Well the kids have grown up and I want to get back into windsurfing at 43 years young. I live in Canberra and I used to sail Broulee mostly and got a couple of planning gybes under my belt as my most advanced manoeuvre ha! I'm not planning a full blown obsession at this point, maybe 5 weekends and few day trips.
Where to start? I have good flexibility to get down to the coast as I work for myself and budget is whatever it needs to be really. What board, how many sails, type of sails, mast, boom etc.
thanks!

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Gofish1980 said..
I'm not planning a full blown obsession at this point

Ha, ha. That won't last long! Others will have better advice, but start with used gear while you work out what works for you and the kind of sailing your want to do. I went through a similar journey about ten years ago and made a whole heap of cheap second hand mistakes before i figured it out. All part of the fun. There is used stuff here and on FB www.facebook.com/groups/343179435845174/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

What were your biggest gear mistakes Musorianin?

Yeah I did the mistake thing back in the day when I first got into it. My non existent budget led to all sorts of disasters, shops off loading totally stuffed gear onto clueless old me??.
Anyone sailing at Broulee regularly? I weigh 75kg 6ft tall I wonder what type of board and size sails makes most sense down there?

Don't think many windsurfers frequent Broulee anymore. Sanctuary Point (near Jervis Bay) is popular place ,good sized local fleet and many people travel there to windsurf. Great conditions, flat ,shallow water and more wind too. Quicker to get to from Canberra than Broulee also.

Ok that's the spot then. I think that road must have gotten up graded at some point in the past 20 years ha ha.
What's the best gear setup for down there do you think?

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Gofish1980
What's the best gear setup

The million dollar question!
I am eagerly awaiting wise answers to this too.

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Gofish1980 said..
Ok that's the spot then. I think that road must have gotten up graded at some point in the past 20 years ha ha.
What's the best gear setup for down there do you think?

The road is bitumen all the way now . Canberra-Bungendore-Tarrogo-Nerriga-Sanctuary Point = 2 and a quarter hours.
You need smaller gear than what you would use on LBG.
When I lived in CBR my go to sail was a 5.8 ,here it is a 4.4m. I'm about 73kg .What is your weight?

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KA360 said..

Gofish1980 said..
Ok that's the spot then. I think that road must have gotten up graded at some point in the past 20 years ha ha.
What's the best gear setup for down there do you think?

The road is bitumen all the way now . Canberra-Bungendore-Tarrogo-Nerriga-Sanctuary Point = 2 and a quarter hours.
You need smaller gear than what you would use on LBG.
When I lived in CBR my go to sail was a 5.8 ,here it is a 4.4m. I'm about 73kg .What is your weight?

2.25hrs is not bad at all.
I'm about 74kg too. Ok 4.4m yeah that seems like a tiny sail but I think technology has made the sails more efficient maybe.

Maybe give the gurus a hint on what you think that you want to do. Slalom, B&J or long board. What sailing happens in Canberra? An old RB or newer LT will allow you to stay closer to home with 3-30knot wind range. Or get into foiling straight away

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BSN101 said..
Maybe give the gurus a hint on what you think that you want to do. Slalom, B&J or long board. What sailing happens in Canberra? An old RB or newer LT will allow you to stay closer to home with 3-30knot wind range. Or get into foiling straight away

Sailing in Canberra is just to get your gear wet, very frustrating so gusty mostly. Evening summer easterly wind could be good sometimes.
I guess a bump jump setup would be useable everywhere? I presume they don't plane as well as a slalom board and need more wind to get going. I always like getting any kind of air as well (moto and mtb)
Sounds like sanctuary point is kind of flat water so a slalom setup could be more fun down there? Maybe spend a summer on slalom equipment and go from there? Ahhh so many questions??

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MobZ said..
What were your biggest gear mistakes Musorianin?

So many. Biggest was 100lt starboard isonic. I was barely back into things, had only sailed old school wave boards in my past, had no idea about slalom kit, thought i was just getting a cheap (it was) 100lt board. I hated it, half the time my skill set would not let me get it to release, even when plenty of wind to power up, when i did get it on to the plane it was a total mission to find the back strap, and when i did find the back strap (instead of just capstpulting) the speed scared the absolute bejesus out of me (also sailing mainly in very choppy conditions, was so clueless i even took it in the surf). Gybe it? Any other funny jokes? I sold it for half what i bought it, out of a mixture of frustration and pure hatred.

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Gofish1980 said..

BSN101 said..
Maybe give the gurus a hint on what you think that you want to do. Slalom, B&J or long board. What sailing happens in Canberra? An old RB or newer LT will allow you to stay closer to home with 3-30knot wind range. Or get into foiling straight away

Sailing in Canberra is just to get your gear wet, very frustrating so gusty mostly. Evening summer easterly wind could be good sometimes.
I guess a bump jump setup would be useable everywhere? I presume they don't plane as well as a slalom board and need more wind to get going. I always like getting any kind of air as well (moto and mtb)
Sounds like sanctuary point is kind of flat water so a slalom setup could be more fun down there? Maybe spend a summer on slalom equipment and go from there? Ahhh so many questions??

If you want B&J conditions, instead of stopping at Sanctuary Point, keep on going all the extra 5 or 6km to Jervis Bay for similar wind strength and the added bonus of waist high chop in the NE'ly.
PS You won't get all that much use out of sub 5m sails. I'm 75kg and usually sail at Huskisson with 5 - 6m on a 86l kode

I'm not in Canberra (Perth) but I can share my experience getting back into it at 55 after a 35 year break.
I started in feb with a 135 free ride board and 5.6 free ride sail. Absolutely loved it and was hooked! I was very surprised how quickly I picked it back up partly because the new gear is so much easier to use (previously on a fibreglass sinker). At 67kg the board soon seemed a little big and already obsessed with going faster I got a 110 free race and a couple more sails up and down. I still sail the 135 in light winds and I think it's really helpful to keep working on the jibes - which are still terrible. When youre beginning again I think it's good to have a bigger board to get you through lulls as the stop/start if you can't carry a big sail is really draining and demoralising.
At my size and skill level the biggest thing is to ignore the fact that everybody else is using race sails 3-4 sizes bigger - they're generally much heavier, stronger in the right places and have been sailing a long time. I'm happy and going ok on a 5.6 when everybody else is on 7.8.
I'm still terrified doing 25 knots but excited to see where I'll get this summer.
Biggest advice - talk to everyone you meet for tips - people have been very friendly and helpful.

Lighter wind/flatter water go for a freemove/freeride board with larger sails maybe with up to one camber up to one metre in size apart

Stronger wind bumpier water go for a freestyle wave board smaller sails with no cams up to .7m size apart

Generally you will need at least three sails per discipline. Alot of us would have two boards, a bigger flat water board and a smaller freestyle wave board and we can get away with only 5 sails lol

Excellent, thanks for all the advice. I managed to pick up a 99L Carve and 5.4 and 4.7m sails in a complete kit locally in Canberra. The seller lived in WA and moved back here hadn't used it for years I think it's all from 2008 in pretty good condition. I'll head to SP on the next windy day can't wait. I got my eyes lazered since I was sailing last, it's going to be great!

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Gofish1980 said..
Excellent, thanks for all the advice. I managed to pick up a 99L Carve and 5.4 and 4.7m sails in a complete kit locally in Canberra. The seller lived in WA and moved back here hadn't used it for years I think it's all from 2008 in pretty good condition. I'll head to SP on the next windy day can't wait. I got my eyes lazered since I was sailing last, it's going to be great!

seems like good choice

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Gofish1980 said..
Well the kids have grown up and I want to get back into windsurfing at 43 years young. I live in Canberra and I used to sail Broulee mostly and got a couple of planning gybes under my belt as my most advanced manoeuvre ha! I'm not planning a full blown obsession at this point, maybe 5 weekends and few day trips.
Where to start? I have good flexibility to get down to the coast as I work for myself and budget is whatever it needs to be really. What board, how many sails, type of sails, mast, boom etc.
thanks!

Did you get yourself sorted with gear? I grew up and lived in Broulee. Keep us in the loop if your head down over the summer, it's usually me a lone wolf among kiters and wingers. More than happy to have blast with you over the summer if the NE winds stack up. I have a carve 111, which i'm currently selling but sounds like you got sorted with another carve. Great boards for blasting, bump and jump at north beach.