Hi all,
well, after over 30 years I had my first spin on a windsurfer in Sardinia this year. Needless to say, I am now all keen to get back into it, but need some help on equipment choices.
So, I am 50 years old, surfed competitively from 14-20 years old, mostly on the Mediterranean. Back in those days booms were strapped on by ropes, and the daggerboards had just become adjustable.
Where I hired my board I was plonked on a 160l board with a 5m2 sail. I struggled to get going in roughly 10-15 knot winds and 2' waves, but finally managed to put in a few licks until my arms got sore. Hey, it was my first attempt in over 30 years!

So, now I am keen to get going again, but I do not want to go overboard with my first rig back, as (hopefully), my learning curve will be steep due to past experience, and once my fitness and balance improves, I'd probably get bored on a 200l board with a 4 meter sail.
Most second-hand gear I can find are boards under 100l, which I don't think I'd be able to handle for quite some time yet (if ever).
I should add, I am 180cm tall and weigh almost 80kg. Used to surf with harness in up to 30-40 knot wind in my younger days, but have only been riding horses since.

Any suggestions for a size/type of board/sail I should be looking for, and where? I don't mind a challenge, and eventually hope to get jumping smaller waves again. I'll be starting back out on NSW inland lakes (if it rains again one day), but eventually would like taking myself to the beach.
Any suggestions/support or advice for my situation would be appreciated.

cheers

Steve

Windsurfer LT is the go. You can race it, sail it for fun on lakes and compete in triangles, slalom and freestyle. It is a great allround board and you can use it in the waves, if you are keen. The original Windsurfer One Design was the first Windsurfer waveboard. It can also be used as a SUP. The LT can be sailed in 3-30 knots. The Worlds are in Perth WA in 2020 so get your campaign started. Racing around a course is excellent for fitness and you will be competing against top sailors. 80 kg is a good weight for racing. Australia has a number of world champions and many top champions are coming back. The following manufacturers now supply LTs maybe in NSW call Greg Johns at Windgenuity or contact Windsurf N Snow:

Starboard
Naish
Exocet
Windsurfer
Mistral
Nove Nove (I-99)
Rumour is Severne also might have branded version shortly.

if you want to get back into waves, I'd say a big wave board would be the go, not too much over 100l, Sure it won't be that easy to start with, but it shouldn't take you too long to get back into it. An other idea is a sailing sup, you can get out in super light winds with one of those, a guy here even beats the kites out, and waves all to himself. that will get you fitness back up quickly then you can get a full on wave board for the stronger days.

For inland lakes and jumping small waves I suggest you get a 110L freeride/freerace board with sail 6.0-7.0m. This will have plenty of float for you (I'm 20kg heavier and 113L is my biggest board) so you get up and planning reasonably quickly, but should still be manageable in stronger winds.

Good point from Decrepit, there's quite a few good sups that will take a rig, something like a 9ft6" board that's around 30" wide.

You'll be able to paddle it when theres no wind and use it on both the lake and in small waves, can easily be uphauled too.
Second hand starboards are around pretty cheap.

Well done for coming back to a real sport !!!!!!!

Are there any rental venues near you? Better to rent big boards until you are ready for a 100 L board.

I found coming back to planing shortboard windsurfing after a break was easy. Given the previous skills and good fitness, he will nail it.
Sounds like he wants to plane, not bob around.

130L freeride with 6 and 7.5. Get out when its windy and go fast.

Then after a season maybe add a 100L FSW and add a 5.3 ish. Covered for lots pf lake conditons and some good open ocean sailing

Select to expand quote

Mark _australia said..
I found coming back to planing shortboard windsurfing after a break was easy. Given the previous skills and good fitness, he will nail it.
Sounds like he wants to plane, not bob around.

130L freeride with 6 and 7.5. Get out when its windy and go fast.

Then after a season maybe add a 100L FSW and add a 5.3 ish. Covered for lots pf lake conditons and some good open ocean sailing

A local down here has a 130L Fanatic Blast. Lovely board and doesn't seem that big. Foil ready too

Fantastic reading your post and all the replies. I live in France and have just returned from Leucate, where I'm trying to get back into windsurfing. To say it's been difficult would be an understatement. Although there's nearly always good wind, the gusts are something else. When it's 15 knots it gusts 22-25, then when it increases say to 25 knots it can gust up to 40. Ok if you're competent and in the harness. I was practicing my beach start and having the sail ripped out of my hands. I'm getting there. Just wish I could find a constant wind. My board is 144ltr and I use various sails. I'm 80k as well.
I'm very interested about where to windsurf in NSW as my son lives on the edge of Lake Macquarie, near Warner's bay and I visit regularly and maybe emigrating in a year or two. Can I hire equipment when I'm there? All the best.
Steve.