I'm a 75 kg 60 yr old thinking about getting back into sailboarding after 20 odd years off. A lot has changed since my Bombora Zot days with 4.5, 5.4 and 7.3 RAF sails. I'm hoping I can still manage to water start and carve jibe after a couple of sessions. Mainly sail in flat water (lake) or beach if flat. Don't like airs. Don't think I've landed a jump clean yet? Just like going out fast . Nice turn and come back. Looking at a free ride board of about 110 litres with 5.5 - 6.5 sails. Advice please as I'm confused.

Hi keenagain, glad to have you back into the sport.
I'm a similar size to you, just a few years younger and recently posted about my experience returning to windsurfing after a 30 year break. I've found riding a wide (80cm plus), short board has greatly assisted my progression mate. I also own a 110 litre board that hasn't seen much action (yet) as I find the slightly larger board (155 litres) just makes everything easier and more enjoyable for me right now.
Cheers Robbo

You will water start and gybe almost as good after one session or so - seems to be the experience of most returnees

you will love new free ride stuff it's soooo easy. Faster than your Bombie but gyre easy. No more square rails!!
but tell us where / what winds as I reckon you could go smaller but that's a WA perspective

Was in similar situation to you returning a couple of years ago (age, size, level). Looking back, I should have paid more attention to the conditions I get rather than the conditions I wanted. I wanted to ride relatively small kit (100L and sub 6m sails) but the reality is that I soon learnt that I needed to be on 125L/80 cm wide with 7m sail 80% of the time. Great fun, just needed to adjust my fantasies to my local conditions.

I'm in Newcastle. Most of my sailboarding will be on Lake Macquarie in southerlies, north easters and westerlies up to 25-30 knots max. Might venture into the surf on the odd occasion when no swell. I was thinking around the 130 to 150 litre range to start off with. I figure that will be easier to start back and get me on the water and planing more often. If I'm liking it and progress to a point where I want a smaller board there appears to be plenty of good second hand boards available that I could upgrade to. I don't want to overestimate my ability in getting back and frustrate myself to the point I give up on it. Happy to hear what others think.

From what i hear and try for a more "passive" return, go for slightly longer, slightly narrower freerider like patrick F ride 135/145 or duotone eagle 135 or equivalent, easy to use in wide wind range with slightly less sail area. For sail i would go with a 2 cams power freeride. I find that more efficient for gusty wind. I have a 6'7 nocam freerace gunsails rapid and try and like far more the 6'5 2cams exceed gunsails in gusty lake wind: less max speed sensation but easier to go planning, easier in lulls and easier in gusts.

Compared to what your used to , these new bigger boards turn in a safe predictable way and have good fast control. Go big at first and then keep it for your lightwind board. You will know when you want to go smaller.
PS, free tip, when you tell the other half that you need more equipment, it's because of safety reasons.
Your welcome.
Could start a new forum about that.
OK , I will..

I'd suggest having a chat with sailors at your local spot. I think a lot of people have an older board or 2 in the garage they dont use any longer as they have bought new boards and cant sell on the older stuff as its a bit worn out. They might lend/give you it for a go, and then you can find out what volume and width will suit you best. eg I've got a 2008 Exocet Cross 106l which has gone a bit soft on the deck and its not worth repairing but would be good for 5.5-6.5 returnee sailor, its a bit longer at 242cm than most.

Hi keenagain
Marmong Point Sailing Club has some gear you can have a go on , and we can guide you with your gear choice.
Come around any weekend from around lunchtime and say hello.
Ian

Nup to much of the above.
Too wide and at only 75kg you will struggle to hold a rail down on a 130L plus when planing.

Go see the locals and borrow.

What Mark said.

It's like riding a bike, you'll be up and running immediately. My first session after a 15 year break was on my old Caveman wave board and a trashed 4.2 sail in 25kts. I could water start, hook in harness and feet and ride in a straight line. Transitions on the other hand took more time.

Now that I' 60 and heading towards retirement in a couple of years I'm contemplating upgrading my gear, and perhaps I should jump up a size to 104L, if I was to stick with JP FSW? My sails range from 4.7 to 5.3. My old 2007 JP FSW 93L is still in very good condition. What sought of difference would I experience going to a near current 104L model? Would a modern 104L perform as good, if not better?

my get back into it experience was going through a LOT of second hand gear, both sails and boards, much of which is still mouldering in the shed, garage, back yard. In the journey i met bargains and rip offs, $100 keepers and total dogs. I did not regret a single one of them, even the worst was 100 times better than sitting in an office or vegetating behind a screen. Your going to love your second life, no matter what. (That said, I'm with those who say don't go too big and wide).

You might find waterstarting much more tiring than you remember. You will probably find 12 knots with a bigger sail much more to you liking as well. The modern wide boards are uphaulable in a chop and that might save the day so go like you were thinking 130 140. 25 to 30 knots is serious wind and it sounds like you are not that keen on dangerous stuff. You have to be very quick to get your harness hooked etc in waterstart conditons and you just will not be after a few falls. Its all very well knowing how to do it but getting the limbs to cooperate can be elusive. Second hand carbon gear makes things easier too.

Can't agree. Water starting is like riding a bike. If you could do it back in the day, muscle memory will kick in in no time. Pulling a big sail out of the water with a rope? Now that is definitely a recipe for getting tired and fed up in no time, imho. I think he is about bang on with his original idea for 110 free ride and a couple of sails around the 6.5.