Susann Law

Conditions were average, a gusty North Easterly 11-19 knots, but the timing was right and Manly beach was teeming with kites and windsurfers. When I joined my husband he had already rigged my gear: our Exocet S-Cross 138l with a 6.2 Shark attached. With the combination of my 60kg and the board volume I was expecting a stable but slightly sluggish experience. I was right on the first account but certainly wrong on the second. To my delight the board positively impressed with its early planing as well as high speed performance. There were small rolling waves but the board didn't feel 'floaty' at all; it stayed glued to the surface without losing speed. Furthermore the S-Cross was still comfortable to manoeuvre. For about 40-50min I had multiple runs across the bay and the board seemed to be on full speed at all times, giving me a consistent and very enjoyable ride. The combination of the board, sail and me was perfect - a dream team! Still the board was the star and it gave me the impression the wind was the most constant I ever experiences, unaware of any gusts or lulls. A bonus for me is being able to catch or keep up with my male counterparts. Whilst some of them had problems at times getting on or staying on the plane, I flew past them having several 'Woohoo' moments. The ease of getting in the straps is always an added bonus. The bottom line: the S-Cross is perfect if you have a small window of time, looking for a fuss free, consistent speedy blast in medium strength wind. Especially when you have a small window of time and need assurance you will plane with great speed. The board will maximise your 'woohoo' moments and will take care of you to give a feel good experience.