Good morning everyone. I used to windsurf a lot back in my teens and early twenties, but life changes and I got away from it. I am 49 now and have been fairly active doing SUP and downwinding for about 6 years now. Recently I've been considering getting back into windsurfing again.
I am 6'4" and about 225. I would like a set up to get out on days that it's too light to go downwind, or when the direction is not good for downwind. I have been blown away by the advances in equipment. Especially board volume and sail size. When I sailed, a 6.4 was considered BIG in my area. I sailed (and still have) a 9'2" Bruce Jones custom board and have TONS of memories of sailing it. But it took around 16 to 18 MPH to really get going. Fast forward to now... I spend a lot of time waiting for wind to go downwind, and don't really care for flat water.....
So... I am looking into getting a new rig this year. I am not sure of where to start because there are so many board and sail choices. I would like a foil ready board that will perform well in choppy conditions as well as an occasional foray into some smaller waves.
Any input or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Where do you do this downwind stuff ? Ocean

my first thought is a windsup, SEA LION

Buy a kite ! At your age life's too short . Hope this helps p.s. where's the red thumbs now

There's two directions, one is to buy a windSUP (or longboard similar to windsurfer LT or Kona or Starboard Rio) and get back into windsurfing as an extension to your SUP'ing. The other direction is to buy a short/wide beginner to intermediate freeride board like a Starboard GO (all the brands have something similar). As a 102kg person getting back into it you'll be looking for something 150+ litres and 80+ cm wide that can take a big sail. Personally, I reckon because you already SUP a bit, buy a general purpose windSUP similar to a 11'6 BIC (Starboard make a nice one as well) and use it as a SUP board as well. Remember to get something with a centreboard or you'll hate it.

Wow, someone else that had a 9'2" Bruce Jones board. Mine was yellow and I got it in 1985 and spent 10 days on it at the Gorge that year. I assume you are bigger now, but if you spent time on the BJ with a 6.5, you probably don't want a beginner type board. There are lots of great intermediate boards in the 120 - 150 L range that would work, but in general, sails would be in the 6.0 to 9.0 range for boards of that size. If the wind is always on the light side, then maybe a 150L board and 7 to 9 m sail sizes.

Select to expand quote

NCUSAGUY said..
Wow, someone else that had a 9'2" Bruce Jones board. Mine was yellow and I got it in 1985 and spent 10 days on it at the Gorge that year. I assume you are bigger now, but if you spent time on the BJ with a 6.5, you probably don't want a beginner type board. There are lots of great intermediate boards in the 120 - 150 L range that would work, but in general, sails would be in the 6.0 to 9.0 range for boards of that size. If the wind is always on the light side, then maybe a 150L board and 7 to 9 m sail sizes.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I thought I had turned on the notification feature for this thread. Apparently I didn't.

NCUSAGUY, I had 2 Bruce Jones boards. A 9'6" that was a bit wider and the 9'2" that was pretty skinny and low on volume, but really fun in good conditions and smaller great lakes waves. But I have not really sailed it for 15 years.

So, I went to Traverse City, Michigan for the weekend with my ancient equipment thinking I would give it a go if the wind came up, mind you I haven't been out in over 10 years. My current equipment includes a 9'2" Bruce Jones custom, an Ampro gray wave mast, Mistral adjustable boom and 2 Gaastra/Mistral sails (6.0 and 6.6). I rigged up as the wind began building and gave it a go... unfortunately my sail was so delaminated that it filled with water and made water starting next to impossible. The one time I got "up" the board basically sunk beneath me. So I swam to shore and packed it up. Shortly thereafter I found myself at Sailsport marine, with a receipt in my hand for some new stuff... i ordered an Exocet Nano 155, Aerotech AirX 7.7 sail, Chinook 60% carbon skinny mast, Chinook Pro1 boom. He also has the Exocet RF 81 and RF 91 foil windsurf boards too, but that may be for next year. For this year, I am hoping to get the Nano out and get a feel for windsurfing again.

So! I am 6'4" and about 225.... did I buy good stuff? Am I going to be able to get out in light (12 mph) breezes and enjoy it? Should I think about an aftermarket fin for better light wind tracking? Damn! I am excited about getting out!

Select to expand quote

excav8ter said..

NCUSAGUY said..
Wow, someone else that had a 9'2" Bruce Jones board. Mine was yellow and I got it in 1985 and spent 10 days on it at the Gorge that year. I assume you are bigger now, but if you spent time on the BJ with a 6.5, you probably don't want a beginner type board. There are lots of great intermediate boards in the 120 - 150 L range that would work, but in general, sails would be in the 6.0 to 9.0 range for boards of that size. If the wind is always on the light side, then maybe a 150L board and 7 to 9 m sail sizes.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I thought I had turned on the notification feature for this thread. Apparently I didn't.

NCUSAGUY, I had 2 Bruce Jones boards. A 9'6" that was a bit wider and the 9'2" that was pretty skinny and low on volume, but really fun in good conditions and smaller great lakes waves. But I have not really sailed it for 15 years.

So, I went to Traverse City, Michigan for the weekend with my ancient equipment thinking I would give it a go if the wind came up, mind you I haven't been out in over 10 years. My current equipment includes a 9'2" Bruce Jones custom, an Ampro gray wave mast, Mistral adjustable boom and 2 Gaastra/Mistral sails (6.0 and 6.6). I rigged up as the wind began building and gave it a go... unfortunately my sail was so delaminated that it filled with water and made water starting next to impossible. The one time I got "up" the board basically sunk beneath me. So I swam to shore and packed it up. Shortly thereafter I found myself at Sailsport marine, with a receipt in my hand for some new stuff... i ordered an Exocet Nano 155, Aerotech AirX 7.7 sail, Chinook 60% carbon skinny mast, Chinook Pro1 boom. He also has the Exocet RF 81 and RF 91 foil windsurf boards too, but that may be for next year. For this year, I am hoping to get the Nano out and get a feel for windsurfing again.

So! I am 6'4" and about 225.... did I buy good stuff? Am I going to be able to get out in light (12 mph) breezes and enjoy it? Should I think about an aftermarket fin for better light wind tracking? Damn! I am excited about getting out!

Impulse buys at a windsurf shop.... oooohhhh, great work.

Don't over think it too much for now. Just get out and have a go. Be sensible tho, short runs first with others, think that you are a beginner again but you will improver much quicker as it all comes flooding back.

Windsurfing is like riding a bike. You don't forget how to do it. I was off the water for 15 years. I restarted on a Mistral Superlight II (370cm lg and 66cm wide) with a 9.5 cammed race sail. I enjoyed it thoroughly but progressed very quickly to 112 Futura (248cm lg and 68cm wide) and a quiver of sails from 7.8 to 6.0.
With a history of windsurfing and good balance from SUP downwinding, you will take to windsurfing like a duck to water. At your weight I would look for a freeride board (eg Naish Titan, Fanatic Gecko) of about 130 to 140 litres and 80+cm wide and non cam sails from 7 to 9m, so your purchase looks good. Have fun

Select to expand quote

John340 said..
Windsurfing is like riding a bike. You don't forget how to do it. I was off the water for 15 years. I restarted on a Mistral Superlight II (370cm lg and 66cm wide) with a 9.5 cammed race sail. I enjoyed it thoroughly but progressed very quickly to 112 Futura (248cm lg and 68cm wide) and a quiver of sails from 7.8 to 6.0.
With a history of windsurfing and good balance from SUP downwinding, you will take to windsurfing like a duck to water. At your weight I would look for a freeride board (eg Naish Titan, Fanatic Gecko) of about 130 to 140 litres and 80+cm wide and non cam sails from 7 to 9m, so your purchase looks good. Have fun

AWESOME. Thanks John. I pick my new stuff up next Saturday (the 18th). Might even just try an grab an Exocet RF 91 foil board too. ??