HY-BOARD WING

Product presentation
"The HY-BOARD WING series combines stability and comfort with performance and agility. Thanks to their versatility, these boards are the ideal choice for beginners, intermediate and experienced wingfoilers. The new HY-BOARD WING offer a multitude of possibilities on the water! You will simply enjoy it. The 5.0 is light and very manoeuvrable. It is perfect for riders who are looking for fun and performance on the water in stronger wind conditions above all else."

In detail
Volume: 90 l
Width: 69 cm
Length: 152 cm
Weight: 7.3 kg
Straps: Yes, 3, supplied but not present during our test
Foil Box: 2 US rails with insertion of the square nuts midway, 27.5 cm long rails
Number of handles: 1, under the keel in front of the US boxes, with a large bulge for a good grip
Available sizes: 90 / 105 / 119 / 132 litres
Recommended retail price: 1299 €

Introduction
After testing the Hy-Foil and the Hy-Wing V1, it is now the turn of the smallest board from their current range to get under our feet. The look is very simple and the shape also remains quite basic. It is designed for all skill levels and offers a wide nose tip with a double concave, a large mono-pad and a lot of options for footstraps. The deck is not completely flat. The deck rails are standard.

Equipment
It is an already well used board that we could get for our test and the straps were not included in our package. These are included when you buy the board, but we weren't able to test them. However, this didn't stop us from testing the many possibilities offered by the different positions of the inserts, be it front or rear. In fact, as is rare, there are several rows of 5 inserts each. At the front, there is the possibility of moving the feet inwards or outwards from the board, giving a zero angle. In the back you can attach 2 straps for those who want to be in cruising performance mode. The decompression screw is located on the front of the board and requires an Allen key. The mono pad covers the entire foot area and there is a kicktail on the back of the board that can be used without straps. The leash eye is well centred as usual and the carry handle is located under the board in front of the deck rails. The handle is very deep and allows a secure grip of the board and foil unit.

Accessibility
It is the smallest volume of the range that we chose for this test, so it will not be suitable for beginners with a large body weight. But the general shape of this board allows for good balance in shallow water and standing. The lightest can even launch while standing up. The board is wide at the front and back and the deck is fairly flat, making it easy to position and move the feet to find balance. The wide and thick front section allows you to stabilise yourself before launching, but it also allows for more comfortable contact with the water in the event of a touchdown. The pad plays its role well and when using it without foot straps we were able to move our feet easily without slipping. The strap inserts are a good guide. It is a very accessible board.

Launch
It's not the lightest board we've tested with this volume, so it won't be its most interesting point. But with this width throughout the board, the double concave and the slight heel at the tail, the take-off comes pretty quickly. It has a good balance and the deck is comfortable. The very wide front section allows you to pump by bracing yourself and making the forward and backward movements that give the flight the speed it needs. This is a big plus for this Hy-board.

Comfort
It is a comfortable board thanks to its stability and the deck is comfortable. The mobility of the feet allows you to always adjust the position of the same to find your balance on the foil and the thick and wide front part ensures that you don't get a clear stop stroke when you touch the water. The pad plays its part well and we were never surprised that we had no control due to cramped feet. We feel most comfortable footstrap boarding, and the many different positions allow you to find the right setting for everyone. It's simple and comfortable.

Range of use
It's a little heavier than other boards in its group and won't necessarily be a light wind giant. But that's no cause for alarm. Remember that the foil has a big influence on the range of use of the material. The board was our playmate in all conditions, from very light wind where we tried to stay upright to very strong wind where we also tried to stay upright. In strong winds we didn't find it too bulky and intermediate to advanced sailors will benefit from this board. Its good buoyancy when standing still offers safety when cruising. Recently we had no problems with the size of the board in very strong winds.

Versatility
It is designed for as many sailors as possible, provided they have the ability to keep their balance. Even though its shape is a bit more purist than other boards, it is suitable for all kinds of activities. We could do long tours with it, but also ride long swells, surf, jumps and of course long full throttle rides as if we were in a race. The deck is comfortable and it will be an asset for all surfers who want to improve in the Wing. Thanks to its buoyancy, once again, you can plan long downwind blasts with it without running the risk of getting into a sea distress on the open sea.

Verdict
The Hy-Board is a nice surprise. It is versatile and accessible to most. Those familiar with the board will certainly find fault with its imposing and rather classic shape. But for those who want to progress, it's just the thing. The build quality also seems to be right, as the board doesn't seem to have suffered despite all our stresses and strains.

The test conditions
Wind: Between 8 and 40 knots
Sea state: flat, swell, waves
Spots: Almanarre, Madrague, Garonne
Effective sailing time on the product: 7 hours on 9 trips.

You can find the origin test report in french language on WingsurferJournal.com