How does this sound for a light wind set up (kitesurfer learning to windsurf in 10 - 15ish knots)
180L SUP (Fanatic Allwave)
7.3 North e type

Rider 100kg

Kiting 12 years, only windsurfed at highschool for electives (20+ years ago!)

My worry is that this sail might be a tad too large? Or is this ok? Seems most WindSUPs have a max sail size of 5ish meters....

I want this setup to allow me to get on the water when its too windy for a surf, and not yet windy enough for kiting (I like 20+ knots).

Cheers for your feedback

You are almost in the right ballpark but it may be a little large. I have the same sup and sometimes use a 5.8m wave sail in subplaning conditions. I am also getting on for 100kg. The extra sail just adds pressure in your hands. Try it and see.

Yes but about a 5m for first tries

(1) uphauling a 7+ over and again will demoralise you real fast.

(2) SUP with no centreboard is hard to get upwind and is exacerbated by too much power pushing you sideways. Low power and working on technique first.

HEY Chris if you can get a large windsurfing board it will be much easier .fairly cheap too.

and will carry any size sail.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. Bloody useful forum, this!

So I had a crack on the 7.3 and phew, what a workout! Quite a lot more physical than kiting. I managed to do a few runs in both directions and felt like I was almost getting the hang of it after dropping the sail about 50 times, I'm wrecked now! Got back to my launch spot without having to do a walk of shame which is a success in my books!

Things I found hardest were;

- Getting going without ending up pointing straight into the wind in irons. Found I had to lean the rig way further forward than I thought I would to turn downwind.

- Getting going without burying the downwind rail, or sliding along sideways and struggling to get humming along with the board pointing in the right direction

- Getting used to standing with both feet behind the mast

- Getting used to leaning back against the sail and trusting that I wouldn't fall backwards into the water. Probably because the wind was a bit flukey (10-15 knots, quite on/ off)

I'm tired, but really enjoying the challenge and realising that there are a hell of a lot of intricacies that I had never imagined to wrap my head around. I'm really looking forward to getting it humming along and hoping that the sail size I have is going to be ok to eventually attempt gybes and stuff. It was a minor miracle that I managed to get back to shore tonight, totally ran out of steam but couldn't tear myself away because was having so much fun.

Whats the best youtube series that covers the absolute basics? I could do with any help I can get (before I admit defeat and splash out on lessons ).

Thanks again!

OK , first things first , it's ok if u don't color match , your a windsurfer now.
It sounds like your onto it . Getting back to your starting point is the first hurdle and you got that .There are endless how to videos . It takes time , practice , practice , practice .
Wait till you have your first planing run , it's the ants pants . No matter what discipline you choose , it's that first plane that gets you hooked.
Remember , smile , it's a windsurfing thing .

Hi Chris, welcome to the windsurf world.

Because you already kitesurf and understand the wind etc, you will progress much quicker than a regular beginner. Your 7.5m should be fine. Spend time cracking beach starts, then water starts and the rest will fall into place during the next few sessions. There are loads of beginner tuition/tips on youtube to help you along the way. Look up videos by Peter Hart, Simon Bornhoft and Guy Cribb.

As a bit of encouragement for you, this how I got into it, loads of others will have the same experiences. I self taught myself on a formula board (Bic Tecno 170 formula) and 7.8m (Bic Tecno 7.8m), I didn't know what I was buying and the guy told me it was a beginners board, I didn't realise at the time, but it was actually a one design formula course race board/sail!!! The 7.8m was best for learning to uphaul, but d-able. During week two, a local windsurfer noticed my uphaul technique was crap so he showed me how to beach start and water start. Week three, it was blowing strong and I was accidentally planning on most runs (out of the straps). I'll never forget that feeling of planning for the first time, bloody brilliant and never looked back since............ :)

Have fun:)

Thanks Guys,

Really enjoying the plethora of 'How to' vids and @mark62 - just saw a Peter Hart vid that was an absolute gem.

Cant wait to nail beach starts and water starts..... should prob learn how to get up an planing though I suppose hahah

Great times, looks like my 7 weeks summer holiday is sorted! The renovating/ landscaping/ everything else will be secondary, wife will be stoked

Hey Chris, sail is a bit large but at your size you're big enough to uphaul it easy so you'll be fine, your sailing fitness will help you out the more that you sail. I find that sail size doesn't make much difference for my windSUP so use a 6.5 nearly all the time. If your windSUP has a centreboard then you've pretty much got the perfect setup for lightwind fun.

am 100+ kilos
do not have a WindSUP
started with the Dufour and original sail (6.5 ?)
went to an old NP WARP 7.0 with three cambers
that was my goto sail in light winds
until I got a modern sail - a Maui Sails Pursuit 8.5 with no cambers
you see the trend
now I am using a 260 litre Mistral Equipe 2 XR with a freerace Gaastra Swift 10 meter sail
it has 2 cambers and rotates like a charm
very similar in sizing to a Severne Raceboard 9.5 sail

in summary: once you stop dropping the sail
you may want to go even larger
but then again I do not know how a WindSUP will handle larger sails

i feel one does NOT need to over complicate things to have FUN and learn !!
here is a clip on the old Dufour with a modern sail !!



there are times on the water there are only two of us !!
me with my raceboard with the BIG sail and Sylvain
with his 20 meter kite and kitefoil

Righto so have morphed into a frothing windsurfer and typical, the wind has been light as for the last 2 weeks (funny, because when my knee was fu***ked it was cruelly 20+ knots for 3 weeks solid).

So I have had a few good sessions, although probs too light wind (10knots) and had a lesson too which was ok and am now tacking and jibeing no worries, and am using the harness too. Off out today for another grovel and think I'll try and learn duck jibes.

Still on the SUPs and wondering if anybody's ever managed to get those things planing? I have a 9'6 All wave and a 9'6 Prowave. Havent tried the prowave yet but will do next time im on flatter water down at the lake.

So yeah, can you get a SUP planing? How much wind will I need (7.3 sail and hundo kgs on a 9'6 prowave)

God damn my shed is already bulging with boards, kites, SUPs, missus not happy....

Select to expand quote

Chris_M said..


So yeah, can you get a SUP planing? How much wind will I need (7.3 sail and hundo kgs on a 9'6 prowave)

Yeah - nah - eventually with a lot of wind & encouragement & they plane like they have a cray pot on the back

Best to get on a real board if there's enough wind

Look out as the mast screw inserts in some of the SUPS' may not be designed for big sails and constant use - I have see one mast block crack & dislodge & the underlying build was pretty flimsy (nylon looking block with a few thin fibers of glass - no foam block.

Multi tiny 5" fins won't work with 6+ sails and heavy rider.
Great board choice, poor fun setup for big rider. Mast travk is thru to bottom, but marginal for 6+ sails.

Yep cool fair enough, eyeing up some options for other boards right now. Didn't take long to get bored!

Plane easy, our Young Gun moving right along with 5.5 in 22 mph wind, and no footstraps needed.
But about 4 mph slower than sloe freeride, 8 mph slower than slalom boards.

Select to expand quote

Chris_M said..
Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. Bloody useful forum, this!

So I had a crack on the 7.3 and phew, what a workout! Quite a lot more physical than kiting. I managed to do a few runs in both directions and felt like I was almost getting the hang of it after dropping the sail about 50 times, I'm wrecked now! Got back to my launch spot without having to do a walk of shame which is a success in my books!

Things I found hardest were;

- Getting going without ending up pointing straight into the wind in irons. Found I had to lean the rig way further forward than I thought I would to turn downwind.

- Getting going without burying the downwind rail, or sliding along sideways and struggling to get humming along with the board pointing in the right direction

- Getting used to standing with both feet behind the mast

- Getting used to leaning back against the sail and trusting that I wouldn't fall backwards into the water. Probably because the wind was a bit flukey (10-15 knots, quite on/ off)

I'm tired, but really enjoying the challenge and realising that there are a hell of a lot of intricacies that I had never imagined to wrap my head around. I'm really looking forward to getting it humming along and hoping that the sail size I have is going to be ok to eventually attempt gybes and stuff. It was a minor miracle that I managed to get back to shore tonight, totally ran out of steam but couldn't tear myself away because was having so much fun.

Whats the best youtube series that covers the absolute basics? I could do with any help I can get (before I admit defeat and splash out on lessons ).

Thanks again!

Best videos for learning to windsurf -

GetWindsurfing -

Jem Hall's Beginner to Winner

Sam Ross Windsurfing

Best Video for learning to Water Start - Dasher's ABC's of Water starting (it's brilliant).

have the same sup and sometimes use a 5.8m wave sail in subplaning conditions. I am also getting on for 100kg. The extra sail discord.onl/ omegle.onl/ 8ballpool.onl/