Starboard Superflyer foil review

With the introduction of the new Evolution fuselages , Starboard has also introduced a new wind foil. The Starboard SuperFlyer EVO. Starboard positions this wind foil between the SuperCruiser EVO and the popular Freeride EVO. We have tested the Starboard SuperFlyer EVO and we have a different impression is just ff different. Read our findings.

Price € 1.139,- | Aluminium mast 85 cm | Carbon front wing 1300 cm2 | Carbon back wing 330 cm2 | Aluminium fuselage 102 cm EVO

In order to be able to assess the Starboard Superflyer in a correct way, we think it is important to compare the Starboard Superflyer with the Starboard Supercruiser Evo and the Starboard Freeride Evo wind foil. That’s why we start this review with these 2 veterans.

Our experience with Starboard Supercruiser

Let’s start with the ‘good old’ Supercruiser. We have been using the Starboard Supercruiser for years for our wind foil lessons and for rental. This freestyle oriented wind foil rises quickly due to its large front wing but is not very stable due to its playful character. We have seen that especially the heavier wind foils (>90 kg) have relatively much trouble with this wind foil. But for those who want to foil freestyle, then the Starboard Supercruiser is and remains a fantastic wind foil, we have already written a review about it before. Especially in combination with small sails, this foil is in its element

Our experience with Starboard Freeride foil

The Starboard Freeride is the by far the best-selling freeride wind foil. For years. The main reason is that this wind foil is very easy to foil (stable, forgiving) and can still be controlled with a lot of wind. This is the foil that we have already made a lot of people happy with and that is fast enough for most foilers. For more information read our detailed review about this ‘golden oldie’.

However, in the lower wind range and for the heavier wind foils (>90 kg), some customers were looking for more lift and even better stability. Some of the customers have solved this with the 105 cm fuselage or even with the 115 cm fuselage i.c.m. a smaller back wing.

Starboard Superflyer wind foil, more lift and more stability

The above paragraphs are based on our experience gained over the past few years. Now let’s get started with the Starboard Superflyer. Also with this wind foil we see the now known parts come back, the mast, 102 cm evo fuselage and back wing we already know. The front wing of 1300 cm2 is new for wind foiling. For the reader who also wingfoilts, the front wing will probably already be familiar. The shape of the front wing is exactly the same as the wingfoil front wing E-Type 1300. O.b.v. the specs you would indeed expect that the Superflyer is exactly between the Supercruiser and Freeride.

We go on the water with the new Starboard Freeride 150 with about 10 to 15 knots of wind. What is immediately noticeable is that the Starboard Superflyer comes up very easily and quickly. Clearly faster than the Freeride. In the air we also have on average more lift than with the Freeride, but even with hard gusts still good to control. What we also notice right away is the enormous stability of the foil. And by that we mean the straight stability and the height stability. Both with less wind and with more wind, the foil is super stable. More stable than the Starboard Freeride foil. In terms of speed, it is slightly slower than the Freeride foil, but clearly a lot faster than the Supercruiser.

What we also notice is that due to the good straight-line stability, the manoeuvrability of the Superflyer is less than that of the Freeride. So carving along on waves or hijacking is less smooth than with the Freeride. With that, the Superflyer actually shows more ‘milling slalom’ properties (without this foil being particularly fast now) than the Freeride. The Superflyer can also be foiled with sails up to 8 m2. Our experience with the SuperFlyer is therefore different from how Starboard puts the foil down. And that’s interesting! The characteristics of the Superflyer fit exactly with the wishes of many wind foilers;

• Stability foiling straight back and forth is what most wind foilers prefer to do
• Better highest stability is what many wind foilers find very important to be able to wind foil as relaxed as possible.
• More lift ensures earlier flying and therefore more flying hours. Almost everyone wants that 🙂
• Slightly less easy in the high wind range (> 18 knots) is less important for most wind foilers

Which one to choose? Superflyer or Freeride wind foil?

The Supercruiser remains a ‘special case’ in a positive sense. But the Superflyer has many features that the Freeride also has and even features that the Freeride does not have, but does need. We therefore think that the Superflyer will compete with the Freeride. But which one should you choose? We list the pros and cons

We use both the Starboard Superflyer and the Starboard Freeride for our lessons and they are available for rental. If you want to try out these wind foils, you can of course do this with us.