Design: The RRD is a classic ‘fast tail’ all-rounder, with very little tail rocker and a standard (150cm 2cm point) FSW planing flat. Planshape is fairly standard, perhaps a fraction shorter but wider in the nose than average, and the board features significant vee throughout.

On the water: Although the RRD proved in comparative testing to be amongst the very earliest to get up and planing it has a slightly soft and cushioned feel to it which can fool you into thinking that it isn’t the most sprightly. Certainly it feels relaxing and easy rather than lairy and exciting, but it is one of the most comfortable boards to blast around on due partly to the rocker and partly to the very comfortable configuration of pads, deck and straps that always seems to let you find an ergonomic position. It is fast but very controlled and good through chop. One tester described it as “armchair cruising but radical when you wanted it to be”.

Although not as naturally loose and turny in the waves as the more rockered boards it still does turn very nicely both through fast gybes and in the onshore riding we had. It keeps speed very well in the gybe exit or bottom turn but isn’t too stiff in the top turn to have fun on waves. It was one of the favourites for freestyle, with our experts finding it one of the most easy to slide through moves.

Fittings: Fittings are of a good standard. The 27cm G10 MFC fin suited the board very well. The straps are very comfortable but don’t give quite the direct feel of the JP / Mistral / Fanatic straps, however the dome and deckpads give you numerous options for driving the board in good comfort.

Overall: A very popular board with all the testers and guesters. Although it doesn’t feel quite as dynamic and exciting as some boards it really has no weaknesses, and is better than average in all departments with the added bonus of excellent comfort whether blasting, freestyling or riding. It is early to plane, easy and quick to blast, controllable in a wide variety of winds and water states, good to jump and pretty good at riding as well.

We would strongly recommend it for medium heavyweights (78-88kg) for making the most of moderate to medium winds in coastal conditions for riding, jumping. However, it would do well also as a strong wind board for similar weights of sailor in flatter waters as well.