I'm 182 cent and 79 kilos. 64 years old and looking to get my first board for fitness but really want to progress to downwinding too. I have a chance to get a decent deal on a Naish 14x29 but I'm trying to decide if the learning curve will be too steep on a board like that. I've read posts on this site and feel that a lot of good advice is available here.

Regards,
Marksz

Hello there,

I would buy a super floaty high liter board for your first beginning board. I shoot around 200 or more liters if you can. More liters will make your windsurfing experience much easier and more fun at the same time, and you will progress much faster. More liters will also float you easier at the same time. By the way what kind of Naish board were you looking at?

Good luck!!

he's talking SUP s ... ....14 foot windsurfer .???.wow..

naish 29-14 foot great DW .and flat water 285 litres...

every one ...beginner or a few year experienced paddlers has no trouble getting straight up

on my 28-14 naish javelin ..It has the volume .

Guess he posted in the wrong section then. But yes they do make 14 foot and longer sailboards. When I was at Bigwinds shop in the hood river Or. they had a whole bunch and couldn't believe the length. It was incredible! Here is a photo of their 12' 4" Phantom sailboard.

Bigger and lighter board is easier... not bigger sail. But it does restrict your learning.. mostly for carving and jumping wave, but you wouldn't start on that anyway... do you have any experience on other boards? Skateboards or surf for example? Are you pretty fit? If you do you may want to try a smaller board.

I'm in a similar position to the OP and have the time and am keen to do some lessons and learn Windsurfing this Autumn.

I have an old Naish Glide 14' x 29" SUP and can buy a mast/boom sail setup for it for under $1.5K. Was thinking of putting it to use on light wind days.

Am I going to find it all a bit to hard learning on this board? I think it has the volume but is narrow and a tad tippy. Would I be better off just hiring/buying an easier setup starting off?

What size sail should I go for?

Don't do it to ya self man .it will be very hard to sail. I also have a 14, naish glide .
You need width .
depending where you live (wind strength and your weight .maybe a 5.0- 6.0
i learnt in WA I used a 4 .5 ,but its very windy there .
you need just enough to move ,then keep going bigger .

if you can go to 2 or 3 "lessons" or sessions on a big \wide board (with smaller sail)
then you can determine how you do with the wide setup
are you ready to go long n narrow or straight to shortboarding
usually in one session I can see where people are lacking potential and innate skills
some wanna do it, but just lack the balance
others are naturals - one hour on the wide board and then take off on the longboard !!
take it slow - NO RUSH
the RUSH comes with planing

Fanatic Viper 80 or 85 will take you from first leaning steps to fully planing in the straps. Most versatile board i have ever sailed.
I have taught beginners on this board and also done 28 knots on it. All you need to do is put a bigger fin in once your skills improve.

Yeah Nah just can't decide.

From the reading I've done, I think I'm probably better off doing two or three lessons and then figuring it out where I spend my money after that.

I'm reluctant to splash out a whole lot on something that may not even work for me, and don't really want more boards to store.

My aim is by the end of Autumn, to be able to sail the 14' 270L board and feel safe and on it in light winds. I don't think my expectations are too high.

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~vq2j3/Bic-283-Techo-Board-Everything-Else-283-cm-152-litres.aspx?_page=1&search=EjQ0DoWvNYj5oA28bIuUaA%3D%3D

Oh - I'm around 95kg and pushing my mid 50s.

Would this setup work for learning?

$650 is what I'd spend doing 4 lessons.

650/4 = ~$160 per session = WOW
i had NO idea

i weigh more than you
and my first shortboard was wider @ 80 cm
that older board is closer to a longboard - long @ 283 cm and narrow @ 69 cm
current boards are getting wider and shorter
and supposedly EASIER + more efficient (earlier planing and more manoeuvrable)

feel although nice to have a sail included, that one is quite small
i started with 7 square meters which worked out fine
and went to 8 square meters in order to plane earlier
even a 6 meter sail is now used in BIG winds only ...

one thing i do when i sell a full kit; I offer one free session on the water
this allows buyer to see how i set it up, how i used it and gets them going
once they get going , i go out on my stuff and just monitor if they need more assistance
i do make it clear that this was NOT a money back guarantee @ that point - SOLD
with NO returns ... like it or not - break it or not ...

joewindsurfer.blogspot.com/p/how-you-can-start-windsurfing.html