Hi all,

I couldn't find a beginner section here so I hope this post is in an appropriate place.

I'm thinking seriously about getting into windsurfing and I'm interested in some very general advice about boards and sails. I know there is a windsurfing shop in the northern beaches area but it is difficult for me to get there as I live in the south of Sydney.

I'm 50 years old, about 84kg's. From what I've read I'm interested in "free riding", just zooming around, mostly on Botany Bay Sydney. While I don't want to compete at all, I am interested in some speed and excitement on the water. I also want to get on the water as much as possible. Also, I have a hang gliding and surfing background so I thought I'd try and start with intermediate gear rather than beginner gear.

So here are my questions:
1) Since I want max time on the water, eg low wind conditions, should I go for a formula, slalom, or a more recreational board.

2) what size board for my weight?

3) How many and what size sails for max time on water?

4) If I can get a second hand board what is a rough estimate of cost to get on the water.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

for the first few goes I'd really recommend trying a true beginner board rather than something smaller. A really big and wide board will give immediate results and give you the feeling of windsurfing, rather than falling in all the time.

I've helped a few people to start windsurfing and a big board along with small sail really helps. You will only need this sort of combo for a short time but this short time can help shorten a long time of frustration.

Kyeemagh at Botany Bay is ground zero for exactly the sort of sailing you are describing so you are definately on the right track!

I'd image you would be aiming for a board of around 130 to 140 litres after getting reasonable competency. You could go for around two or three sails of somewhere between 5.5m and 7.5m. That should get you on the water a fair bit of the time.

Later on you may go for formula if that is where your interests lay.

I've seen a few board and rig packages on eBay recently and Seabreeze buy and sell. It looks like you could pay anywhere from about $1000 to about $2500.

Take it one step at a time.

hi ralph

same age as you, I sail various boards but I do love to own a wide board and a short transitional longboard and a 340 longboard, I am happy to have that little extra bouancy when needed, also having a wideboard means I can offer up beginners some fun and lessons on the water. I am not prepared to go back to shortboards but thats my call [health limitations]. you may like water starts and be happy with a shortboard.

I am keeping my wideboard [rare Prodigy] with a centreboard and movable mast track as thats my bag and a centreboard [to me] is so much easier stability wise to teach someone with, so am selling my other wideboard a Starboard Go, the Go is 3.5 kilos lighter which is a lot lighter than other brand wideboards [gonna miss that] and planes quicker but no centreboard, although it offers two side rail fins [accessories] to equate to a centreboard but I never bought them ,so i gotta clearout my shed, I have too many boards


The Go is a stable wideboard but still great for blasting, surprisingly usable for all levels, about 170 to 180 litres, with rig for $985 [does need a nose repair see adverts] is on our buy and sell here [no pictures] and ebay/gumtree sydney[pictures] if interested

and a Waitata epoxy kevlar sailboard [longer shortboard] 290 x 60 with rig for $320 [ebay/gumtree sydney, pics], fast board, semi sinker for heavier sailers [water starts], unsure of volume, could do deal on both boards [gives you both worlds] and one rig [mast bases same mounting type ie fin box type] or even a quiver of 3 sails in increments of size.

The Go is recent technology , the waitata older [not sure how old?].

also have a nice Bill Foote Maui Hawai fibreglass sailboard, but it may be too small for you at 260 x 55

and a Vinta XL rare John Hall transitional windsurfer at 323 x 65cm and 165 litres [centreboard and movable mast track.]

good luck in your search..there is plenty out there to choose from, I guess it can come down to availability and location of gear too, as getting one delivered can be harrowing...

Hi there.
After a 20 year brake I've just started out again windsurfing and have an old 330 tyronsea and a 144 jp freeride. the freeride is much nicer/easier to sial but to sail it to it's full potential I'll have a way to go yet. After much reading on forums and trying to get out as much as possible and spending a fair bit of money I've come almost to the conclusion that a KONA one design might be my ideal board. I do not want to sail sinkers- not good enough, to old(48)- but I still like planing and going fast, maybe a bit of open water sailing and with my surfing background I might try the odd wave. While the Kona does not excell at any of this it seems to do all these things reasonable well,well enough for my skills anyway. Unfortunatly there don't seem to be second hand boards available since I've not come across any for a couple of month. You can go racing too which i quite like the idea of. My 2 cents worth

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1) Since I want max time on the water, eg low wind conditions, should I go for a formula, slalom, or a more recreational board.

Formula is great for course racing - they go upwind and deep off the wind very well but they do not go across the wind as easily as a large freeride board. Slalom is fast but you give up a certain amount of comfort. You can still go plenty fast enough on freeride gear. Some freeride gear will be more speed oriented (sometimes called freerace) and others more manouvere oriented. Make your choice based on comfort I reckon - the faster the board generally the flatter the bottom and harder on the knees.

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2) what size board for my weight?

I weight about the same as you. If you are looking at two boards eventually, you might want to start with one about 75-80 wide (130-140L usually). This can become your lightwind board when you get more competent and go for a 60-65 wide board (100L) for some real fun.

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3) How many and what size sails for max time on water?

As Moby says, three sails will cover a wide wind range, particularly if they are late models. You need to consider boom and masts. You probably need to end up with a 430cm and 460cm masts. For light wind a 7.8 is as big as you can get for a 460 mast. A 430 mast will handle low 5s. A boom that is about 170-220 may fit all three sails.

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4) If I can get a second hand board what is a rough estimate of cost to get on the water.

I have bought boards from new $2K+ to as little as $250. Sweet spot I reckon is two/three seasons old around $600-$800.
Something like this for $500 www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing/Boards/~bahrj/2006-Fanatic-Shark-142-Ltd-264-cm-142-litres.aspx?search=vV34ma7TLlfSOOW509XZB%2bDPcbmf%2bVQPXVyzDxYhRvFHcDAH7eNi6Q%3d%3d

All the manufacturers have something in this space.

I agree with Moby about starting. At our local place you can get a bunch of lessons for pretty much the price of hiring the equipment - the boards are really stable and the sails are really small, you'll get going straight away. Once you've got that sussed, get your big board and smallest sail. As you get more proficient add more gear.

I took it up four years ago and love it. I still remember the first time I got both feet in the straps, fully planing. Wooohooo. You're in for some fun.

yes razzamatazz states the problem in Aussie

...there is virtually no or very few modern longboards or wideboards secondhand here, unlike europe, we just dont sell enough volume of these boards to have a continual supply of these type of boards secondhand...

it comes to the ethos here [till recent times] that longboards and wideboards are perhaps too uncool,although of recent times longboards are now reasonalbly hip again due to the manufacturers creating it as a "new" market again. but unfortunately we still have few new long/wideboard sales to create a secondhand market..even after 10 years of wideboards its only now that wideboards are appearing secondhand.

Overseas is different, new boards are sold continually creating a secondhand market of choice...oh well

re longboards theres a kona 170 for sale on here. (ACT)

definately board wise = go big, go wide.
your not going to be pulling any carve gybes for ages.

its going to take a season before you know how feet placement, harness pressure and sail trim will help you hook in and survive squalls etc.

I found it a much longer learning curve than surfing, when you bring in gybing, downwinding etc. (and ive been an avid surfer for donkeys years)

the trick i found i found is get decent rigging, as this will last while you progress through your boards. (light masts make all the difference)

sail wise i started with two, a 6 metre and 4.5.

though now Id recommend something around a 6.7, 5.7, 4.5 as a small quiver.

go begginers kit all the way...

a novice on an intermediate board is easy to spot, cos there not having much fun out there.

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NasiGoreng said...

re longboards theres a kona 170 for sale on here. (ACT)

The one design Kona I'm after is a 220l board. Only this Kona is eligible for one design regattas and so on. Anyway thanks for the tip