Hey guys,

As I get older the need for some excitement and adrenaline is biting and windsurfing is once again wooing me. I have sailed before (last time was 15 years ago) but when I got to the point of almost gybing I gave the sport away. Having some very clapped out gear probably made my progression slower than it could have been. I had a Tyronsea 295 for those who can remember back that far, along with some pretty crappy sails. I could water start reasonably well and could get going in moderate conditions. Thinking back, part of the reason I gave it away was the poor sailing conditions that summer in Sydney (very few windy days).

Anyhow, my question is, what sort of gear should I be looking for (decent used stuff) to start out? I am 50 y.o 80kg and quite fit. Mainly interested in slalom/ freeride stuff at this point. I understand a lot of the gear is more user friendly these days?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If I haven't given enough info/background details, please let me know.

Cheers
Chris

This seems to be a recurring theme! Looks like a lot of ex-windsurfers are coming back, which is great. But try and do a bit to bring in your son/daughter/neice/nephew into the sport as well :)

With the gear, look for a 120L to 160L board. Ideally with a soft "technora" type deck as that will be softer and less painful to fall on than deck grip. Sail - start with a non-cam or 2 cam at most 5.5m and a 6.5m which should hopefully fit on to a single 430 mast and a circa 160-210 boom. Then a large (36cm) extension. Don't worry too much about fin just yet - anything slalom around 36cm would work.

After a few months of this, you will move to a 100L carbon or wood slalom board with 3-5 sails, 2-3 masts and a whole bunch of expensive fins.

I've just taken it up again after 16 years also. I was not as advanced as your skill level and gave it away due to being frustrated with old outdated equipment. I'm 90 kg 39 yo so slightly younger. I got myself a JB Funster 145L and in 2 days I was up and going better than ever before. The modern light gear makes everything so easy compared with before. I got a 6.8 m sail which was too big at first so I brought a 4.5m sail but I'm about to buy a 5.3 m which will be my strong wind sail 25knots. The 6.8 will be for 18 knots snd my 4.5 will be for 30+. I would suggest buying a light mast and boom as this makes it easier and adds less weight. I never have the dagger board down so I wouldn't be looking for this in a board if I were you but if it has one just fold it up. I'm in Perth so we have consistent wind 15-25 knots. Don't get a board bigger than 150L and no smaller than 130L is my recommendation. I also think best learning conditions are 18 knots with a smaller sail. Hope this helps as a starting guide and there are people with a lot more knowledge than me so I hope you get some more replies

there are a few threads about you situation here too, have a browse & lots of questions answered. Look in the other states forums too for even more info.

There's a JP Funster 145L same as mine with complete rig for $1000 in the buy and sell in Lake Macquarie NSW. Worth checking out coz that size is perfect for learning and a good price

I'm 59 years old 90+kg. Wave sailed a lot through the 80's and a bit of the 90's, had a meagre team rider deal for a while. I stopped due to kids and work and just getting back into it. I've found the new wave sails fantastic compared with the old ones, even on my 80's boards. But I'm having a bit of trouble getting used to the newish 65L FSW board, I should have got something with more volume. It seems my old custom fibreglass wave board with less volume is easier to sail in light wind, maybe because of the extra length at 8'6". Also the mast track is about a foot further back than I'm used to which feels completely different. I should have bought a 95L board. If I can find a steady 20 knots a lot of good memories come flooding back, they just disappear when I sink like a stone in the lulls.

^ 65 litre board is tiny for sombody over 90kg! No wonder you're having trouble with it.

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Agrid said..
I'm 59 years old 90+kg. Wave sailed a lot through the 80's and a bit of the 90's, had a meagre team rider deal for a while. I stopped due to kids and work and just getting back into it. I've found the new wave sails fantastic compared with the old ones, even on my 80's boards. But I'm having a bit of trouble getting used to the newish 65L FSW board, I should have got something with more volume. It seems my old custom fibreglass wave board with less volume is easier to sail in light wind, maybe because of the extra length at 8'6". Also the mast track is about a foot further back than I'm used to which feels completely different. I should have bought a 95L board. If I can find a steady 20 knots a lot of good memories come flooding back, they just disappear when I sink like a stone in the lulls.

Just buy another board! Can you ever have too many toys? :)

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mrbones said..
There's a JP Funster 145L same as mine with complete rig for $1000 in the buy and sell in Lake Macquarie NSW. Worth checking out coz that size is perfect for learning and a good price

I did see that. Not knowing what's what these days I overlooked it because of the centreboard. Maybe worth a look.

Cheers C

I wouldn't knock back a fun board just because it has a centreboard, they're usually retractable and make little/no difference to the performance. I'm a learner and using a Starboard Express (180L Go with a centreboard) and my learning buddy uses a 160L Funster, both these boards go like the clappers on the plane and are nice and stable for tacking (I don't know how to jybe yet) and uphauling, and most of all they are .................... FUN! You'll have a ball on any of them.

I am in a similar boat. 47 and over 100kg. Not sailed since 2001 and done 10 sessions since December 2015. I used to sail a lot. I asked an old mate at one of the shops what to get and couldn't be happier. Got an rrd evolution 360 which is nice and wide, floaty and goes fast. I alao got a kids rig for it and they are learning quick. It's like riding a bike. It all comes back pretty quick, even the fitness is coming back. I thought I would take a long time to get back into it but first time out managed a beach start and water start and planed really well. Actually I also got a second hand rrd firestorm 111 which works really well with the rrd forewing 7.8. My addiction has fully kicked in and I have got a heap more gear, sails from 5.5 to 9.7, a 137 mistral slalom and a jp super light wind. I can only sail on weekends in Perth but the wind here is a bit lighter than I remember it so my most used gear is the reflex9.7 and jp super light wind. If the sea breeze comes in I seem to end up on the rrd111 with the 7.8. I have not yet used any smaller sails. I think with a jp super light wind of something similar and a big sail you will not complain about lack of wind. But don't get that first. First time out with it after five sails on other gear, it was real hard work. I only sail in a very safe area between the river beach and a sand bank and practice my gybes in shallow water. With the smaller gear I venture out further. I think I might be ready for ocean again in a few months, really just a matter of being sail fit. First off u would suggest an 80cm or so wide board like the evolution 360. Seeing you could water start, don't bother with a dagger board learner board. Go straight to a free ride intermediate and find a safe place to practice.

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Chookman said..

mrbones said..
There's a JP Funster 145L same as mine with complete rig for $1000 in the buy and sell in Lake Macquarie NSW. Worth checking out coz that size is perfect for learning and a good price

I did see that. Not knowing what's what these days I overlooked it because of the centreboard. Maybe worth a look.

Cheers C

I had another look at the Funster; however $1000 is for the board only. For a few hundred extra I'd rather get one of the brand new runout models floating around at the moment.

Also Chookman being 80kg you can get away with a slightly smaller board. I'm actually about 95kg although trying to drop 5kg and I have no problem on 145 L board. You could get away with 130 L and possibly even slightly lower volume if you have any weight to lose and a carbon fibre rig

Hey Chris. Very similar vintage to yourself and do remember the 295 well.

After a long period as a bit of a non-believer as far as the new gear is concerned I have had a real change of heart recently. New boards are great and you will particularly enjoy relearning Gybing a lot more on them than the older gear.

I think the modern learner boards due to the extra width do need a bit input to get them unstuck and on the plane. Point downwind a lot more than you might remember, find the back of a bit of swell, bit of a pump and hang on. When they break free they really take off in a hurry, and do seem to stay on the plane better, although you may need to bear away a bit to do so. But with the big fins, once you are powered up again, it is easy to head back up wind and regain any ground you lost.

Modern sails are also better, but different in my opinion. First thing I noticed is my old go to sails were a 6.2 and a 7.0 for the lighter days, my most used sail now is an 8.8 and 7.5 on the windier days. I had a 9.0 on my old race board and I could only use it in the lightest wind as it would tear my arms off otherwise. The way the modern sails spill the excess wind as it gets stronger is awesome, but you will need to rethink your sizes when looking at the new stuff.

I reckon the Funster or similar at that size would be a good choice. Dagger board is a bonus, and good for someone learning, but as you have sailed before and as I mentioned the big fins do make it easy to head up wind, so don't discount something like a Go or similar if you find one at a good price.

Enjoy.

If you've sailed before, can water start and gybe (well used to) i can't see any reason for getting a 'learner board'
At your weight, a 120L/130L freeride board would be fine.
something like the Fanatic hawk or JP Allride

Hi chris.
I am 47 and sailed since I was 13.
Like you I had a hiatus from 25-40 and have been back into windsurfing since moving to the Gold Coast 5 yrs back.
Like riding a bike as they say.
Only used to put boards back together in Maldives and Fiji on holidays desperate for a sail to relive the old days while recovering from big night out.
I have been accumulating a new quiver of boards and sails over last few years. My original Sunshine Coast 'Sirocco' custom circa 80's is still going strong ad is the 90's 'Strapper' short board. I did pick up a Waitata 2 in an auction 3 years ago and have had hours of fun on it.
This would be a great board for you to reacquaint yourself with.
I have it for sale on eBay but you may be a bit far away.
I am 73 kg and it goes great in medium to fresh breezes
They are a little hard to find these days but a greet alround slalom board really fun to sail.
I have been having the time of my life getting back into windsurfing.
This is a fantastic website.
Cheers

As you can see you are right in the demographic! Another way to go is to get a Raceboard. It means you can still get plenty of fun sailing in on those lighter wind Sydney days and plenty of thrills when the wind is up. If you get into racing there are people to sail with, regattas to go to, friends to see. They are bit 3.8m long and 220-300l but with a 9.5 sail have pretty good performance. Then get something smaller for the windy days for a bit of extra fun.

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mrbones said..
I've just taken it up again after 16 years also. I was not as advanced as your skill level and gave it away due to being frustrated with old outdated equipment. I'm 90 kg 39 yo so slightly younger. I got myself a JB Funster 145L and in 2 days I was up and going better than ever before. The modern light gear makes everything so easy compared with before. I got a 6.8 m sail which was too big at first so I brought a 4.5m sail but I'm about to buy a 5.3 m which will be my strong wind sail 25knots. The 6.8 will be for 18 knots snd my 4.5 will be for 30+. I would suggest buying a light mast and boom as this makes it easier and adds less weight. I never have the dagger board down so I wouldn't be looking for this in a board if I were you but if it has one just fold it up. I'm in Perth so we have consistent wind 15-25 knots. Don't get a board bigger than 150L and no smaller than 130L is my recommendation. I also think best learning conditions are 18 knots with a smaller sail. Hope this helps as a starting guide and there are people with a lot more knowledge than me so I hope you get some more replies

NSW gets a lot less wind than WA and it is patchier

Thanks everyone for your replies - lots of great advice! There are a few decent runout deals around at the moment so maybe you could give an opinion of whether I'm heading in the right direction. I have the option of a JP Magic ride in either 130 or 142L, or an AHD fast forward in 130 or 145. The AHD is slightly longer and narrower compared to the Magic ride. Any thoughts?

Mabee think about an older Starboard Go around 150 litres. Later when you get better think about a newer fragile board. They have padding for your knees , go really fast for a big board and are very forgiving. You will regain your skills quickly on a board like this and u should be able to pick one up for around $ 500. They are also a tough board and will keep there value , but you wont sell it because you will fall in love with it and keep it for a light days. I own a couple , 170 and 155 and smaller boards and the 155 is my favourite , I am a heavy bastard.
P.S I have never heard anybody say a bad thing about the old Starboard Go.

The magic ride looks Awse

I started on a JP magic Ride with NP Ryde sails 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 X3 boom & 430RDM NP mast. Im a bit younger and heavier but had heaps of fun with this kit. Add a few extra fins in there and its a nice easy combination to come back on. I had an 8yr rest.

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BSN101 said..
I started on a JP magic Ride with NP Ryde sails 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 X3 boom & 430RDM NP mast. Im a bit younger and heavier but had heaps of fun with this kit. Add a few extra fins in there and its a nice easy combination to come back on. I had an 8yr rest.

I ended up settling on a Magic ride 130L. nice and wide with enough volume to get going but not something I'll outgrow in a hurry. Fairly confident I'll be able to go in straight line ok but turning, water starts etc are going take some time and pain to relearn. Just waiting for some decent conditions to get out in! Rain and cold southerlies in Sydney at present!

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Chookman said..

BSN101 said..
I started on a JP magic Ride with NP Ryde sails 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 X3 boom & 430RDM NP mast. Im a bit younger and heavier but had heaps of fun with this kit. Add a few extra fins in there and its a nice easy combination to come back on. I had an 8yr rest.

I ended up settling on a Magic ride 130L. nice and wide with enough volume to get going but not something I'll outgrow in a hurry. Fairly confident I'll be able to go in straight line ok but turning, water starts etc are going take some time and pain to relearn. Just waiting for some decent conditions to get out in! Rain and cold southerlies in Sydney at present!

Ive moved onto a JP SuperSport 124 and have gained extra speed and length (which i like) Looking for JP SS100 and ill be happy.
Used full cam sail couple of weeks ago and now its also a priority for me to update my NP Rydes.

Start with foot straps inboard.

Just remember to get as much TOW even if your not blasting around will help with board control. Slow tacks & gybes help your footwork & confidence.

Good Luck

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Imax1 said..
Mabee think about an older Starboard Go around 150 litres. Later when you get better think about a newer fragile board. They have padding for your knees , go really fast for a big board and are very forgiving. You will regain your skills quickly on a board like this and u should be able to pick one up for around $ 500. They are also a tough board and will keep there value , but you wont sell it because you will fall in love with it and keep it for a light days. I own a couple , 170 and 155 and smaller boards and the 155 is my favourite , I am a heavy bastard.
P.S I have never heard anybody say a bad thing about the old Starboard Go.

Totally agree with this lmax1, got a 170 Go after 20 years away, very good boards, very durable and a lot of fun. Still got mine and still use it in 12 knots as my light wind board. Very under rated boards by those that have never used one!