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Mistral Garda
Mistral Garda
The Mistral Garda was introduced in 1984 as a cheaper alternative to the Mistral Maui. Interestingly this board always had a sliding mast track system, even when the Maui was still transitioning from the plug (Hole) system to the new sliding mast track system. The Garda is a dedicated funboard suitable for learning or roaring around in stronger winds. (AUTHORS NOTE: Even though the Garda is heavier than the Maui, I feel it is a little faster and more manoeuvrable)
The 1984 board specs were :
Weight 19 kg
Volume 195 lt
Dimensions 350 cm Length 66 cm width
Construction Polyethylen/PU
The Garda was only in production for 1 or 2 years. By 1986 it was no longer showing up in Mistral catalogs
1984 Mistral Garda
1984 Mistral Garda
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed with 1987 Neil Pryde RAF Garda 6.0 at Blairgowrie Beach, Victoria, Australia 2024
1984 Mistral Garda
1984 Mistral Garda
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed with 1987 Neil Pryde RAF Garda 6.0 at Blairgowrie Beach, Victoria, Australia 2024
1984 Mistral Garda
1984 Mistral Garda
Mistral TakeOff (1982) photographed with Neil Pryde RAF CAM Dynamic 5.5sqm (1990) at Blairgowrie Beach, Victoria, Australia 2025
1984 Mistral Garda
1984 Mistral Garda
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed with 1990 Neil Pryde RAF CAM DYnamic 6.0 at Blairgowrie Beach, Victoria, Australia 2025
1984 Mistral Garda
1984 Mistral Garda
Ripping it up on the 1984 Mistral Garda - Blairgowrie Beach, Victoria Australia 2024-2025
1984 Garda (pre restoration)
1984 Garda (pre restoration)
This is the Mistral Garda as I rescued her from life as a SUP. This was given to me by a friend I met at the beach who had it stored outside on the roof of his shed
1984 Garda (pre restoration)
1984 Garda (pre restoration)
You can see in this picture there was moss actually growing on the board when I first got it
1984 Garda (pre restoration)
1984 Garda (pre restoration)
Even though this board was dirty and had a lot of scratches it is watertight ! - A great place to start with any restoration
1984 Mistral Garda (mid restoration)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture is part way through the restoration once the deck was stripped and cleaned
1984 Mistral Garda (mid restoration)
1984 Mistral Garda (mid restoration)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture is part way through the restoration showing the cleaned hull
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture features the new nose rubber and completed deck fittings
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture features the new footstraps (custom made) and non-skid deck tape
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture features the new footstraps (custom made) and non-skid deck tape
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture features the rebuilt Mast Track (the first one I ever tried rebuilding see video)
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture features the new footstraps (custom made) and non-skid deck tape
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
1984 Mistral Garda (Restored)
Mistral Garda (1984) photographed during restoration 2023
This picture features the cleaned deck and non-skid deck tape
AUTHORS COMMENTS : This board holds a special place in my heart as it was the first board I tried restoring since starting windsurfing again in 2023. I love getting this board out giving it a second life instead of rotting away as a forgotten SUP board. This is the board I take when Im not sure if it is windy enough for the Mistral TakeOff but thinking it might be windy enough that the Competition Mistral LCS is going to be a bit too 'straight line oriented'
Because it is the only Mistral of this era made of Polyethlene, restoration can be challenging. The main thing to remember about PE is that not much sticks to it so repairing holes is a challenege - fortunately this board didnt have any. But even when considering what to do about the deck non slip; some traditional options were not really viable for a PE board (hence the deck tape).
VIDEOS (Action and Restoration series)
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