Coaches and sailors are finding out that sailing a Techno293 is nothing at all like sailing an Aloha.
 Team 15 South-east Zone Squad Review
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Bic Techno 293 - New Junior One Design
THIS IS THE NEW BOARD FOR THE ALOHA CLASS: THE OFFICIAL UNDER 15 RACE BOARD.
The Aloha class has been going for the last 13 years and has brought up some of our best talents, including Ross Williams, Lucy Horwood, Nick Dempsey and Chris Audsley. Now outdated, the plastic, blow moulded 240cm, 20 year old board has finally been replaced.
The Techno 293 is hoping to hone the skills of our youngsters towards the new Neil Pryde Olympic "Hybrid" board, which is of similar disposition. It will also encourage youngsters towards Formula style sailing and short boarding in general.
Team 15 South-east Zone Squad Review
THE CHANGES
What they have done is whack a daggerboard in and beefed up the construction to create a perfect entry level board that can take a beginner from wobbling around a tack to elementary short board skills all with a 'get you home' daggerboard. A bit like the 320's and 340's of old!
PLEASE CHANGE THE SAIL TOO!!
However, the kids are finding out that sailing a Techno293 is nothing at all like sailing an Aloha. An extremely different technique is required to get this around a course in both light and strong winds.
This is not helped by keeping the outdated 6.5m Aloha Rig as part of the class. The Aloha converted the sail's strong sideways pull into forward drive. But for the Techno, it is too low aspect, tight leeched and with the power too high and far back for a shape like the Techno, it merely pushes the shorter length of the board sideways. The Techno was designed with modern, forward driving rigs in mind. Fortunately, the rig is due to change by 2006. This gives the manufactures time to design something lighter and more suitable, whilst keeping costs down for existing users.
Team 15 South-east Zone Squad Review
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Length |
Width |
Volume |
Weight |
Fin |
Sail Range |
Techno 293 One Design |
293cm |
79cm |
205ltr |
13kg |
35cm or 45cm |
3.5-10.0m |
FEATURES
Shape
Bic say that the shape has been developed from the Formula boards of 2000, but made more forgiving for user friendly performance. It has a double concave hull with thick rails designed to give excellent up and downwind performance.
Fittings
Mast track, five footstrap options including beating straps, retractable daggerboard, 34cm fin (optional 44cm) and a mast foot.
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Technology
The thermoformed skin covering the composite glass/carbon fiber provides the Techno with a tough and stiff construction. It also has a foam nose bumper to prevent catapult damage.
Lightwind Performance
Bic say that with more than 200 litres of volume, less width than modern Formula boards and almost 3 metres of length, it is an easy board to keep moving and competitions can be started when there is as little as 6 knots of wind. |
AVAILABLE: JAN 2005
COST: £629
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