Mistral Promo (from 1984 I believe as IMCO race at Bahia Feliz). The boards here were from the beginnings of the funboard generation. The boards being promoted were the Mistral Competition, Pan Am (named after Airline sponsor of race), Maui, Take Off and Radicals ( prior to launch of the Mistral Hookipa and Mistral Diamond Head). My favourite was the Mistral Pan Am, this board was a direct copy of Robby Naish's Board. It was the Rolls Royce of boards to have, very expensive in its day (£1000).
Celebrity Hawaiian Windsurfers in the video include Robby Naish, Rick Naish being interviewed and sailing. European Windsurfers include Karl Messmer (Swiss Champion) and Ernstfried Prade of the Mistral Company. Women Windsurfer include Andrea Livingstone (USA) and Nancy Jonson (USA) in the freestyle in part1.
Part 1 is mostly the Mistral Competition product and the IMCO racing with an evil beach break to launch. This is followed by Robby racing the Pan Am board with Karl Messmer.
Part 2 is more on the Pan Am and a little on the Sails (Robby says flat is good - well you could not rig these any better). Some clips of
the Mistral classic boom and back to the Pan Am board with lot of wind! The Take off Board is shown next (again Robby Naish) and then some One Design racing on Take offs.
Part 3 is the Mistral Maui board which was very popular with funboard style. The first board with good foot steering but had no sliding mast track. Interview with Robby and Rick Naish here.
Good to see Robby sail a regular board like we sail!
Part 4 is the Mistral Radicals. I think this was a just a preview of the boards to follow like the Mistral Diamond head and Hookipa.
Again some good footage of Robby and Interview with Rick on the boards.
I really liked the Red and Yellow swallow tail that Robbie Naish sails,It used to be in all the magazines.
Hope you enjoy.....
