Love the boat, canoe, dug out, DAS BOAT... call it what you like. What i call it now is the best downwind sup developed so far. I used to think they were ugly, then I rode one. It's to 14 footers, what the bullet is to the open class..
Looks like it may have a tendency to fill up with water off shore or are they only for flat water. How do they drain?
dainage is via 4 holes. you can see 2 on picture 1, just below where the dude is standing. the dugout means that you are lowering you balance point to make them more stable. 
The holes are called venturi or ventricles - I've heard them called both - the flow of water past them sucks the water out. They use them in 1-man outrigging canoes too.
they r fast.... but I spent more time in DW conditions trying to work out how to scale the side to get back into (or onto) the board... In complete exhaustion i actually climbed in one side and fell out the other!! its even on gopro!! lol. but I'm useless. I now have a flat deck so I can gracefully get back on 
starboards finest ocean canoe to date
word is faster again then the 25"
although there's 'way more to them then a dug out hole', i believe other companies will follow suit seeing as no organisation will make a call. sup isn't even that organised anyway
it will be a sad day for stand up paddle 'BOARDING' imo
To me, if it works well, it looks good. Form follows function.
Is Warwick's Ace 14'x25" or 14'x23.5"?
Anyone have first hand experience with the 25" vs 23.5" versions of the Ace? Any comments on speed and stability?
That one is the 25". I haven't seen a 23" yet but I think Sam, Beau and Scotty Mac have both so they can offer a comparison.
Ordered the 14x23.5" Ace. Should arrive in March.
Never got a chance to try it (actually, I think it will be the one first brought into Canada). I think I have a decent idea of how it'll perform since I currently have a 12'6"x23.5" NEW (earlier version of the Ace) and a 14'x25" Ace.
I find that the 12'6"x23.5" is a little quicker to paddle onto a runner but doesn't hold the glide as well as the 14'x25". The smaller board is more tippy but not dramatically so - for me at least. There's not much difference in flat water speed between the 2 boards over short distances (1km) but over longer paddles, the 14' can maintain its speed easier.
When it comes to getting out on the water, it's all good. I've always surfed whatever I was in the mood for. Long board, short board, fish, single fin, tri, twin, knee board, belly board, bodysurf, air mat, sup. It's all fun. Same for flat water paddling. You can standup in a kayak, or sit on a sup. As long as it gets you out on the water and you're having fun it doesn't matter.
I was sort of hoping Warwick was going to get a slower board this season. Mind you in the photos Jean seems to be in front of him most of the time.
It will be interesting to see how the 2013 model stacks up against last years model. The "canoe" is certainly popular with WOW having a similar board and Joe Bark testing canoe shapes also.
Yes, the 23.5 is faster but more tippy. i guess if you put it in terms of percentage, the 23.5 is 10% more tippy and 10% faster. So its dependent on the conditions you intend using it and how much of a challenge your up for and ofcourse your weight. For me, its better below 20 knots but I am 88kg and an oldish hack. For a 60kg or less person, be a good allround.
