Mistral TAKE OFF

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Welcome to the page dedicated to the Mistral Take Off, which become a highlight of our museum collection in summer 2023. As with the other exhibits included in this web catalogue, we try to show you basic information, brochures, reviews and action photos. The vast majority of the information published has been taken from the Mistral Take Off owners club fb page created by our friend and supporter Bart van Heesch. So thank you not only for the donation of the board, but also for gathering valuable documents and information.

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The TAKE OFF prototypes story… Rick and Ernstfried worked on the TAKE OFF for 2 years and several prototypes were tested. Unfortunately, we do not have detailed information available but based on the photographs we can perhaps simplify the list to 3 basic prototypes – 3 phases.
1) “white” – shortened m* competition board (tested in 1979)
2) “golden-green” board (probably tested in 1980)
3) “rainbow” pre-production board (captured during photoshoot in 12/1981)
We hope that Rick, Ernstfried and Bart will gradually fill in and polish these historical bits and pieces 🙂

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Děkujeme / Thanks to / Kristýna Suchánková za dokonalou logistiku a zajištění dovozu 🙂

*) Take Off review in SURF magazine – full text – JUST for the TAKE OFF freaks!
“Almost two years have passed since the Swiss Mistral AG last presented a board to the public, the Naish board. While other manufacturers sometimes even created two new models in one season in the hectic of development , the gates of the development department in Nürensdorf near Zurich remained closed last year. But now the long-awaited speedster with the m-Þunkt is here: The Take off, developed by Emstfried Prade and Rick Naish, is a radical funboard that requires a skilled driver and is out of place below four Beaufort. As the name suggests, high speeds and very good jumping ability are the strengths of the Take Off. That it actually took more than two years to develop is astonishing, since the board has nothing revolutionary new, but has some flaws in the details …

The relationship with the Mistral-Brett family can be seen immediately: The take off has not only inherited the two characteristic stripes from Competition and Kailua, the whole “face” of the Swiss speedster is typical of Mistral. The front half of the body is reminiscent strongly on the successful forerunners. Both the outline (contour lines) and the curvature of the underwater hull are not unlike the competition, and the effects are similar: the take off is one of the few funboards that starts smoothly in a wave and you does not “hit” the bow with the wide, almost always flat shovel. The disadvantage of this bow shape is also found immediately: on a cross course, the take-off pilot is permanently sprayed by the bow wave. The differences then become clearer in the rear half of the torso. The last third of the “shrink competition” tapers to a round tail, but the last five centimeters have been cut off. This stern shape, together with the completely flat sliding floor ….

above-average maneuverability and good sliding properties. The strongest sides of the take off, however, only show up in the wave, where riding down small peaks of water and jumping with the inland sea waves can be very much locked into place and obstacles are not completely out of control. Driving pleasure: the two fins are very soft and will bring real fun in your Fundamen- Fun-Mistral. With the take-off there is by no means any huge surf necessary to jump over strong winds. When jumping, the greatest deficiency of the take-off becomes apparent. The fuselage is equipped with two special fins, which are released in four different folding positions when hitting the anchorage. This system definitely makes a contribution to safety, a contribution to ….
wiggle back and forth and do not give cleanly guided even with a minimal lateral ten. It jerks several centimeters after it comes to that, that the bnid fins fold down unintentionally, so that after a jump, for example, the fin position becomes asymmeotric because the leeward fin was half folded due to the water resistance during landing. Since the board is then difficult to control and moves restlessly, it is clear. Folding down the mast foot again by hand is not very easy on the water, as the volume of the stern is not sufficient for longer excursions from the midship position. Sails Two completely normal (and also cheaper) foundations with standard Amencan paintwork served the purpose and had the advantage that the fins could be exchanged in the event of a defect. The use of different fins also gave take-off pilots the opportunity to vary the trim and handling of the board slightly Wanting to do radical jibes in high winds, for example, would certainly fall back on longer fins, which the take of, like most round tailors, “sometimes loses the lead in the curve and slips sideways. The sword system is also not quite optimal. Operation is difficult and only possible with practice. Apart from problems with the sword and especially the fin, the small mistral is flawless: the rig protection is exemplary Mastus, mast and fork are known from the time before the patent was granted, but always still good. New and really Excellent is the take of sails. As is known from Gaastra triangles, it is very well made, has a modern high-clew cut with a short leech and long foot, and the overall character fits perfectly to the board. People who are looking for a board that is only taken off the roof of the car when there are four or more Beaufort are suitable for the take off. He asks for an expert driver and rewards him with excellent jumping abilities and high speed. There is one thing, however, that the take-off demands of its owner in front of the spa: a proud 2690 marks.
(automatic translation of the SURF review provided by Bart van Heesch)

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We try to acknowledge the sources of used images and documents and give credits to those who deserve it. Please let us know if you find any omissions or mistakes. Thanks.

Exhibit Nr/Ev. číslo: B145