Hi there I am a keen SUPer but want to learn how to windsurf when wind up.
I currently have a fanatic 9'6 Allwave could I learn on that or do I need a daggerboard?
I weigh 54 kg what size rig would I need, someone said an old small wavesail! Or do indeed a special kiddies rig?
Any advice greatly appreciated hope to see ya out there when wind up :)
Aloha Roberta Naish(picking up jargon already)

Where do you live , we have a windsurfing school in port macquarie and can teach you

Your sup should be fine to learn on with a smallish wave sail, somewhere round 4m or there abouts. Although maybe something a little bigger will let you set it up on a 400 long mast, which'll be more adaptable with bigger sails later.

Ideally try and rent a more traditional learners board with a really small sail for the first few goes, if there is anywhere near you that rents equipment. The first few learning steps are so much easier on a ridiculously wide board with a handkerchief sail, it just lets you wrap your head around manoeuvring the board/sail with a bit less falling in. I wouldn't go out and buy a learner rig though, you'll soon want something bigger.

Summers almost here, have fun

There are all sorts of learner rigs around which are probably easier to learn with than a wave sail. If I was buying another one I'd look at the Simmerstyle or Hot Sails Maui sails- fewer battens and mainly dacron (not monofilm/mylar) fabric, so very forgiving and indestructible.

With a kids rig the boom sleeve may be too low for adults.

At 54kg I'd say nothing over a 3.5 to 4m would be best to learn on.

If you're steady on a SUP you'd pick it up on anything with a bit of volume- ideally wide and with a centreboard- but give the 9'6" a go first with a small rig and see how it works.

Clarence

It will Also help if you have a race type fin on your board, it will track better.

If you ask nice and you are in Sydney then I can lend you a rig an fin to get you started. I had my allwave set up for begginer lessons. I have a 3.3 and 4.2 m sails with with carbon mast and boom, so fairly light. I have plenty of padding for the mast to avoid damage to board, a race fin to fit.

All this stuff is collecting dust so you can borrow until you get confident then go for a bigger rig 4.7 or 5.2 m.

Thanks everyone for your feedback and recommendations, I can't wait to get out on the water!! :-)

Hi Feerless,
I have some sails that I have not used. A complete set (2.7 3.2 3.7 4.2)of Naish Rippers,tough wave sails for <60kg riders.They rig on shorter lighter 340 masts and I have the matching masts a Firestick 85% and 100%.
These are exactly what the real Roberta Naish would use .
PM my Dad (KA360) if you are interested

^^^ nice sales talk but I doubt she will need a quiver (at all) or anything that small.

4.2 to learn on, once on intermediate gear maybe 5.0 and 5.5 for planing.

A 55kg chick may need 3.2 - 4.7 in WA for wavesailing......... but a learner gal does not need 4 sizes from 2.7 to 4.2. Certainly not yet.


As was already suggested to her - old small wavesail is just great. A 10 y/o 4m fo free will be just fine to learn.

^^^ I know she only wanted a sail ,not 4 sail and 2 masts. She has not said where she is learning and what her local conditions are so just mentioning what sizes we had to offer.These sails however run masts probably 600mm shorter than 10 yo sails which makes a huge difference in weight for a beginner/light weight sailor .Though these would make learning easier, better still would be get a windsurf board with a daggerboard and use the SUP for supping.

Being less than 60kg myself, after progressing from the old Dufour Wing barn door to short boards I learnt on a 5.5 Simmer and then got a 4.7 for the stronger days. Considering that you probably already have reasonable balance due to owning a sup you should be ok with this size sail.