Pervasive surfboard myths: Alan Byrne and Ray Finlay feeding the fire

Here are two myths of 'Humdinger' proportions, the fact that they are still around tells us a lot about the average ( or below average ! ) intelligence levels of surfers."The greatest thing about the six channels is that there is no top end speed. "Alan Byrne"The curves and concaves are there to direct and feed the channels with water. the water speeds up as it is forced into a tighter space within the channel and is squirted out the end at speed generating increase thrust and propulsion "Ray FinlayShaperByrning SpearsRaglanIf Alan Byrne knew as much about aero and hydrodynamics as he says he does then he would know that unlimited speed is impossible for any surfboard. As surfboard speed increases drag increases by the square, and the motive power cannot also increase by the square.Also we see that Ray Finlay is parroting the old venturi bottom myth. .. in reality compressing water under a surfboard in order to 'speed the water' up increases drag and slows the board down, again it is simple hydrodynamics. All that happens when flow is constricted is that water gets dragged along with the surfboard. . . . this speeds the water up but in the opposite direction to that which is imagined and hoped for by the noobs. Yes Alan and Ray are noobs at hydrodynamics, I do respect their surfing ability however. Channel bottoms work by increasing the virtual fin area and by ( if done correctly ) increasing the effective span of the planing bottom ( as concaves do ) Although most surfers wouldn't have clue about whether or not the technical descriptions of how a surfboard behaves are correct or mumbo jumbo, some of us do and reading the sort of myths posted here ( and here )is like fingernails being scraped on a blackboard ! I had a 6 channel Byrning Spear thruster in 1986 and disliked it intensely, it was a very slow boardHere's a Ray Finlay channel bottom. It looks reasonably efficient here without fins as the channels are parallel but the toe in from the side fins ( once fins are added ) will conflict with the direction of the channels, thus creating unnecessary drag.