What Board? (Xantos or Veloce)

[rh...@my-dejanews.com]

Hi All,

I'm a 168lb intermediate level (learning to waterstart, trying to get in the
straps etc) sailor looking to buy my first board (I've been paying
extortionate amounts to rent gear up to now). I sail mainly on inland water
in England, although as I get a bit better I'd love to have a go on the
coast. I'm wondering what board to get and am currently thinking probably one
of: Bic Veloce 328/310 or F2 Xantos 325/310 II. My key concerns are: If I go
for one of the 310 length boards will I (1) be able to uphaul OK (2) be able
to go out and get around when the wind is light (including upwind a bit), do
I want a board with a daggerboard on (the Bic has it the F2 doesn't), gear
isn't cheap and so this board is going to have to last me a while (i.e. if I
bought one of the 320's and I going to get pissed off as I improve).

I have had a fairly thorough read of the back posts on this newsgroup that
relate to the Xantos and Veloce and get the general impression that I probably
can't really go wrong with any of the boards I'm thinking about, but all the
same I'd like to hear any views you have about my concerns/any other boards I
should perhaps think about or whatever.

Thanks,

Richard

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[cair...@my-dejanews.com]

Hi

I've sailed both the Xantos 325 and Veloce 310 as an improver (sorting out
straps and harness technique, waterstarting, beginning to carve etc)and would
say go for the 310. I bought a Veloce 310 second hand for next to nothing and
it's great up to a Force 5 if you're heavy enough (I'm next to 90kgs) and is
fine for uphauling in light wind even at my weight. I think that if you're
into the intermediate stage it would be a waste to get the larger of the two
lines you mentioned as you'll be yearning for something smaller straight
away. The 310 will always be useful even after you've moved to smaller boards
as an early planing machine - it can take huge sails...

I'd say go for a second hand 310 in good condition ...my one cost £300...v.
good value..

Good luck

Cairo

[dubois]

Hi,

I think that you are right when saying that you can't go wrong with the
Veloce or the Xantos. Both are easy and fun boards. The question I would
really look into if I were you is if you need a daggerboard or not. You
will not have any problem on the bouyancy point of view because those
boards will float you easily. Regarding sailing in lightwinds, I think
that you don't have anything to worry about either. The only thing is
that a board with a daggerboard will give you extra stability and more
easy in going upwind. But if when you rent gear you can use boards
without daggerboards than I would definitely go for the 310 Xantos of
Veloce as you will keep them for longer without growing out of them. If
you usually use boards with daggerboards then if I were you I would rent
smaller boards for a few more weeks in order to get used to sailing
without daggerboards instead of regretting it in a few months.

Hope this helps
Francois

rh...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> I'm a 168lb intermediate level (learning to waterstart, trying to get in the
> straps etc) sailor looking to buy my first board (I've been paying
> extortionate amounts to rent gear up to now). I sail mainly on inland water
> in England, although as I get a bit better I'd love to have a go on the
> coast. I'm wondering what board to get and am currently thinking probably one
> of: Bic Veloce 328/310 or F2 Xantos 325/310 II. My key concerns are: If I go
> for one of the 310 length boards will I (1) be able to uphaul OK (2) be able
> to go out and get around when the wind is light (including upwind a bit), do
> I want a board with a daggerboard on (the Bic has it the F2 doesn't), gear
> isn't cheap and so this board is going to have to last me a while (i.e. if I
> bought one of the 320's and I going to get pissed off as I improve).
>
> I have had a fairly thorough read of the back posts on this newsgroup that
> relate to the Xantos and Veloce and get the general impression that I probably
> can't really go wrong with any of the boards I'm thinking about, but all the
> same I'd like to hear any views you have about my concerns/any other boards I
> should perhaps think about or whatever.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Richard
>

[Craig]

would a star-board go be a good choice for this man?
My email address is Craig at ottawa dot com

[Simon Fawkes]

Or a Bic Techno 283? Any views on how these two compare (Techo &
star-board)?

Simon

Craig wrote in message <3725b890...@news1.on.sympatico.ca>...

[gav...@my-dejanews.com]

Dejanews was bogged down this afternoon. Please disregard if this is a
duplicate.

Richard -

I'm a 160lb intermediate learning to waterstart. After a nine year
layoff, I progressed from Phoenix 340/320 to Xantos 310II and learned to
waterstart (at least up to chest deep water). Had fun on all the
boards, but the 310 was considerably faster and much lighter. Also,
while less stable, I uphauled it plenty and was learning to get into
both straps. There were wind holes in Aruba around the hotels, and I
could work upwind in both planing and non planing conditions. I never
missed the daggerboard which was hard to operate on the Phoenix's I was
riding.

I also have no equipment and am going to buy, but the Xantos 310 is
as large as I plan to go. The prices on 98 versions of these boards are
really tempting, particulary carbon versions, but I think I can tolerate
a little less board in light wind for hopefully more fun when the wind
is up.

I think I am going for a '98 Xantos 295, Bic Techno or Fanatic Bee
289. With one board, I'm looking for maximum range, investing in two
sails before two boards (if necessary). Hope to demo all this weekend if
available.

- Jeff

BTW - if you haven't seen them, there are some reviews of the Xantos
295 & 310 on www.f2.comIn article <7g3s4o$836$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,

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[jfe...@ix.netcom.com]

I have sailed the Xantos 310II in both the light and standard construction.
I beleive that the xantos is a really great board in either weight, but I
prefer the light version.

I have also sailed the Techno, but not the bigger Veloce's.

The (light) Xantos Is definitely faster on a powered-up reach than the
Techo. The Techno may plane a little earlier, and may point a little higher,
but I found the techno to be rather unexciting.

In my opinion the Xantos 310II is a greatly under-rated board. It has
an incredible ability to hang in in quite windy conditions, and it
is a great board for learning to jibe on. It's performance in really
light winds may not match the newest designs, but it is still quite
respectable. The (light)310 planes earlier than my AHD 295 race pro,
for example.

jeff feehan

[WINDSUMIKE]

Hi
I'min Leicester and sail at Rutland Water.
If you want a dagger the F2 Phoenix would be the one and Ibelieve is available
with an Arrows rig complete for about £800 which must be good.
I'm trying to get my wife to buy one!
Mike