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| Novice |
Control |
Speed |
Race |
Explore |
Balance |
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| Fanatic Bee 289 |
| The Bee 289 is one of the first super-wide freeride boards to come from a major manufacturer. The version we sailed had light sandwich construction, but a version with a tough thermoformed skin should be out by the time this article is published. Testers were mixed in their reactions to the 289, but our shortboard novice Nancy Messer thought it was the easiest board she’d ever ridden. She mentioned its stability while not planing, quickness to plane and comfortable ride. More advanced sailors enjoyed its great stability in non-planing mode and its quickness to plane, both qualities conferred by its width. They also found it to be reasonably fast and controllable on the straights, with no propensity to tail-walk. It initiates a jibe easily, unlike older wide designs, and it maintains speed extremely well through a turn. It’s not the fastest freeride board in choppy water, but it’s still a great option for a range of sailors from lightweight novices to heavyweight experts. |
Power Rating 72
Length 9’4”
Width 25.7”
Volume 142 Liters
Weight 16.5 lbs.
Planing 9.5
Reaching 8.0
Upwind 9.0
Tight turns 7.0
Wide turns 8.0
Ding rating 20
Price $1,599
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin
Recommended sail:
Freeride 6.0 to 9.0 |
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