Hi,

Thinking seriously about getting into windsurfing (plan on buying gear in the next few weeks if poss.) but I know nothing about the sport, just love watching windsurfers on Botany Bay. So I was wondering if I can get some general info here?

I'm 50 years old, about 85kg. I basically just want to get on the water as much as possible. I don't want to compete, or win anything, just get on the water after work and after I've mowed the lawns on the weekend and have a fun, enjoyable time. Crusing around on Batany Bay mainly is the plan.

Since I want to get on the water as much as possible I figured I would need a wide board that can take a big sail in light wind, so I was thinking about a board around 70-80 cm wide and some sails, the big one being about 9-11 square meters (got these ideas from internet research).

Up to about $2000 all up for second hand gear.

Am I thinking in the right direction?

Cheers,

Start with a few lessons at a good local school will make the learning curve shorter and much less frustrating. Plus it will give you a chance to try some of their range of boards and sails to see what suits you and the type of sailing you want to do best. From there you should be able to get a good first setup for under $2000 buks.

Ludwig you won't want a 9m plus until your second season at least. When people recommend these sizes on forums (and thus it shows up in your Googling) they are talking about planing windsurfing.

As a learner you will want any board over 150L and wide, with about 4.5 and 5.5 sails. Try to get secondhand wavesails in good condition, say $250 for a 3 y/o one, as they are durable.

You are looking at $1500 for a good secondhand setup.

But agree on a couple of lessons first

^^^ +1 Good advice.

Best to learn on dedicated learners gear, you will progress heaps faster.

A 9m-11m sail will be very challenging early on, I would not recommend starting with that.

After the early hump on learners gear you'll probably look for a Freeride board 130-140L with a 6m to start with, then you can add say a 7.5m and a 9m as you progress.

You should be able to get a great set up for $2K.

You'll get great advice from Sam at Wind Surf & Snow.

Great advices above plus:

If I was doing it all over again, I would not to buy a beginners board.
I would spend $400 on the lessons and the board rental. It should be 20-30 hours ( a few months).

Then I would get 3-5 years old 140L board, and a few S/H sails that can be rigged on the same mast/boom combo.

All up, including the lessons, should cost under $2000.

unfortunately i donut know botany bay

after lessons and/or borrowing stuff
i often suggest a board with a central fin/keel for absolute newbies

if the bay has light winds and ludwig has only weekends
ie weekend warrior - perhaps longboard or soft top like Viper ??

what do yas think ??

Hi Ludwig,

All the above advice is good. I'm in the same boat (so to speak), 40 plus and just had my first lesson the other day. I wasn't going to have any lessons and just buy a board and figure it out myself. Bad idea! Within 10 seconds of the lesson I realised this is a sport where lessons will save you many wasted day teaching yourself bad habbits. With a good instructor you could be up and running within a few lessons- assuming you're fairly fit have decent ballance.

Tip- Pick a nice calm day for the lesson! Over 8 knots and you'll spend most of the time in the drink...lol

Just have have fun mate. Practice on the huge learner boards for a while then down size as your ballance and skill set improves. That's my plan anyway

Great stuff, Ludwig. On top of the advice above: B-bay great flat water spot to sail around - beginner or otherwise, light or strong winds.

Couple of spots around the airport, in addition Sandringham (below Dolls Pt) on a NE, also on a southerly.

Kurnell on a westerly in the winter, etc.
Can't go wrong at B-bay for what you want to do: have fun !

As a beginner, always aim at on-shore winds, so you're brought back to shore safely all the time. Never ever venture out on an off-shore - ever. I think Ramsgate or Brighton have the best gradual sandy bottom for learning, but not sure. Dolls Pt used to be OK, but the airport extension screwed the place up early 90s.

Get out in the morning, in lighter, rising winds, at first. You'll learn safely then.

The first 25 years are exhilarating, dunno about the rest though.
All the best !

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Ludwig said...

Hi,

get on the water after work and after I've mowed the lawns on the weekend

Well work will always be a constraint but you won't take long to revise that 2nd priority.

Join St george yaght club and speak to craig ferris - hes a sailing instructor that works there who is a mad keen windsurfer.

They have a number of old one designs at the st george boat shed he can probably assit you with early lessons before you go off and buy something.

There a are a few sailers who regularly sail out of the yaght club on weekends.

The club is pretty cheap to join and will give you access to the showers and bar for a couple cold ones afterwards.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions guys, much appreciated and noted. I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers,

One of our local shoPs here in melbourne have a full new setup for 2k. Severne synergy complete rig and starboard rio. Check out the zu boardsports they might ship aus wide- not sure. This is realy as cheap as you can get for a new complete rig and its 100% worth it as this will not devalue as fast, and will be a hellava lot easier to learn on than used older kit.

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Roar said...

Join St george yaght club and speak to craig ferris - hes a sailing instructor that works there who is a mad keen windsurfer.

They have a number of old one designs at the st george boat shed he can probably assit you with early lessons before you go off and buy something.

There a are a few sailers who regularly sail out of the yaght club on weekends.

The club is pretty cheap to join and will give you access to the showers and bar for a couple cold ones afterwards.

Wow, incredible, am an old resident of this area (McMoreland's days) and did not even know that people were windsurfing from that club - always thought it was dinghies only !!
If I had known, woulda sent a few people there..