Hi,
I am about to take up windsurfing and am looking to buy a 2nd hand setup. I found this one and was wondering if it would be suitable. It is a Hi Fly Corona Speed 500 wind surfer. It comes with 2 x sails and booms and everything else required (I think). Would this be suitable?
Cheers Dave.

Can you send a link to the ad?

Short answer: NO

Go for something like this (wider and more stable) and newer rigs are lighter as well :www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~v9or8/Starboard-Start-285-cm-200-litres.aspx?search=iVVAl2umBXm4IQz0lPbPsA==

Thanks for that. I will keep looking. How much volume/litres do you think I need?

More details!

Weight
Where you are sailing from
budget etc...

I am 84kg and 48 yrs old. I will be using it in Middle Harbour/Balmoral which is in Sydney Harbour. I only want to spend up to around $600-700 second hand.

Funny small world. I think this is a old board I have on consignment at this shop.
As a starter u want the biggest fattest board u can cheaply come across. 5 to 6 metre sail.
People will tell u to buy a board to grow into ( easy to say when u know what your doing )
As a starter u want cheap , wide and as big as u can. This way u learn quickly. Trust me what your doing is not easy.
When u get a grip of things u will know where to go next.

Select to expand quote

Bograttus said..
Hi,
I am about to take up windsurfing and am looking to buy a 2nd hand setup. I found this one and was wondering if it would be suitable. It is a Hi Fly Corona Speed 500 wind surfer. It comes with 2 x sails and booms and everything else required (I think). Would this be suitable?
Cheers Dave.

I have sailed the same board many times. It is not the easiest to sail for a beginner. The mast track isn't the greatest tends to slip as you are sailing as it does not lock in very well. The board is reasonably heavy as well, and at near 4mts its long, not to mention the tie on booms are a nightmare for beginners. Modern sails and booms work well with this board though. I have sailed this board in winds from 10knt to 20knt and it gets up and goes with the right gear on board (for it's weight).

I would probably go with something a lot newer, for $600-700 you can pick up a few good bits and pieces through the for sale section on this site and make up a good kit which will last you longer.

Thanks for the info. I have spoken to a guy at a shop in Sydney called Wind surf and snow and he has 2nd hand boards that they get from a learn to sail school in Sydney. He will give you the board but you have to buy the sail and gear etc. This sounds like a decent deal to me. I am also going to have a lesson or two prior to buying anything.

The sail may be a bit bigger than you need to start but if you can find a cheapish smaller freeride sail/mast combo, this may be worth considering,

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/coal-point/other-sports-fitness/windsurfing-gear/1126191814

I didn't recommend a specific sail size as I'm not sure of the typical winds they get where your considering sailing. Locals could advise on that.

90cm minimum width

170l minimum volume

5m sail

Good question however there is no correct answer . I have tutored a dozen or so people in the last few years and have found the new crop of super wide learners boards to be rather lacking . Boards like the Starboard Start are great to stand on when your not moving not so good under way . Super fat boards resist planing and tend to stifle progress . We have had great success with older longer more narrow boards which get going much earlier . Best success so far has been on a couple of F2 Lightning race boards followed by a little while on an F2 commet.
Within a fairly short learning process it's on to modern short boards .

I still reckon the old windsurfer OD was a good board to learn on.

It worked for me . Problem for learners now is the boards sold as beginners boards are purely for beginners . I have seen quick learners out grow a Start in one weekend . Too bad if he had layed out hard earned cash for something now of no use.
If you want to learn , borrow some old gear until you get the basics then purchase some intermediate gear which will do for a season or two . Or heaven forbid , do the sensible thing and get some lessons.