Hi
I used to windsurf along time ago ;)
I grew up on Lake Macquarie and enjoyed the summer north easterlies back in the late 80s on boards like the Windsurfer one design, Mistral one design and Bombora south pacific.
I have a boat nowadays but still miss the sensation of planing on a reach at what felt like high speeds :0
I'm 173cm and weigh 85kg.
I was thinking of getting back into it, I don't want to head out into the surf but would rather have something I can sail upwind on but is as fast as possible down wind as well. I notice a lot of boards don't have dagger boards, I assume they are wave boards which are mainly for reaching ?
Can anyone tell me what sort of kit I should be looking for in the second hand market or if I was to buy newish gear. I am totally out of touch with the current gear. I live in the inner west of Sydney now.
cheers

I think you should get a freeride board around 120 litres with a sail about 6.5; it would be a good start for summer breezes. With these boards you have fun reaching up and down on a plane, the course sometimes might seem a bit monotonous, but speed, jibing, waterstarting give you all the excitement. You can still gain upwind, but never at the angles that a sailboat can do, only beginner boards or longboards have daggerboards.

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powersloshin said..

I think you should get a freeride board around 120 litres with a sail about 6.5; it would be a good start for summer breezes. With these boards you have fun reaching up and down on a plane, the course sometimes might seem a bit monotonous, but speed, jibing, waterstarting give you all the excitement. You can still gain upwind, but never at the angles that a sailboat can do, only beginner boards or longboards have daggerboards.

+1

Hi,

windsurfing equipment has changed a great deal from the days of the South Pacific and one designs. You can still get a Windsurfer One Design and there are people who sail them.

Shortboards are what most people sail. Shortboards vary in all shapes, sizes and puposes. Some are wave boards as they were in the 80s. Some are also slalom boards like there were in the 80s. However there are many other types now. If you want to get a shortboard powersloshin's advice is good. A freeride board will be the easiest entry back into windsurfing on a shortboard.

Next time its blowing a NE seabreeze head down to Kyeemagh at Botany Bay and you will see the sort of stuff people are using nowdays.

Some of the bigger freeride boards such as the Starboard GO have a centreboard if you want to go cruising. Plenty of volume and stability for someone just returning to the sport, but good fun and not too heavy and slow.

I returned to the sport 3 years ago after a break of 15 years. I purchased a second hand (14 year old) Mistral Superlight 11 and 9.5m2 sail, mast and boom. The Mistral is a raceboard (3.8m lg x 250 litres). It has a centre board, sliding mast track and multiple footstraps. It was designed for course racing, hence is good on all points of sail - work to windward, reaching and square runs. I beleive they still race regularly at Dobroyd Pt sailing club. The advantage of this setup is that you sail in any conditions under 15kts. If you can add smaller sails as you get more confident you can also sail in higher wind conditions.

These new larger sails are very user friendly and controllable compared to what we sailed in the 80s. I had no problem picking up the basic skills. It was like riding a bike, I retained a lot of the muscle memory, I just had to reinforce it and get sailing fit.

I have since also purchased a freerace short board (111lits) which I use when the wind gets over 15kts.

I sail both set ups regularly. I participate in longboard course racing, long board cruising, slalom racing and general out and back (planeing) reaching.

Check out the buy and sell tab above for second hand gear as well as Ebay.

KS,
I too had a 20year hiatus from windsurfing (1987 to 2007). My eighties boards were very similar - South Pacific, Hi-fly Pro-Race and a smaller custom fibreglass one. I reckon if you were a competent windsurfer back then, you can't go past a big freeride board (125 - 130 litres) for the lighter stuff and maybe a Freestyle wave board (100litres) for the windy stuff. For me anyway, it was like riding a bike as all the core principles came back fairly quickly when going for the first couple of sessions. I rekindled my love for the sport with a 2nd hand 2001 JP FSW 100l and then purchased a 2007 Starboard Carve 133 for the lighter stuff. Slowly upgraded and now have the speed bug so most of my stuff is slalom orientated for GPS windsurfing. Anyway as someone mentioned get down to Kyeemagh

I reckon you should give Remi a call from the Windsurfing Shed (Sydney based) as he may have some demo gear available just to give you an idea what's out there. Good luck and welcome back to a great sport.

Here's a photo of some of my 80's gear. You're more than welcome to have the South Pacific too.

Thanks for the info!
I'm getting keener by the minute ;)

I had 15 years off.

Then I got myself a Starboard Acid 70 ltr. I didn't like the look of these new fangled fat things. I wanted a scapel not a dinner plate.

First run in 15 years took off from the grass at Lancelin, got 100m out the back of Main Break then thought - bugger what if I have forgotten how to gybe ? Then thought - bugger bugger, what if I have forgotten how to waterstart ? then thought bugger bugger bugger.

Luckily it really was like riding a bike. It might not have been pretty but eventually I tackgybedwaterstarted and got back to shore.

Ditto

Had a break from about 97-2010 and started back on a 125L Fanatic Ray and 6.6 cam'd freerace sail.
Was a great combo to ease back in - even if it was just chugging to start with to get the feel.
Like everyone has said It's just like riding a bike except the fitness isn't there.

If you are in Sydney's inner west come down to Dobroyd Aquatic Club at Rodd Point. We sail raceboards and windsurfers there with racing at 6 on Wednesday nights during daylight savings followed by pizza at the local. Racing also on Saturday afternoon. We are a friendly bunch even if I do say so myself! Come on down for a look a chat and a sail. No doubt there will be some second hand gear around if you decide to join in the fun.

came back after 15 years or so and picked up a 118 Super sport / 6.7 hellcat - took about 1 day to get water starts going and about 4 weeks to get gybing working again :)
Takes a bit of time on water to get the balance back but it is really just like riding a bike.

Selling my Supersport now really cheap as i need to make room in my garage

Interesting how many people have the same story. I also had 15 years off once kids and job made me busy. My previous board was a Bombora Tri-fin.

I'm 65 kg, and 5 years ago I bought a 105 litre freeride board and a 5.2 and 5.7 sail. Now have a full quiver from 4.3 to 7.4, and a 78 litre board also.

If you used to be a proficient sailboarder, grab the 120 litre freeride board, and maybe go to 130 litre if you were not so good back then.

You're gonna have a blast, the new gear is so much better.

I have just returned after 25 years , use what ever you can get hold off & take it from there - you never loose your skills

Hey mate welcome back to the fold

I also have a 27', though not in your area.
I sometimes rig from it - it can be an OK platform to launch from in your area of Newcastle and Sydney...
Middle Harbour has a few good spots, i.e. before Grotto.

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pierrec45 said..

Hey mate welcome back to the fold

I also have a 27', though not in your area.
I sometimes rig from it - it can be an OK platform to launch from in your area of Newcastle and Sydney...
Middle Harbour has a few good spots, i.e. before Grotto.

cheers ;)