Hi guys,

I'm looking to take up wind surfing, so id like to buy some second hand gear that will get me going and hopefully last awhile too as I (if I) progress.
I'm getting old (just ticked over the big 4-0 so I wont be looking to do anything extreme, just want to mow the lawn down at Inverloch at this stage.
I'm 6'4" tall and currently weigh between 95-100kg on any given week, but looking to shed some of that this year by windsurfing (and running) to get down to a more ideal weight of 85-90kg.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

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Aorta said..>>>>>>
I'm getting old (just ticked over the big 4-0 so I wont be looking to do anything extreme, just want to mow the lawn down at Inverloch at this stage.
I'm 6'4" tall and currently weigh between 95-100kg on any given week, but looking to shed some of that this year by windsurfing (and running) to get down to a more ideal weight of 85-90kg.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Firstly revise your idea of old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you think old, you'll be old.

I didn't start windsurfing until I was a bit older than you, I turn 75 in 3 days time, and still trying to hit 40kts.

So I think you should look for a board 150l or more, width is easier to learn on, so at least 70cm, and a sail somewhere around 5.5 to 6m

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decrepit said..

Aorta said..>>>>>>
I'm getting old (just ticked over the big 4-0 so I wont be looking to do anything extreme, just want to mow the lawn down at Inverloch at this stage.
I'm 6'4" tall and currently weigh between 95-100kg on any given week, but looking to shed some of that this year by windsurfing (and running) to get down to a more ideal weight of 85-90kg.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Firstly revise your idea of old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you think old, you'll be old.

I didn't start windsurfing until I was a bit older than you, I turn 75 in 3 days time, and still trying to hit 40kts.

So I think you should look for a board 150l or more, width is easier to learn on, so at least 70cm, and a sail somewhere around 5.5 to 6m

Sage advice on all fronts there, thank you

I started 5 yrs ago when I was 47. Wish I had started earlier not because I think I was too old but for the fact that I had missed out on so many more years' fun.

From experience, I'd advise to get some lessons on a learner's board (200l+) for the basics and get your balance. Don't buy a learner's board as you'll grow out of it quickly.. hourly rentals is a better idea.

I then bought my first gear, a 160l freeride board and 6.5m rig (I was 85kg) that I kept for a year. I learned the basics e.g. waterstarts, getting in the harness and footstraps on that board. I still remember the first time I planed - that was when I knew I wasn't gonna stop windsurfing. I downsized to a 120l freeride board after my first year and that was pretty easy. I now sail smaller boards (82-110l) that I like on PPB's choppy waters.

Thinking back, I could have started with a 130-140l board instead of 160, so I agree with decrepit's advice for a first board. It's also a good idea to keep it for practicing gybes, tacks, etc...

Don't buy a learner's board if you are at all able to rent one.

Do make sure your first board can be used with a foil, you'll want one eventually.
Do base your first rig around a 430rdm unless going fast is your main goal or you have extremely low wind.

If you have the coin buy a proper beginner board and rig if you can find one, you will progress faster as well as learn better technique and become a better sailer, then you can sell for pretty much what you paid or hold on to it to allow others in your family/friends use it and become addicted too.

Thanks for all the tips guys, is there somewhere to rent in either st Kilda or Inverloch?

Hi Aorta,
Buy a 150-160L Freeride board, around 80-85cm broad. I can recommend something like JP Magic Ride, Starboard carve, Fanatic Gecko... That will suit you well for now in the 10-18kn winds, allow you to learn balance on the board, learn basic tack and jibes and get into harness/straps and planing over the next two seasons.
I'd buy a 6-6.5 freeride sail for now, and later a 7.5-8 m2 sail for lighter wind planing.

I recommend to spend some more bucks on good/light equipment - makes everything easier. Don't buy pieces which don't fit together. Starting to surf is already challenging enough, no need to make it more difficult by using unsuitable equipment .
Try to buy sails/masts from the same manufacturer from similar years to ensure the rigg behaves well (different manufacturers use different mast curves). That strategy also allows you to add more sails to your quiver later on without always buying new masts. As for boards, keep away from daggerboards (not fun after 3 sessions) or anything with race, slalom, formula or wave in it. Go for freeride only.

After starting on a 160L board and good learning, you might want to buy later a 120-130L board for stronger winds. But the 160L board you can still keep as a lightwind board.

What I would strongly recommend you is to take the one or other private lesson with a good trainer. The best 500 bucks I spent for windsurfing in my life was not in the latest carbon boom or another sail, but in 10 hours with a good trainer over the course of an entire season. Best investment for progress and all the fun which comes with it. He will also help you to rig/trim your new equipment which is a bit of its own science...

Welcome in the windsurfing world, you are by far not too old to learn it and have still another 30+ years of windsurfing fun ahead

best regards
mariachi76
(43 yrs, started with 8yrs old but learned seriously only 3 yrs ago, got fully addicted and bought in the last <3 years in total 3 new boards, 7 new sails, 4 masts, two carbon booms and travelling now from Maui over Philipines to Brazil just for surfing . Be prepared for full addiction!)

To put my two bob in ,
If you buy secondhand gear ,generally you get most of your cash back if you buy right and look after your gea when you go to sell it..There is a fairly big market out there for secondhand gear so start buying up.
Go big , get the hang of it then move it on , Upgrade

The recommendations here are very good. I started windsurfing at age 40, started racing at age 50, started foiling at age 69. There are people in Florida still windsurfing in their 90s. You also see a lot of gray hair at the Event Site in Hood River. You can do this sport until you can't walk anymore, and some of those Florida people can barely to do that, but they can sure sail.

Like Grantmac says, get a board that is foil-capable since you will eventually want to try foiling. A good board to get (I think you can rent these and buy them used) is the JP Foil 155. Big and floaty enough to learn on, good enough to progress on, works for both fin and foil, and light enough to carry around without killing your back or shoulders. In any case get a board with a deep tuttle finbox, which has the widest application and longest future.

If you are a lightweight, say, less than 75 kg, you could go for the JP Foil 135. There are other foil-ready and finnable boards out there, but the JPs are everywhere.

Start with two sails: 5.5 and 6.5, that both fit onto the same reduced diameter (RDM) mast and boom. Probably 430 RDM. Maybe 400 RDM if you go for 4.7-6.0 sails.

Welcome to the sport. We enjoy infecting new people with our disease.

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Aorta said..
Hi guys,
...
I'm getting old (just ticked over the big 4-0 so I wont be looking to do anything extreme, just want to mow the lawn down at Inverloch at this stage.
....

The big 4-0? My Gods and fairies! I am 61 years old, I had a heart attack that almost killed me four years ago, never recovered fully and I am on 4 drugs including beta-blocker, and I still windsurf, mountain bike, back pack, and picked up foiling last year (with dismal results). I'll make a deal with any deity to be 40 again!

So get a grip! Buy a large freeride windsurf, call 130-140 liters given your weight, with deep tuttle box so you can foil eventually, and go out!!!!!!