Summer storm, Board test
A lot of wind predicted, good time to make one choice between the AHD Power Wave 253 and the JP Single Thruster 75.

Busy at the Kabbelaarsbank, lots of familiar faces. My friends just came off the water, 4.2 was too small.
I didn't expect that, prediction was really 40+ knots.
Just looking at the wind and water, it look really windy. Maybe just a lull.
Rigged the Voodoo 3.7 with JP FSW 84 and MUFins 20/11.5, the 3.7 should be the right size, to be on the safe side, bit more float: FSW 84.
In the beginning wind just a little bit less, but that was soon over, wind increased quickly. Took a bit of time to find the correct trim in the sail.
I was jumping soon. Jibes, even planing jibes went well too. Only the gusts were getting stronger. Which caused the board get less controlable over the chop.
So the wind was finally strong enough for what I came to do: Test storm boards.

Voodoo 3.7 with AHD Power Wave 253 and WaveWarrior 22cm
Get up, plane, jump and enjoy. Control: the AHD gives such a smooth ride compared to the FSW 84. The AHD has a shape focused on control, compared to the FSW which is mainly focused on early planing.
Even with this narrow board I was usually able to jibes, sometimes even do them planing. Jumping went well, only waveriding not very easy with so much power in the sail.

Voodoo 3.7 with JP Single Thurster and MFC 2K 22cm
Chosen to sail the Single Thruster without thrusters. If you're sailing in so much power you don't really want to waveride anyway, and it's Kabbelaarsbank, so there are no real waves.
In addition, I believe that in this type of circumstance a single fin is better, which sails over the chop, not through the chop. And because of the higher speed you can also lose more sail pressure, so more control in the sail.

Switched between the JP Single Thurster and the AHD a lot. See if I can find a clear winner in this kind of extreme circumstances. The circumstances for which I have this board. If the wind is less extrame I always I pick the FSW 84. Yes, the AHD gives more control, a smoother ride, so that is the winner, but difference is not very big. The JP is also definitely a good board, also gives a lot of control and rest. The JP of course has the advantage that it can also be used as a thruster for waveriding. But with these kinds of circumstances I'm looking for controle in a board, and the AHD just rides a bit smoother. Especcially over vicious chop/waves when the board hits the chop, the AHD is much smoother. With the AHD you just have to pay less attention to the board and the chop, you can go everywhere. With the JP that is less so, with nasty chop to focus is more on dodging chop.

What a day, real summer storm, not cold, and gusts up to 45 knots. Especially after the rain was gone it became really good. Too bad for my mates who had started early and were done with it when the best conditions arrived.
I made my choice. I'm going to keep the AHD.

Kabbelaarsbank

Present: Jeroen, Jeroen (DonLimas), Jurjen, Martijn (Volvosurfer), Ron (SoulDragon)

11:30 0.25 hour Wind: S/SW 38/44 kts
Board: JP Freestyle Wave 84 Pro - MUFins X-Wave 20cm/MUFins X-Tri 2x11,5cm
Sail: North Voodoo 3.7 - North XC65 380cm - Severne Enigma 150-200
  First time with the Voodoo 3.7 on the FSW 84. Wind was strong, had to give much more downhaul and outhaul on the 3.7, needed a bit of tuning to find the best trim, but once found that was good. Board was a bit nervous on the water, but that is often with the FSW 84 with 40+ knots.
11:45 2.5 hour Wind: S/SW
Board: AHD Power Wave 253 - Select Wave Warrior 22cm
Sail: North Voodoo 3.7 - North XC65 380cm - Severne Enigma 150-200
  After 3 years since I last sailed the AHD. What a incredible board, as if you are riding on an air cushion, it greatly dampens the chop. Very usefull in 40+ knots. You can completely forget the board. Sail trim was good: max. In the hardest gusts 45+ knots it was survival mode. But generally great fun. Jumping, bit of waveriding. Jibes,, sometimes planing.
14:15 1.25 hour Wind: S/SW 38/46 kts
Board: JP Single Thruster 75 Pro - MFC 2K 22cm
Sail: North Voodoo 3.7 - North XC65 380cm - Severne Enigma 150-200
  Set worked very well. First time with the Single Thruster as single fin. Control good, but in the most vicious chop the control with the AHD is better. Through the chop the boards slam on the water, the AHD is softer over the chop. Not that you have no control, but just a bit more restless then the AHD.