Great day paddling yesterday at the Mad Paddle and I was lucky enough to be on what was the perfect style of board for an event like this, the 14' x 30 Starboard Pierce Touring.



Seems like this end of the market can easily get left behind with the constant push towards "skinnier = faster = better".

For bigger people or for touring and carrying some gear, or even just as a family board this style of board ticks a lot of boxes imo.

I found yesterday as Team Leader I was back and forward a bit, paddling over to the boat, talking to the coast guard, this thing was rock solid but still fast and easy to paddle. Most of the bigger volume boards have been downwind focussed but this one had a flat enough rocker to have good glide and it seemed to catch the tiny runners out there very easily. It actually reminded me a little of my original 12'6 Cruiser but it was way faster and even more stable.

And Rachel and I could hardly be called big people, even paddling in at the end of the race we wouldn't have cracked 120kg between us but it was still the perfect board for the day.

So what else is out there that fill that bill? The Naish Glide 12'6 is a great higher volume board but there isn't too much in the 14 class I can think of right now. I know Dale does some great 14 DC boards and the 30 wide one is probably similar but maybe a little tippier with the rounded rails, of course easily fixed with a custom.

Feels like a lot of the manufacturers are going the way of windsurfing, getting more and more specialised, although I think the BOP boards can be great all rounders as well.