Windsurfing. Jp explorer or starboard rio large

Hi.
Im looking to get a board for light wind. That can take a 9M sail. For fun. And sailing up wind for some touring as well as planing.
Im looking at the explorer 195 against the Rio large sport.
I weigh 17 stone (105 ish kg )
ii like cruising in light winds and want a daggerboard to get me where I want to go.
Has anyone ridden these boards ? I'm struggling to find a test of these boards in the magazines.
Any info greatly appreciated.
Thanks
jonny

Being a techno 293 sailor myself (and current national champ) I thought I might put in my two cents worth.


The techno's are really good for beginners, because they are so floaty, and they are excellent to race on! The dagger board is pretty small compared to the size of the board, but does the job. They arent super wide, and don't really plane THAT early. But, they are a lot of fun in above 15 knots, they never ever tail walk (With the 7.8m OD rig) and are very well behaved in gybes. They truck upwind and go fast-ish on a reach. But I think if you wanted to run a 9.0 this might change.. I have never sailed on one with any bigger than the 7.8 it comes with, but I think unless you found a much bigger fin there would lots of problems with spin outs on the plane and the board would track sideways with the centreboard down.. But they are tough, made of plastic and can take the hits! The centreboard gaskets (flaps on the bottom) also have a problem - if you jump the board they will just break.


I dont know anything about the other boards you mentioned though Jonny..


BTW - legless, it wasnt me who red thumbed you.

Recently I purchased a Phantom 295 which is 217 litres and 74cm wide. Haven't sailed it much as yet but pretty happy with it so far. Seems well built with a a foot pad to push the centre board through. Much faster than an explorer I use to sail. I recently took it out with a 10m formula sail which was a bit big for it, but had some great reaches on it when the gusts came through, felt almost as fast as my free ride board and much more comfortable than the formula board going downwind (although I'm not a very good formula sailor). I really like the quality of the centre board and the mast track and came with a good 50cm fin. I have order an 8.5m Severne Race sail to use with it. I think the bigger centre board of the 295 would be better for light winds and it is definitely a lot faster than the explorer and Rio and something you can keep improving on. I think powered it would easily beat a Raceboard and Formula downwind but upwind they would quickly get the better of it. The 295 can just fin into my transporter and I also use it as my flat water paddle board, bit kooky I know, but I'm not a kiter.

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MattDowse said..
Frothie just got a PB on his Bic 293 of 32knots and he is not using the foot straps yet! Look out when he finds the foot straps!
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2014-09-03&team=49

Is that a record for a 293?