Directional board advice please

[marypoppins]

Anyone had experience with Cabrinha Surface to Air or Autopilot for example?

Just for the hell of it I'm interested in getting a second hand directional board for light winds or for 'normal' winds when there is chop, swell and some waves. I'm not particularly heavy at 12 stone.

I've been trying to formulate some sort of short list and would be grateful for any advice.

I'm thinking of a length of about 5ft6ins x 17ins wide.

[criticalkiter]

The older directionals are ok for light wind but generally no good in waves as they are too stiff / straight line orientated - there may be some exceptions.

[too much wind]

If memory serves the cabrinha surfacve to air board is a high wind kiteboard designed to take lots of power, definately not a light wind board. It has a very hard stepped rail.

If you want a big lightwind directional then i would recomend one of the old naish sky pirates. They came in various sizes, i personally had a triple stringer custom one which was 7ft but a very good wave board despite it's size.

[marypoppins]

I'm struggling to get my head around the different factors here without getting too bogged down with surfboard shaping and technical stuff.

Am I right in thinking that you need a softer board that will flex and adapt to the shape of a wave whereas for light wind conditions you need something that is stiffer and holds its shape?

So the board I am after somehow has to be a compromise between these two?

The rail also needs to be harder so it will not slip in higher winds? Do the fins not prevent slippage under these conditions?

What is a normal surfboard like-does that have much flex?

Maybe I have to decide on whether I intend the board for higher wind/waves or lighter wind since the characteristics seem at odds with one another?

Still after any opinions on the Autopilot.