Tushingham RD Wave 100 tops the Boards Mast test

Category: Windsurf > Windsurfing Masts

The Boards Magazine test team had a few surprises when they carried out a major review of windsurfing masts on the market. You can find all the details in the May 2007 edition which saw Ian Leonard and his team test 16 masts - all suposedly the same length and stiffness!

Although they spent many hours of measuring, rigging, sailing and more rigging, they couldn't come out with a clear winner. However, the Reduced Diameter Masts - RDM - won some serious acclaim. The Standard Diameter Mast versus RDM debate has run for years but some of the comments show RDMs as clear performance winners:

Where we believe mast quality and compatibility to be similar, our testers now prefer the performanc of skinny masts in most situations

If you are expecting to pay well over £200 anyway then our vote would go to finding a good skinny.

One outstanding performer was the Tushingham RDM Wave 100 which "worked as well or better than the manufacturer's own mast on nearly every sail we tried it on"

Reduced diameter masts are often the first choice for wave and big action sailors. Their narrow diameter and thicker walled configuration makes them inherently stronger than an equivalent standard diameter mast. Many sailors also prefer the feel of a skinny mast in transitions where its narrow diameter makes it easier to grip.

The Tushingham RD Wave uses 100% carbon fibres and is built to the same specification as the latest Pro Series 100, with further Kevlar woven reinforcement at the base and in the boom area. The narrower diameter of the lower part of the mast has a significant effect on how it will match the sail's luff curve. Tushingham have made a corresponding adjustment to the mast's bend curve, in order to achieve a perfect fit with conventionally cut sails.

Recommended for hard use in all Wave, Freestyle and High Wind sails.