Starboard iSonic 83 + Severne Mach 5 8.6 Windsurfing Set

This complete set based on the Starboard iSonic 83 cm 2023 and the Severne Mach 5 8.6 was created for windsurfers who expect above all speed, acceleration and maximum performance on the course.

The Starboard iSonic 83 is a wide slalom board designed to work with large sails. The wide tail provides adequate stability at high speed, while also letting you efficiently transfer the sail's power to the board.

The iSonic 83 has been paired with the Severne Mach 5 8.6, an advanced cambered race sail designed to generate high power and hold high speed. Combined with the Severne Apex 490 SDM mast, the Severne Race 36 cm HD SDM extension and the carbon Severne Enigma 190-210 boom, you get a very efficient race rig.

Who is this set for?

We recommend this set especially for:

• advanced windsurfers,
• racers and people training in slalom,
• riders focused on maximum speed,
• people sailing on large race sails,
• windsurfers competing in regattas,
• people looking for a very fast board for strong wind,
• riders who can already comfortably sail in the harness and footstraps,
• people for whom performance matters more than ease of use.

What's included in the set?

Board: Starboard iSonic 83 cm 2023

The Starboard iSonic 83 is a competition slalom board designed to achieve very high speeds.

A width of 83 cm provides an adequate platform for a large 8.6 m2 sail, while still letting you maintain high control while sailing fast. The iSonic construction has been optimized for acceleration, top speed and efficient carrying through tacks.

The wide tail lets you load the fin heavily and use the sail's full power, while the characteristic bottom shape provides efficient acceleration once up on the plane.

Key advantages:

• 83 cm width,
• Carbon construction,
• very good acceleration,
• high top speed,
• a wide, stable tail,
• efficient use of large sails,
• high control at high speed,
• a construction designed for advanced riders.

Sail: Severne Mach 5 8.6

The Severne Mach 5 8.6 is a fully-fledged race sail designed for slalom and maximum performance.

The use of cambers provides a very stable aerodynamic profile. The sail holds its shape under heavy load and lets the rider accelerate hard without constantly needing to adjust its position.

The Mach 5 was designed for very high speed, strong acceleration and a wide range of control. The large 8.6 m2 surface area is a perfect match for the wide character of the iSonic board.

Key advantages:

• 8.6 m2,
• race construction,
• 4x cambers,
• a very stable profile,
• high power,
• great acceleration,
• high top speed,
• good control under heavy load,
• a very good range of use in slalom.

Mast: Severne Apex 490 SDM

The Severne Apex 490 SDM is a high-end race mast designed to work with Severne's competition sails.

The SDM construction provides high stiffness and the right performance characteristics for large race sails. With the Mach 5, it lets you keep the correct sail profile and make use of its potential at high speeds.

The Apex is a decidedly more sporty construction than masts focused primarily on durability. In this set its job is to make the most of the Mach 5's capabilities.

Key advantages:

• 490 cm length,
• SDM construction,
• high stiffness,
• low weight,
• race characteristics,
• precise sail handling,
• a very good match for the large Mach sail.

Extension: Severne Race 36 cm HD SDM

The Severne Race 36 cm HD SDM is a durable extension designed for SDM masts and race sails.

The construction was made with the heavy loads generated by competition sails in mind. The pulley system allows for precise downhaul adjustment and the right sail tension.

Key advantages:

• SDM,
• 36 cm length,
• HD construction,
• designed for race sails,
• a solid construction,
• easy downhaul adjustment,
• precise trim adjustment.

Boom: Severne Enigma 190-210

The Severne Enigma 190-210 is a carbon boom designed for competition windsurfing.

Compared to an aluminum boom, it provides significantly greater stiffness while reducing weight. This is especially important with an 8.6 m2 sail, where heavy loads are transferred directly onto the boom.

The boom's high stiffness lets you transfer power from the sail to the board more efficiently and improves the precision of handling the whole rig.

Key advantages:

• a carbon construction,
• a 190-210 cm range,
• very high stiffness,
• low weight,
• race construction,
• precise sail handling,
• efficient power transfer,
• designed for large competition sails.

How does this set behave on the water?

This is a set focused on one thing: speed.

The iSonic 83 gives you a wide, stable platform, and the Mach 5 8.6 delivers an enormous amount of power. Once up on the plane, the set picks up speed very quickly and lets you load the fin and the board heavily.

The Apex + Enigma combination provides the stiffness needed to make full use of the Mach 5's potential.

On the water this is a set that's very fast, powerful and precise, but also demanding. It's not intended for relaxed freeride sailing or learning the basics.

The Hydrosfera Opinion

Here we're already talking about performance/race gear, not a typical freeride set.

The biggest advantage of this configuration is how well the components are matched to each other. The iSonic 83 is a board built for fast sailing with large sails, and the Mach 5 8.6 delivers exactly the characteristics you'd expect from a slalom set.

On top of that there's the Apex 490 SDM and the carbon Enigma 190-210. This matters, because with an 8.6 sail, the rig's stiffness makes a huge difference. Every element of this set was chosen more for performance than for maximum ease of use.

The Mach 5 gives you a lot of power and a very stable profile, and the iSonic lets you put that power to use generating high speed. The 83 cm width also gives you an adequate platform to load the gear hard while sailing fast.

That said, one thing needs to be said clearly: this isn't a set for a beginner. A large race sail, cambers, a wide slalom board and a very stiff rig require experience, the right technique and active handling of the gear.

In short: a very fast, powerful and precise slalom set for an advanced rider who wants to squeeze every last drop of speed out of the wind.

Set specification