Hey guys been out of windsurfing for awhile but have over 30 years experience previously I decided to buy a cheap setup $100 complete setup and get back into it ..now I don't want to sound a bit funny on here but to be honest I've had this thing out twice in good wind(bay chop)20+ knots nothings even come close to getting near this old girl as in kites or modern expensive looking windsurfers are just eating dust all day long ..but after reading up on modern windsurfing gear people saying how far it's come over the years which iam sure is has but gee it's got me wondering.. The $100 setup is a 90s wild winds cammed race/slalom sail 5.5 and and 90s mistral screamer concept 105L Iam 70kg I did plan on on lashing out and buying some modern bigger $$ gear but having second thoughts now because this thing still rips ??

Yr cost per sail is going to be very low, +stoke is going to be off the charts! Enjoy.. New gear is perhaps a different sensation than older cams and longer and narrower M.Screamer, but still valid for some use cases. Here youve matched sail/rig and board vintage to get a familiar and balanced ride, when many mix and don't match old with new. Mentioned elsewhere new rigs deliver different drive and less drag, and modern boards better matched to that imho.

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stevesail said..
>>>The $100 setup is a 90s wild winds cammed race/slalom sail 5.5 and and 90s mistral screamer concept 105L Iam 70kg I did plan on on lashing out and buying some modern bigger $$ gear but having second thoughts now because this thing still rips ??

If that sail was later in the 90s and designed by Phil Smith, it's not surprising it's still going well.

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stevesail said..
Hey guys been out of windsurfing for awhile but have over 30 years experience previously I decided to buy a cheap setup $100 complete setup and get back into it ..now I don't want to sound a bit funny on here but to be honest I've had this thing out twice in good wind(bay chop)20+ knots nothings even come close to getting near this old girl as in kites or modern expensive looking windsurfers are just eating dust all day long ..but after reading up on modern windsurfing gear people saying how far it's come over the years which iam sure is has but gee it's got me wondering.. The $100 setup is a 90s wild winds cammed race/slalom sail 5.5 and and 90s mistral screamer concept 105L Iam 70kg I did plan on on lashing out and buying some modern bigger $$ gear but having second thoughts now because this thing still rips ??

According to speed sailor Jim modern kit is 10-15% faster and easier to sail. Probably more of a difference now than when that article was written in 2015. I think he still sails the old kit from time to time. So yes, it would be possible to sail past lesser skilled sailors on modern kit.

boards.co.uk/equipment-tests/tested-equipment/scrapheap-speed-challenge-can-the-old-beat-the-new.html

ps that was on flat water at Portland Harbour, Weymouth, UK. I bet the difference would be larger on choppy water.

Skill is most important.
With SOOOOOO many former skilled windsurfers quitting, kiting, windfoiling, and winging, the skilled windsurf numbers are dropping off quickly from 2000.
Even I, at almost 73 and 160 lbs., have inherited the honor of being fastest and best windsurfer in East Bay San Francisco. Out of maybe still. 100 two days a week windsurfers.
Bring back JD, Chenda, Bard, Mike P, Steve S, and a couple others, and I'd be mid pack.
Every dog has his day.

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stevesail said..
Hey guys been out of windsurfing for awhile but have over 30 years experience previously I decided to buy a cheap setup $100 complete setup and get back into it ..now I don't want to sound a bit funny on here but to be honest I've had this thing out twice in good wind(bay chop)20+ knots nothings even come close to getting near this old girl as in kites or modern expensive looking windsurfers are just eating dust all day long ..but after reading up on modern windsurfing gear people saying how far it's come over the years which iam sure is has but gee it's got me wondering.. The $100 setup is a 90s wild winds cammed race/slalom sail 5.5 and and 90s mistral screamer concept 105L Iam 70kg I did plan on on lashing out and buying some modern bigger $$ gear but having second thoughts now because this thing still rips ??

I think it's important to distinguish between nostalgia for old gear and what still works, and to what level.

(The first thing to check with gear bought from a dusty garage is that it all still fits together and safely - without breaking. This is the main fear we have with newbies picking up old gear they think they can learn on...)

If, as you have found, it all works and still goes really well, then what's not to like? The same combination of gear that ripped back in the 1990s can certainly still work now, especially on flat water. The speed you go at depends on you, as much as it depends on the gear you are on.

When you pick up gear this cheap then the main plus is that you also get huge fun for the money.
The same is true when you buy an old bicycle - rather than paying thousands for a new mountain bike. The basics are there, despite the huge variation in outlay.

The main downside to this is your windsurf rig will be heavier and more fiddly to put together. The old sail may also damage easily if you fall on it.
Old boards and sails can still go fast and provide the ride you want, but the second negative tends to be about how much harder they are to turn.
The final thing to ask yourself if how much you expect to progress - because having modern lightweight and compact gear can really help that. It's the board and sail's power geometry that has changed in recent decades, so some might say that buying gear from the 90s is going back too far.


But personally I love seeing old gear still going strong. Post us some pictures.

Steve sail:

Totally hear you & have similar circumstances. Have both old gear(pre 2000) & recently purchased new gear. Really the only difference is age & dated products, but still functional if in great shape. I've also got Mistral Concept 295, which l've resurfaced with epoxy resin and fine salt. It's rough on the feet but plenty of grip. Like a new board again & in fabulous shape.
Sail range 5.0, 5.7, 6.5 -7.1 very content as we frequently get good strong Seabreezes to gales on the East Gippsland coast. Some guys like old classic cars, hot rods, etc & love them whether they've spend mega $'s on them or very little to just keep them roadworthy. All relevant to who you are & your expectations. I still enjoy older boards as much as the new gear, like a Starboard Futura 86 which is a multi use board for Windsurfing or Foiling. I'm not a foiler as really enjoy windsurfing which is what l've been doing, (not as much as l'd like to), since late 70's. I'm early 60's still love it new & older gear.

Love hot rods & new cars also.

Good score ,the screamer was and is a ripper board ,i had 3 ,and my 1995 6,3 north Prisma was fast too on it
welcome back .