I finally after all these years got myself a new longboard! I always wanted an Equipe II but it never happened, so I have made do with an old IMCO and Equipe 92 year. So the opportunity came to finally purchase a Starboard Phantom 377L. For me I don't race and here no one races anyhow. So I'm basically the only slalom sailor and now only longboard sailor pretty much.

As I'm going to be racing a Kona One overseas in the summer, the board will double as a great training board. It's definely more technical, but also more rewarding to sail through the challenge. I'd say I'm a fairly competent slalom sailor, but as a longboard sailor, I have to say I never had any formal training in the craft! I've just sailed them based on what seems to work, whether it's correct technically who knows!

Deciding on the board choice was a difficult one, there isn't much info on them. I'm about 160 - 165 lbs so based on that I should be on the regular version. But I only have interest to sail the board in the light summer winds 6 - 14 knots and the impression given by the board designer on the Starboard forum was even as a lightweight the larger format Phantom would be better for light wind use. So I went with this decision and do hope it was the right one. The board is certainly thick railed and very powerful!

I've just uploaded a vid of my second session on the board, wind was probably gusting to 15 knots, maybe more. I have also ordered a new Serverne 9.5 raceboard sail and hope to have it soon. My current sail is a beat up IMCO 7.4 with a missing cam. So the board is a real treat for me! I'll take some photos and write my impressions in the coming weeks, but for now here's the vid!