28.05.2024r.

Sardynia

It’s been all work and no play, but finally, it was time for a little break. 😎 This trip was planned last year, but it was only now that everything came together, allowing us to organize a trip to Sardinia. Seventeen hours by car and about 10 hours by ferry, but it was worth it to see all the beautiful views while slowly passing through Austria and Italy.

Upon arrival, a friend greeted us and invited us for a little cruise and some relaxation after the journey. The next day, the conditions were just right, so we could finally do what we came for. The sailing forecast held up almost the entire week, with just one day of no wind. Sometimes, the wind blew too strong for the equipment we had, but that at least gave us a chance to rest and explore the island a bit.

It’s impossible to show everything in detail, as the video would be an hour long or more, and we didn’t always have the camera set up for fear of losing it in stronger conditions. So, here’s a little highlight reel of our short windsurfing getaway to Sardinia. 😊

21.11.2023r.

Guide - Repairing a Carbon Boom.

Sometimes carbon booms can crack.  In this video guide, I’d like to share how you can repair such a boom on your own. It’s not complicated if you have a knack for DIY and a little free time. Unfortunately, the entire repair will take four days due to the curing time required for the resin.  

If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out.  P.S. The hole in my shirt is a result of a little mishap with the sander. 😜

...to jump on his setup and test the Starboard Carve 139L, 80 cm wide with a Severne NCX 6.5 sail on an anti-grass fin. The board took off nicely and quickly, but when I put more weight on the back leg, I experienced some spins. After reaching the shore, I said it was time to change the fin.

In my bag, I currently had only two fins – a 44 cm and a 36 cm. One was too long for the current conditions, while the other seemed theoretically too short. The manufacturer recommends a minimum of 40 cm, but we decided to see how it would perform with what we had, so we opted for the shorter one – the Dark Fins Pro 36 cm of the new generation. As I mentioned earlier, it was only theoretically too short. It turned out that there were no spins even during sharp turns, and the setup seemed to catch its breath and unleash its full potential. 

Immediately, in addition to good grip, I felt an increase in acceleration, and soon the GPS registered a speed of 48 km/h. My friend concluded that after this test, he had no choice but to buy that fin for his setup. 😎 I’m really glad to see that Dark Fins Pro is gaining more and more satisfied customers, especially in the latest version featuring the red cover. Those who received their fin in such a cover can be sure they are lucky owners of the latest, improved construction.

Tomorrow, the forecast looks good for the bay again, so we’re heading to pick up the repaired sail and finish the session from the previous Sunday. 🤙

19.10.2023r

TEST - The First Dark Fins Foil Mast

Last weekend was quite eventful. 😎 Once again, beautiful conditions for sailing were present on Polish waters, and many people headed to their favorite spots. This time, we went to Modzerowo for some testing, but it wasn't another fin test...😜 Everyone can agree that year by year, the wind conditions are becoming less favorable for us. Windsurfing fans, in order not to sit on the shore waiting for good conditions at the sandbar, are increasingly switching to foiling. This is, among other things, a good alternative for light wind days, allowing you to glide over the water even when it's not very windy. Some time ago, we decided that in addition to fins, we would also start producing masts for foiling. 🤪

Now we can officially announce that we are introducing a carbon foil mast for the Starboard system with a length of 96 cm to our offerings. 💪 Just last Saturday, we tested our first prototype mast. The conditions that day were quite challenging, with gusty winds reaching up to 70 km/h. Paradoxically, it was a good condition for testing, as it allowed us to evaluate our mast's durability as well. Our colleague, who took on this challenge, did everything possible at one point to overload the mast and check its strength, which you can see at the end of the video. We consider the entire test a success; we didn't expect the first unit to perform so well. 😊 After consulting with our tester, we decided to make one small adjustment to make our mast even better and to ensure it can compete comfortably with masts from other manufacturers, except perhaps in terms of price. 😜 Masts will be available for order starting in November, initially with a Starboard attachment, but we are not ruling out introducing attachments for other systems as well.

October 29 – Chałupy.

On the last Sunday of October, we decided to head to Chałupy. According to the forecast, despite the expected rain throughout the day, it looked like we would have some decent sailing conditions. Before 11 AM, the first people were already out on 7.5 sails, but gradually the wind started to pick up. Knowing the trend was upward, we decided to rig a 7.0 for the Isonic 73. It quickly became clear that this was a good choice; I was getting some nice runs and even hit over 54 km/h without much effort. 😉

As the wind continued to build, I started to think about achieving a great result, maybe even setting a personal best. 🤪 Unfortunately, my plans were quickly derailed by equipment failure. After sailing for 5 km, the boom couldn’t take it anymore and broke, both at the front and back, also puncturing the sail in the process. This completely dashed any hopes for a good result. 🫤

Well, I had to come to terms with the situation: nearly three hours of driving just to sail for 10 minutes. After cooling down from this unfortunate turn of events, a friend suggested...

07.10.2023r

Saturday sailing in your own backyard.

Last Saturday, there was a strong wind blowing across almost all of Poland. You could say that the real windsurfing season has finally begun. We decided to spend the day in our own backyard and go sailing in Przydwórz on Lake Wieczna Południowe. 😎 A lot of windsurfing, kitesurfing, and winging enthusiasts gathered at the spot, and there was even one e-foil. 😁 There were no speed records, but the fun on the water in such a large group was fantastic. 🤙

08.08.2023r.

Controlled purchase 😎 HYDROSFERA

Last week, we went on a little shopping trip to Hydrosfera. There, waiting for us in a box was a brand-new STARBOARD ISONIC 73, which we decided to purchase after prior consultations with Maciek and Kamil. Unwrapping the paper around the board felt like being a child on Christmas morning 🥰 Luckily, Christmas is still far off, so we’re still holding out hope for Santa 😜 The ISONIC 73 is already our second board from Starboard. The size 73 will allow us to test shorter fins that are increasingly being chosen by our customers. The board will also definitely come in handy for racing on the water and achieving even higher speeds 🤪 A huge thank you to Kamil and Maciek from Hydrosfera for their expert advice, and to Adam Mroz, who also helped us choose the right board 😉 I highly recommend shopping at Hydrosfera, especially now, because they have some great discounts 😜

We managed to reach a maximum speed of 53 km/h, and it likely could have been faster if we had a slightly narrower board. After some initial runs, we decided to capture a few shots, but unfortunately, the wind weakened a bit, and there was no more spectacular flying in the air 🤪. 

Despite that, we still had a great time on the water, and the setup became more suited to the current conditions. The fin performed excellently, both when we were overpowered and in lighter winds. We experienced good control and grip while carving.

As I mentioned in the video, theoretically, this combination shouldn't work well together; ideally, a 45 cm fin should be used with this setup. However, as you can see, the 42 cm fin also holds up well, provided that it is well-made 😜.

27.06.2023r.

Test of the 42 cm Fin.

After more than two weeks of calm weather, the long-awaited day finally arrived! 😊 This coincided with the completion of our new 42 cm fin, which we made on order for a client, so we decided to test it out as well. The forecast predicted conditions for large setups, so we packed the Isonic 85 along with two sails: 7.8 and 9.5.

Upon arrival, however, we found that the conditions were a bit different than expected. At times, the wind was around 6.6, and at others, it reached up to 9.5, making 7.8 the optimal choice. There were moments when we had to wait for gusts, but also times when the 7.8 felt quite excessive. Nonetheless, we mounted the 42 fin under the board to see how it would perform in this setup.

Initially, when the wind picked up a bit, the board sometimes flew a bit off the water 😅, but we were always able to maintain control.

10.06.2023r.

Głuszyńskie CUP 2023

Another windsurfing competition, this time the Głuszyńskie CUP 2023, in which we had the honor of participating as sponsors. We also managed to compete in the slalom category. 😎 Our main prize—a Dark Fins Pro fin made to order—was won by Paweł Musiał from Luxsurf.pl, whom we congratulate warmly! 🏆💪 The other competitors in slalom received discount vouchers for purchasing DARK FINS fins.We congratulate everyone and wish you success in future competitions! 😉🤙

21.05.2023 r.

Commercial Cup 2023 Regatta.

On Sunday, May 21, despite a very tight schedule, we managed to find time to participate in the **FIRST AMATEUR WINDSURFING REGATTA: COMMERCIAL CUP 2023** in Modzerowo. Unfortunately, the wind forecast was not kind to us, and instead of races at breathtaking speeds, we had a competition in displacement sailing. 😅 Only the foilers occasionally managed to catch gusts and soar over the water. Despite the lack of wind, we still had a fantastic time thanks to the organizers, sponsors, and the great team of competitors who showed up for these first amateur regattas. It turned out that in such light winds, the best performing equipment wasn’t the newest windsurfing gear but the good old Mistral, on which our friend easily outpaced all the newer boards. As Dark Fins, we managed to finish in 6th place in this displacement sailing competition. 😅 In the prize draw, luck was on our side, and we won the main prize from Easy Surf: a shopping voucher worth 500 PLN. 😜 Thanks to Easy Surf, there was also an opportunity to test the latest JP boards for both slalom and foiling, as well as the newest Neilpryde sails.

On June 11, the next amateur regatta will take place, this time at Lake Głuszyńskie, and we will be attending again, and we warmly invite you to join us. This time, we will not only participate but also sponsor the event. 😎 A fin in the Pro version made to order for the winner will be up for grabs from us! 💪

05.05.2023r.

GARDNO 22 knots

Another session from the long May weekend. On this day, the conditions for planing were perfect, as evidenced by the number of people who decided to come to Lake Gardno. There were nearly 22 knots on the shore, and a bit more on the lake, not counting the gusts that sometimes really packed a punch. The 5.5m sail was too large for most of the time, but unfortunately, it was the smallest one we had on hand. Taking advantage of the conditions, we decided to test a super stiff 33 cm fin; unfortunately, we didn't have the right board for it, so it was attached to the Exocet SL Sport 78. Despite such a wide board compared to the prevailing conditions, the fin performed excellently — great control and grip on every course.

That day, we covered 80 km on it, and there would certainly have been a lot more, but an unexpected encounter with a fish at nearly 50 km/h ended with a solid catapult, which prevented us from continuing to sail. The result — a damaged nose of the board, a bruised knee, and generally stretched muscles. Fortunately, nothing more serious happened; the board will be "popped back" and will be as good as new, and the bruises will heal on their own 😜 Unfortunately, right before the incident, the camera battery died, so we couldn't capture the spectacular catapult 😅 Let's hope that there won't be any more unexpected encounters like that in the future 🫤

02.05.2023r.

May Weekend at Gardno

This year, we really got to go all out on the water during the long May weekend. For those who managed, there were up to 9 days off! During that time, there were plenty of days with ideal windsurfing conditions. We decided to take full advantage of this and started on April 30th, sailing in Chałupy under beautiful sunny skies, with almost 20-degree temperatures and perfect planing conditions. May 1st was a rest day, but on the 2nd, we headed to Gardno, where we were initially greeted by rain. However, after about an hour, the sky cleared, and the wind started blowing steadily, as you can see in the attached video. Wednesday and Thursday were spent recovering, and on Friday, we returned to Gardno to have some fun in nearly 22 knots of base wind—but more on that in the next video, as soon as we find time to edit it 😜. These were ideal days for testing our new fins, this time in sizes 33, 35, 37, and 42. We'll soon announce on Facebook the chance for those interested to test our fins 😉🤙

20.04.2023r.

Saturday trip to Lake Gardno.

Another forecast came up, so this time, for a change, we headed to Gardno. It’s a great spot for sailing on flat water. Once we got there, we realized the conditions were slightly weaker than what the weather apps had predicted earlier. Nevertheless, we couldn't complain about the wind, though sometimes we had to wait for gusts. With mild temperatures in the teens and occasional sunshine, it was finally time to wear a thinner wetsuit and feel a bit more comfortable. We spent the whole day on the large setup: Isonic 85, Loft Sails 7.8 with a Dark Fins Pro 44 cm fin. The max speed that day was 52 km/h, and we covered a distance of 63 km. It was a great day, and if the forecast holds up, we plan to head back there for the May holidays with a smaller set of fins to test ;)

7.04. 2023.  

A nice forecast came up for Sunday, April 2, so we decided to head out for a quick session, this time to Żnin on Lake Żnińskie Duże. As usual, it was an opportunity to test another fin, this time a much stiffer one than the previous 44 cm model. There weren't any speed records, probably due to the considerable chop, but despite that, the GPS recorded a max speed of 49 km/h. The test can be summed up quickly: good control, grip, and the ability to sail upwind sharply. We used the large setup: Starboard Isonic 85 and Loft Sails Racing Blade 7.8. 

It’s a great lake with easy water access and an awesome crew from the Żnin Team, who we had the pleasure of sailing with 💪😎. We'll definitely be back again! 🤙

31.12.2022r.

New Year's Eve sailing. 😜

 It was a beautiful way to end the year in windsurfing style.  On that day, the air temperature reached 14°C. We gathered the crew and headed to Lake Głuszyńskie to celebrate the end of the old year together.  After sailing, we popped some champagne and wished each other for such forecasts as that day to last throughout 2023. 🤙

8.01.2023r.

Tests and comparison of fins.

"At the beginning of the year, during winter, with a temperature of 6°C and wind, and to top it off, it was Sunday. It was the perfect time to load the gear into the car and head to the bay as quickly as possible. ;)

On that day, we had the chance to test our two new pro fins, each measuring 38 cm. They have the same length but different stiffness. We were curious about the differences between them, both in speed and in handling the board while planing.

We often receive questions from you about how our fins compare to other well-known brands. So we decided to take this opportunity to make such a comparison, and we started with a Carpenter fin in size 38.5 cm."

"We will certainly be doing such comparisons with other well-known brands whenever the opportunity arises. However, we were most curious about this comparison because, while creating our new fin, we opted for a proven design that was invented and tested many years ago. One could say that so far, no one has come up with anything better, and manufacturers are only trying to (let's call it) 'tune' their fins by modifying their shapes, construction methods, or the arrangement of materials used in the production of fins. Of course, there are other important processes involved in making a good fin, but those remain the sweet secrets of each manufacturer. :)

We decided to follow this path and borrowed the profile from Carpenter, undoubtedly one of the best fins in the world. Our pro fins are therefore similar to Carpenter's, sharing the same profile but differing slightly in the shape of the tip and, of course, in the composition of the core and the method of their construction. The first fin made with the new profile turned out to be really good, with a quick entry into planing and good grip even with larger sails. Despite the very satisfying results, we made some modifications to its construction. We established contact with a laboratory that agreed to test our fins, and after consultations, we determined that we could still improve this design a bit. ;) Thus, the mentioned 38 cm fins have already been made with a slight modification.

After this long introduction, let’s move on to the summary of our tests and comparisons. The conditions on that day were variable. The wind was weaker than the forecasts had predicted—sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker. Therefore, we tried to sail a bit on each fin. We covered a total of just under 60 km, and with each fin change, a new measurement session was started. We first put on the Carpenter 38.5 cm fin and conducted two measurement sessions, with the best showing a maximum speed of 25.598 knots, which is 47.4 km/h. Under those conditions, that was a really good result, as the seaweed was also a problem that had to be removed from the fins after each tack. Despite this, the handling and control were very good.

Next, we tested the Dark Fins pro 38 cm fin, which had similar stiffness to the Carpenter. This one turned out to be slightly slower than the previous fin, but control and handling were also very good. The measurement result was 24.424 knots, which is 45.2 km/h, or 2 km/h slower. The surprise came with the third fin, the Dark Fins 38, with a more flexible construction. The maximum speed was 25.328 knots, which is 46.9 km/h, just 0.5 km/h slower than the leader. We were convinced this would be the slowest of the three tested fins, but it was quite the surprise! :) We should add that both Dark Fins had exactly the same rake angles of 6°, while the Carpenter had 4°. Despite losing the race, we are still pleased that the difference is minimal compared to one of the best fins in the world. 

This was a comparison in terms of maximum speed achieved; however, regarding other sensations between them in terms of handling, control, etc., they are very similar. All fins entered planing quickly, were easy to control, and were predictable—no surprises. The most significant difference could be felt in the quick response to foot movements for rapid direction changes with our fin featuring a more flexible construction, but that was, in fact, predictable. Each fin did catch some seaweed at low speeds, and that pesky grass drove us mad. However, at speeds above 40 km/h, despite dragging grassy braids behind, all held their course firmly.

In summary: this was a very positive test for us, giving us motivation to create even better fins, hopefully. Next time, we will look for another fin to compare so we can answer your questions. ;) 

All tests were conducted on the setup: Exocet SL Sport 78 129L with the LoftSails Racing Blade 7.8 sail."

05.03.2023r.

Dark Fins Pro - 37 cm Fin Test

A wind forecast came up, so we decided to test the 37 cm fin in the Pro version, which we custom-made for an individual order. To make things a bit more challenging, we paired it with the Isonic 137L, 85 cm wide. Theoretically, this setup shouldn't have worked well, as the board's manufacturer recommends a minimum fin size of 46 cm. But we thought, why not have some fun and see what happens! :)

I'll admit, up until now, the shortest fin I'd used on this board was 44 cm, so there were some concerns about whether we could even get going. But... check out for yourselves how it turned out! ;)

22.02.2023r.

Workshop durability test

During production, we ended up with a defective fin, and instead of throwing it away, we decided to subject it to a workshop durability test. See for yourself whether the Dark Fins Pro fin survived this challenge.

09.11.2022r.

Another mold. 😜

 A few days ago, we received another mold for fin production. This means that a completely new fin designed for more advanced windsurfers will soon be available in our offer. 💪  As Dark Fins, we want to develop for you, which is why, in addition to the new mold, we recently had the pleasure of participating in a special training session. The training focused on the manufacturing process of carbon laminates, with the main topic being the production of fins. 😊  Currently, we are working and testing the new production method, so we will let you know soon what interesting results come from it. 🤙

"The fin, according to Adam, went very well upwind, and it was also good downwind. The only note was that at higher speeds around 58 km/h, it started to 'slip' slightly—however, these were not spin outs. We quickly managed to determine the cause of this behavior together, and eliminating this inconvenience turned out to be child's play, but let's keep that as our sweet secret. 😜

In summary, despite the very short test, we gained valuable experiences and information that will help us in creating even better fins.

That day, we conducted one more test. It may not be entirely reliable, but it still gives us a lot to think about. Two boards, two fins, and one sail: the Exotec SL Sport 129L with our 43 cm fin and the Patrik III 120L with the Zfins 37. I personally decided to check which board would sail faster. I know that for the test to be reliable, both boards should have the same fins, but the goal wasn't to find out which board is faster; it was to see what the speed difference would be between the two fins. We didn't feel like running around with a screwdriver to switch the fins, but for at least a somewhat comparable comparison, we used the same sail: the Loftsails Racing Blade 7.8. 

The result...? It turned out that the speed difference between the Exotec with the Dark Fins 43 and the Patrik with the Zfins 37 was only 1 km/h, in favor of the Patrik. So we can conclude that our fins can comfortably compete with other well-known brands.

Now we eagerly await a good forecast to conduct more meaningful tests and ensure we're heading in the right direction."

6.08.2022r.

Gardno - Tests

A brief summary of Saturday's sailing at Gardno.  The wind was beautiful and fairly steady. Occasionally, a stronger gust would come, but you could see it approaching from afar, so there was time to prepare for it. That day, we wanted to test three new fins in sizes 28, 29, and 30. Unfortunately, despite the nice conditions, it was still too weak of a wind to fully assess their capabilities. However, we managed, for just a moment, to attach our 30 fin to Adam Mroz's board, who had previously tested a 32 fin from another manufacturer. It was a very short and quick test since Adam was finishing his session, but out of curiosity, he decided to do a couple of tacks. The feedback... quite positive, although there was no speed record achieved. 😅

09.10.2022r.

Chałupy.

Sunday sailing on a beautiful sunny day at the bay. 😎  Last Sunday, we were in Chałupy. The conditions were very good, but suited for large sails and big fins. This allowed us to test the fin in size 48. 😜 The speeds weren't overwhelming, but it was so pleasant to sail that we took a little trip from Chałupy to Błądzikowo. The one-way trip took just under 15 minutes.  It was a very enjoyable and positive day. 💪 Let's hope for more beautiful, sunny, and windy autumn days this fall. 🤙

24.0702022r.

Expedition from Kuźnica to Rewa

Sunday sailing in Kuźnica. 😎  Initially, the plan was to sail in Rewa, but upon arrival, it turned out that the forecast was inaccurate. A quick decision was made to head to Kuźnica instead, where the conditions were expected to be better. Upon reaching, we indeed found more wind. 😜 A few tacks to warm up, and then off to Rewa! 🤔  

This time, however, it was on the board! 🤪 For safety, I strapped my phone to the frame, packed some water in my backpack, and set off. 🏄  I managed to reach Rewa in just over 30 minutes, almost in one tack. I say "almost" because the wind was swirling in Rewa, so some maneuvering was necessary. Upon arrival at Surfstacja, I was treated to a chocolate for energy and a delicious coffee. 🧋😋  

The return trip took a bit longer—an hour and forty minutes—due to some stops caused by shallow spots and seaweed wrapping around the fin. I also had a nice chat with a kite instructor at Rybitwia shoal, where training was currently taking place.  

It was a very nice expedition and a good workout. Including the sailing in Kuźnica, the total distance was 68 km on the setup: Starboard Isonic 85, Naish 7.9 sail, and Dark Fins 43 cm.

28.06.2022r.

Kuźnica by ABC SURF

A short video from Tuesday's sailing in Kuźnica. 😎 The wind was a bit stronger than the forecast predicted, and finally, I could get some good sailing in. Around 2 PM, conditions were perfect for the 7.9 sail. Later, the wind picked up, and I was slightly overpowered, but the fun was great. Unfortunately, the boom didn’t hold up; the tube broke at the head.

I couldn't miss such beautiful conditions, so I quickly switched to the 7.5 from ABC Surf and got back on the water. After a while, the wind picked up even more, and I was overpowered again, but it felt too wasteful to come in and change sails, especially since this one was already too small for the board. Despite the boom issue, the day was fantastic. 🤪  

Throughout the session, I was using the Dark Fins 43 fin, which is available for sale in our online store, and due to its use, it is now offered with a 15% discount. 😉

18.04.2022r.

Here it is!

We just received our brand-new professional mold for producing fins. 💪  This is a mold designed from scratch with a new shape that should make getting up on a plane even easier and faster. Thanks to the aluminum it's made from, the heat distribution during the curing process in the oven will be more uniform. This has a huge impact on the technological process and the subsequent durability of the laminate from which the fins are made.  

As you can see, there's no room for compromise here; we want the final product to be of the highest quality! Right after the Easter holidays, we will get to work with the new mold, and we can't wait to see the results of the finished fin. 😊

25.03.2022r.

Fin Test 37 - Przydwórz

This time, we tested a 37 cm fin with an impressive rake angle of 8°. The conditions were decent, although the wind was less than the forecast predicted. At times, we had to wait for the right gust, but it was certainly much better than the previous tests in Kuźnica.

This fin was custom-made to be stiff with a large angle and to be fast. After two days of testing—since we sailed on it on Saturday and Monday—I think the task was accomplished. 🫡 On Monday alone, the total distance was 51 km, with a maximum speed of only 46 km/h, but unfortunately, the conditions limited us to that. We could sail lightly upwind and perform downwind runs, so despite the increased stiffness, maneuverability was also maintained.

Here you can see what has been happening with us recently.  From time to time, we publish videos along with brief descriptions of some of our sessions, tests, or simply good fun on the water.  If you want to stay updated on our events, we encourage you to follow our page on Facebook.

Events

Phone. +48 697 224 997

e-mail: biuro@dark-fins.pl

© Dark Fins Dariusz Połczyński