Hey guys just new here.

My predicament is im a 69kg windsurfer. I have very little money and picked up some gear for 550 euro

Consists of a cut 430 SDM 60 (say about 420), extension, 2002 Freeride board 120l, A 32 fin and a 44 fin. And small wave sails 3.7-4.5. alum boom and that.

Basically everything to get me on the water but not great kit.

The problem i have is the area i live in is normally F4 up to F10 at times. This means with my weight i always have to take these size of sails.

Anyway the question i have been leading up to is: Is there any small freeride sails (less than 150 euro used) That would suit this range. And what fin can i use as the smallest freeride fin i have found is a unifibre 26 (which seems about right).

If no what are the best wave sails for blasting/Learning in these sort of conditions?

And what would be the best thing to upgrade first ?

Thanks in advance.

Where do you live? It sounds windy.

Top north west ireland. Its F11 today. Never really drops below F4 or its like 3 knots. Would a FSW be a better idea ?? feel like i need freeride for learning as i can just get planing and sometimes get in straps. But the big fin means the nose attacks my face unless im leaning all my weight down due to being overfinned. Being overpowered on a 4.5 2002 Wave sail doesnt help either i guess :/

Is the wind consistent or is it gusty? What sort of water do you sail on? Flat, choppy, ocean swell, breaking waves?

Gusty in the high winds. Consistant when below F5. ... Sail on choppy in high tide and 1-2ft swell in low tide. Would like to move onto ocean swell.

Ive only been windsurfing for about 2 months. But find my current combo (Which is ****) to not be great to learn on..

Done alot of research and was wondering if i could use a FSW at my level as this seems to be the kind of board for this wind.

Also thanks a million for the replys moby as im having real difficulty finding this kind of information.

Also to add the current board i have is the AHD Freediamond 68 which is a 68cm wide board so near the FSW boards.

F10 is frinkin windy !. 120l board is miles too big. I would be over powered on this board in F4 & 5 - I'm 72kg.

I think FSW style board is a good way to go. You've only been sailing two months, so you haven't evolved your style yet, and getting advice on the net sometimes does more harm than good. Can you contact any local W/S's that can give you equipment tips ?

J

Hey JN thanks a million for the reply

Yeah i have found it too big and the fin makes the board tail walk and attack my face haha.

I might have to call shop owners or something. but the area i live in is pretty unique and no one else windsurfs here.

What FSW board would suit me being a 69kg rider??

I find this 120lt 68cm width board completly fine stability wise.


Again thanks everyone for the replys incredibly helpful

This is a good review of a FSW board.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/2014-Tabou-3S-86-LTD/

It might be to much for your budget. However there are bound to be second hand ones around. I think it would be great to have an easy to ride board like this when the wind picks up and the water isn't dead flat.

Interesting page that reviews FSW boards back to back (a year old):

http://boards.mpora.com/equipment-tests/tested-equipment

Without knowing your age, fitness level, progression (and I could only know that if I met you in person and saw you sail) and seeing your location and how it works, I'm a bit necessitate to recommend.

I normally blast around on an 85L FSW board with either a 4.0 or 4.7 freeride sail from F4-7 winds (and F7 only just) which is what we normally get here in summer (subtract about 5 knots to this due to our warmer/less dense air compared it to your colder/denser winds in Ireland). The other day I was blasting around on my 69L wave board and 4.0 sail combo in 25-30kt seabreeze (which I'm stoked about - 2nd go on this brand new $600 'clearance sale' wave board I brought a few months back for cyclonic Ardrossan sessions in January, but is good for afterwork sessions in Adelaide). For me, being a average windsurfer and sailing 5 years, it took a bit of time to work up to this small gear.

There's guys at my local who became advanced within a season (from beginner to carve gybe/duck gybe/forward loop/waving riding in places that would be beyond my skill level and fitness).. So, it wildly depends on your ability. It's a hard one. I doubt I would have the skill/fitness to sail where you do. When I think of windsurfing in Ireland, I think of the 2006 Redbull Stormchase Challenge documentary.

Sorry, if this tells you absolutely nothing

Thanks moby and Jn1 the replys really helped :)


www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/cruit_island

This is the conditions for this week if someone wants perspective :D .....


Anyway any more information is greatly wanted and thanks again guys for taking the time for the good replys

Windy but bloody cold!

Thats how we like our showers here :P :P

You get used to it.

The northern bay near the Cruit Island marker on google map, is that where you sail ?. Looks like an awesome speed strip if the wind is SW.

Yes thats were i sail alot of the time but must be very high tide as i have such a big fin atm (can have very sligth swell in high wind.... Or between cruit island and the mainland at high tide its crazy flat i mean like glass not a ripple on the water.. could be one of the best speed spots in ireland . ... Theres a Sandbank half way down that generates 3-5 foot waves when the tide is coming in (half tide -> 3/4) so a good laugh to mess on them also.