(Taken from Windsurf magazine May 07)

AT A GLANCE

The 66 is one of six models in Thommen’s RS range stemming from 60-140L. The partnership between Peter Thommen and Bjorn Dunkerbeck goes back for as long as most of us can remember, putting a wealth of race winning experience into their race series. The 66 is quoted as packing 115L into its small dimensions, beingone of the shortest and narrowest in this group. With deep tail cut-outs, parallel rails and minimal nose lift, it looks every bit the dedicated speedmachine, whilst the flat deck is there toencourage stability and rig carrying capacity. Its underside is rather interesting, with single concave in the nose turning to double concaves in the mid-section and vee in the tail, with the addition of large bevels on the rail and carbon tailcut-outs. There is also an obvious line between the gloss finish on the nose of the board and a matt finish on the rest of the board’s planing area, intended to promote the board’s water release.The 66 comes supplied with thin deck pads, thefootstraps placed right out on the rails, and a Dunkerbeck 40cm Mean Line Fin Systems CNC milled fin designed by Kai Hopf.

RIDE & HANDLING

On the water the RS66 was probably the most conventional feeling thorough bred slalom board in this group, with unquestionable race winning potential, yet requiring a fair degree of rider input to get the most from it. In light variable winds the Thommen isn’t one of the quickest to release and can’t really carry much more than 7.5m comfortably despite its 115L, largely due to its relatively narrow width. Nevertheless once powered it releases well and accelerates in a flash up to an impressive speed. There is no halfway house with the RS– it is either off the plane or thundering around at a stunning pace. The foot straps are placed on the rail, whose dome shape combined withthe thin deck pads provide a secure edge to push against, providing plenty of feedback to the rider.It has a real cutting edge character and behaves in a manner you would expect from a top of the line speed machine. Lively and edgy, it iselectrically fast off the wind, the low nose stayingpinned to the water’s surface as the board neverhints at reaching its limit. In overpowered choppy conditions, the board’s trim is more difficult to retain and requires significant rider input –something that heavier powerful sailors, or those with good slalom experience will be able to achieve more easily.

MANOEUVRES

Gybing the RS requires confidence and commitment such is the speed at which it enters.If you ease up and try to take it steadily, the board tends to rail up on its tail, bouncing and stalling round the turn as if protesting and questioning your authority. Enter the turn with purpose, however, and it will respond willingly, thriving on being pushed forcefully through the gybe, all the more so if the sea state is tricky. In the tack the RS does feel noticeably narrower than the other here so requires slightly more refined technique, although the flat deck does help.

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