these Exocet boards before. If they are as smooth as the Manta's over biggish chop then I want one.

I've used the Exo slalom boards for a few years now because they are chop friendly and easy on the knees. I haven't ridden a Manta but my previous boards were Fanatic Falcon and isonics

i had a quick run on the 2016 Rs 6 (135 litres) and it felt smoother through the chop than my RS 5 (115 litres) which is a few models out, a 2011 I think. The rails felt quite soft compared to my board. This was using an 8m sail and 15-20 knots.

the other good thing about the Exocet boards is they need less input to go fast. I bought the Rs 5 because I got a pb on the demo board, so there was no choice, had t buy one. :)

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shear tip said..
Remi and Byron would beat everyone if they were sailing a door holding up a shower curtain.

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Spocktek said.

??? I`ve done 43 knots on my 107 iSonic. You may need new test crew.

Try taking it off your roof rack next time.

Yes, those recessed bolt holes hold a lot of water, it just killed the ride.

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byronmc said... There quick, comfortable and jibe unreal and of coarse they look good too.

The same goes for their other board lines too.

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The Windsurfing Shed said..

WindsurfSystems said..
What is the performance like compared to Isonic ?

We have had a couple of sessions match racing on 110L board and 7.7 sails with Exocet RS4/Mauisails TR16, Fanatic (2016)/North (2016) and Starboard (2014)/North (2016). Top speed is probably equivalent to the Fanatic but we consistently pulled away in speed out of jybes. The Starboard seemed to lack top speed especially in the lighter wind.

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2016-03-03&team=33

Also a couple of session on the big gear (Exocet RS6-Mauisails TR16 7.7 or 8.4) vs Starboard (2014-117L)/North (2016 - 7.7). The striking point is top speed/control of the big board/sail combo, matching the smaller kit and clearly pulling away as soon as the wind dropped.

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2016-03-04&team=33
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2016-03-05&team=33

From the French test mag, the Fanatic is given as top performer in top speed but lacks control and planning ability (meant for PWA skills), the Starboard has similar scores (lowest score in 'user friendly' category). This is were the Exocet performs best, plug and play, designed for everyday racer not PWA exclusive.

Hallo Remi,

as I need some new boards I'd be interested in the new Exocet RS.

I also read PM test and I'm happy to see the rs4 is a test winner despite they report some opposite notes! "best planning keeper but not good acceleration" Maybe they used a wrong fin? Maybe the board needs some "powerful/lifting" fin? Or you,guys,feel the same (considering the performance in a slalom racing) ?
WIth my ex Mistral I used to track low but they never stuck or catch. And the stronger it was the faster they were (Always keeping accelerating and never backed off) Was a joy. Could be the same for the RS?
Wonder how's the gybe ability and the low end of the rs6 with the 9.3 .Does it keep going easy and early with the 9.3? What i missed with the Mistral 137 was not the planning with the 9.4 but the right amount of power to be effective in a slalom in 11-15 kts. Despite gps clocked about 30,.. 2 sec with the 9.4 I needed to be hugely powered up and long runs to be good with this sail size in that wind. Not good in slalom short legs. As soon as I was lit with the 8.6 I used to be an happy man as I had all the advantages of a big board with the performance of smaller boards...
You feel the both the 9.3 and 8.4 balanced for the board?

Is the RS4 really good in 7.0 wind and rough water for average 80 kg guy?

Thank you for helping me to figure out.


p.s. Early this year I had for test the new JP 2016. They had the tail cut outs similar to much of the new boards. I think the ride is done by a combination of many factors but they ONLY sailed flat. You do need stay much more upright to charge those boards. I felt both the 85 and 71 too big for me.

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w100 said..


Hallo Remi,

as I need some new boards I'd be interested in the new Exocet RS.

I also read PM test and I'm happy to see the rs4 is a test winner despite they report some opposite notes! "best planning keeper but not good acceleration" Maybe they used a wrong fin? Maybe the board needs some "powerful/lifting" fin? Or you,guys,feel the same (considering the performance in a slalom racing) ?
WIth my ex Mistral I used to track low but they never stuck or catch. And the stronger it was the faster they were (Always keeping accelerating and never backed off) Was a joy. Could be the same for the RS?
Wonder how's the gybe ability and the low end of the rs6 with the 9.3 .Does it keep going easy and early with the 9.3? What i missed with the Mistral 137 was not the planning with the 9.4 but the right amount of power to be effective in a slalom in 11-15 kts. Despite gps clocked about 30,.. 2 sec with the 9.4 I needed to be hugely powered up and long runs to be good with this sail size in that wind. Not good in slalom short legs. As soon as I was lit with the 8.6 I used to be an happy man as I had all the advantages of a big board with the performance of smaller boards...
You feel the both the 9.3 and 8.4 balanced for the board?

Is the RS4 really good in 7.0 wind and rough water for average 80 kg guy?

Thank you for helping me to figure out.


p.s. Early this year I had for test the new JP 2016. They had the tail cut outs similar to much of the new boards. I think the ride is done by a combination of many factors but they ONLY sailed flat. You do need stay much more upright to charge those boards. I felt both the 85 and 71 too big for me.

PM test reads "First on the plane in light wind and passive mode (in the harness) without the best of acceleration". It all depends what you are after, planning early and cruise at top speed all the time or potentially better acceleration but on/off the plane .

With the tail cut-out I do not think the boards need more powerful fins, maybe the opposite as they ride higher on the water by design. I tend to use one fin combo per board:
- RS4 with ERD 38 from 7.0 to 8.4
- RS6 with ERD 46 from 7.7 to 9.3

I am not a big fan of large sail on a given volume board but the 9.3 felt comfortable on the RS6 (only had one session on this combo). It felt more balanced than the previous RS I was using (2013 model grey/purple) where the rig felt a bit heavy for the board.

As for the RS4 with 7.0, I probably had the best session with this combo so far this week clocking 37kts top speed in small chop. Not sure what your definition of rough water is but the RS4 is very well balanced and predictable.

Hope this helps.

Hello,

I will trade my Tabou Manta 135 (2014 model) for a brand new Exocet RS 6 (2014 model). I hope that the RS 6 is better to jibe and a little less physical to sail.
What fin size would You recommend for a 95 kg rider and a 9,4m² or 7,8m² sail (Point-7 ACK). At the moment I have a select S1 in 51cm and 47 cm, that i use with the Manta.
Should I go smaller for the RS 6 as ist is not so wide as the Manta (82 cm vs. 85 cm).
Best regards

cad184

Hi,

I had the chance to sail my new Exocet RS 6 (2015 model) for the first time this weekend.
I used a 7,8 Point7 AC-K sail and a 46 cm F-Hot Carbon Fin.

The board is starting to plan very well without pumping, and stays on the plane very long. It is very easy to ride and it jibes beautifully for such a big board, much better then my previous Tabou Manta.

In comparison to the Manta I had to put the mastbase much further back. Otherwise it felt a little bit sticky and the chop hit the board at the rails near the mast base. I ended at 131 cm and the board was still easy to control.

The 7,8 sail is not the ideal size for this board, but it worked really well, alltough it had already a lot of chop. Hope I can test it with my 9,4 sail soon.

So far I am very pleased with the board.

Best regards!

Alex