Hello my name is Darren

I have been getting back into windsurfing over the past 2 years but recently I am working much less and can get out quite often. I have no idea about gear so 2 years ago Michael from Surf FX was very helpful and I bought some gear from him, at that stage I was 105kg and very unfit.

My Gear at present

JP x-cite ride plus es 145L

Fin 48 freeride

Nielpryde 5.5 Fusion HD
Neilpryde 6.5 Fusion
North Natural 7.8

mast North Sails 460 silver
mast Nielpryde matrix X35 430

North sails boom Red series 180-230


mast base Nielpryde UXT 34

At present I weigh 90kg 185cm

I live in northern NSW but sail at Southport.

I Gybe 90% of the time and don't fall off but they are not very pretty.

I can now sail for about 2-3 hours continuous and then I am stuffed.

I see people flying past me and I am very happy for them how ever I would like to be plaining more and and going faster more often.

My question is where do I go from here ? I am scared to buy second hand gear as I have no idea about what goes with what.

If any of you have time to recommend a good set up for me or ways to improve my current gear I would be very great full.

Where to from here... the beach (or lake)

TOW (Time On Water) and it will happen

Ask the guys flying past you, they can see what your doing, and have a much better idea of what will help, than us trying to imagine

Buy new gear, the dearer the faster but if you dont want to spend much a new fin could make a massive difference, free ride fins are really slow and at 48cm its massive and slow it was probably ideal for that first month when you were figuring it all out but now you will go much faster and with less effort on something much smaller. even a 40cm fin is big for the 7.8 sail and if you get something fast like a black project rs or a tribal you will probabaly get 4 knots + straight up.

That's a big board and fin, Id say the guys passing you would be on smaller gear and maybe more slalom orientated.
It might be time to step down to a smaller board but best talking to your local shop for advise.
No need to spend a lot of money there lots of good 2nd gear out there..
good luck

Dunno what you're worried about Darren - every time I've seen you sail you've been doing brilliantly (embarrassing the crap out of me!!!) With the big board gybing seems a bit more forgiving for you - Like I told you last week I moved to a small board too early so I reckon the practice you're getting on the big board will help, rather than hinder you.

Relax and take your time (and remember that you don't always have to overtake me!!!!!!)

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Skyline said..
Hello my name is Darren

I have been getting back into windsurfing over the past 2 years but recently I am working much less and can get out quite often. I have no idea about gear so 2 years ago Michael from Surf FX was very helpful and I bought some gear from him, at that stage I was 105kg and very unfit.

My Gear at present

JP x-cite ride plus es 145L

Fin 48 freeride

Nielpryde 5.5 Fusion HD
Neilpryde 6.5 Fusion
North Natural 7.8

mast North Sails 460 silver
mast Nielpryde matrix X35 430

North sails boom Red series 180-230


mast base Nielpryde UXT 34

At present I weigh 90kg 185cm

I live in northern NSW but sail at Southport.

I Gybe 90% of the time and don't fall off but they are not very pretty.

I can now sail for about 2-3 hours continuous and then I am stuffed.

I see people flying past me and I am very happy for them how ever I would like to be plaining more and and going faster more often.

My question is where do I go from here ? I am scared to buy second hand gear as I have no idea about what goes with what.

If any of you have time to recommend a good set up for me or ways to improve my current gear I would be very great full.

Hi Darren

I started with a kit nearly identical to yours. X-Cite Ride 145 and a few sails up to 6.7m. I was keen to move on to a shorter board after about two seasons on the water. I then jumped down to 107 litres, which was good for waterstarting and carrying the gear down to the beach. The shorter board will test your skills because you have to be more precise with your footwork. Don't rush the move downwards, enjoy the current board because they can be a lot of fun too.

I started out using the 48cm fin, then found out that a shorter one was much better when on the plane. A 38 cm freeride fin was sufficient, even for a 7.2 sail. Bigger fins can make the board tail dance when it speeds up.

Get some qualified instruction. For example, Guy Cribb comes to a bunch of spots in Australia, see if you can attend one of his clinics.

Some windsurfers learn well on their own, but they are the exception. I have seen many examples where windsurfers who took one or more multi-day clinics early in their windsurfing careers got very good quickly, better than most self-learners with much more time on the water.

Fantastic advice from you all

thank you very much.

I will look into getting a smaller fin and some qualified instruction

And the best part, sail as much as I can.

Try a smaller (110 to 120) second hand free race or slalom board, (Futura / isonic, hawk / falcon, fox, super sports / slalom etc) with a tribal g10 38 or 40 slalom fin. Get a GPS and join a team. Beware, if you get the speed bug, you'll also want to update your sails.

Have a look at the sail sizes of the guys "flying past".
You maybe a little undergunned.
Don't be afraid to step up a size. Your sailing fitness seems good and should be able to hang on to that extra meter of sail.

Cheapest, easiest improvement would have to be a bigger sail for the lighter wind days.
I am at near the top end of your weight range and 8.6 or 9.5 are the most used sails for me. Similar with most of the guys I sail with. I reckon another metre would make a big difference on that board. 48cm should be okay, although another couple of fins would extend your range on that board too. Not sure if your extension would be long enough for an 8.8 with your 460 mast though.
Smaller board, and fins for sure if you want for the windier days. There are a few older Futura's on here at the moment. Love mine. Not familiar with a suitable step down in the JP range, but might be a good idea to for fins interchangabilty etc.

Thanks for your replies I bought a MFC liquid pro 36 at surf fx yesterday. I have also been going over second had boards.
a 9.5 sail would be interesting but as ballast mentioned it would mean a new boom and mast.

Hi Darren a great story and progress

I sail with Ballast and 95kg so can relate to your needs

>I see people flying past me and I am very happy for them how ever I would like to be plaining more and and going faster more often.

.....planing more = Bigger sails, bigger slalom fin, fatter board. Looking at your quiver the obvious omission is a bigger sail. At 95kg my most used sail is a 8.5 2 cam sail. The othe variable is find a gang who like to sail a lot = getting out when you didn't think it was sailing conditions. Works for us Sandstone crew

.....Faster more often = technique? Again advice from those going faster, Guy Cribb free ride course Jervis bay in January, Gps device to track your progress (very addictive) and join a gps team. Gps gives you feedback on what others are doing under similar conditions... the Gw60 watch has had a real impact on our collective sailing at sandstone.

......Faster more often = equipment? More specialised gear ... talk to the crew who you are sailing with and watch 'seabreeze for sale' at your weight lots of bargains to be had in smaller gear. Learn to ride slalom boards .. lots of used boards in this category

Again a great story
cheers Jeff

first of all - congratulations on ALL counts
wow - lost 15 kilos !!
you must be feeling so much better !!
can we assume you are comfortable in the harness and footstraps ??
the big fin is okay for the bigger sail, but you have already purchased a smaller fin to try ...
for me the 5.5 was a great starter sail, but a bit small for that board
even 6.x for me would be on a smaller board - due to conditions i use it in
when you decide to go to a smaller board - can you try someone's 125 liter board first ??
for me i found a 40 liter jump down major - but that is just me ...
all i can say is - keep at it and change small things - one at a time !!

and going bigger is NOT always better - depends on when and where you go
Peter Hart and Dave White have videos about planing, going faster and heavyweights

Thanks Jeff and Joe really appreciate your advice

As we all know its so hard to loose weight thanks for noticing.

yep comfortable in straps and harness.

Wow its very confusing when looking at new gear what goes with what.

I was looking at Ezzy Lion sails 8.5 or 9.5 as they seemed easer to rig and manage but that does not mean $1100 for a new sail it means
new RDM 490 mast $1000 new boom $1000 and new mast base extension $200.
$3300 and I have got all I need for a new sail. Makes me chuckle about how I can get that past the Minister for fun and finance (wife).

It makes perfect sense to match everything and its difficult to put a price on the joy felt when sailing along at top speed.

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joe windsurf said..
first of all - congratulations on ALL counts
wow - lost 15 kilos !!
you must be feeling so much better !!
can we assume you are comfortable in the harness and footstraps ??
the big fin is okay for the bigger sail, but you have already purchased a smaller fin to try ...
for me the 5.5 was a great starter sail, but a bit small for that board
even 6.x for me would be on a smaller board - due to conditions i use it in
when you decide to go to a smaller board - can you try someone's 125 liter board first ??
for me i found a 40 liter jump down major - but that is just me ...
all i can say is - keep at it and change small things - one at a time !!

and going bigger is NOT always better - depends on when and where you go
Peter Hart and Dave White have videos about planing, going faster and heavyweights

>and going bigger is NOT always better - depends on when and where you go
Peter Hart and Dave White have videos about planing, going faster and heavyweights

without distracting the thread read too much ....I've seen those references but yet to see it in practice with intermediate sailors that I've sailed with. When I've gone out on smaller gear than my gut reaction says I usually spend heaps of time schlogging

Joe he already has a 7.8 and if that isn't delivering the planing time required what in the Peter Hart suggestion do you suggest Darren does?

Darren yes big gear cost money ++++. In retrospect theses days it's probably cheaper to buy a foil. However if a 8.5 becomes your most used sail all the financial pain erodes. Really depends on how often you can get out sailing All the Sandstone crew have big sails in their quiver. Of interest is John (very experienced 85kg) who was using a Jp SLW board with 7.5 Ezzy - got tired of missing out on lightvsind days ended up caving in and getting a 9.5 Ezzy cheta sail with a nonames mast and now he is first planing in our crew.... even gave in and got a 70cm fin to maximise lightwind days all this from an old school sailor who would bemoan our large sail choices

suppose I would again suggest talking to the crew who you regularly sail with to see what they do

cheers Jeff

concerns about going bigger ??

yes, i have a 10 meter squared sail - and it took some time to get used to it
would i do it again - not so sure ... enjoy 8.5 on a longboard in light wind just as much with LESS effort

my concern is 7.8 - next sail up is the 9.5 discussed (and personally would put an SDM in it)
as OP says - sail + mast + boom = $$$ - can he try one first??

it is @ the max size for his board as well ... needs MORE than 48 cm fin for sure - another $200

some "speedy people" may have suggestions for OP current gear - rake sail in , etc etc
post a video OP ??

put that 7.8 on a smaller board with a smaller fin and he may be surprised ...

remember Jeff how you could not dial in the Shark fully and when you did - you loved the board
sometimes it takes the time and OP has been at it only two years
FAST learner, but ...

you folks down under seem to go to the water with others
excellent place to get tips n tricks , suggestions, etc
should he go big, small or ??

Can you water start? Time for 110 -120 liter board. It will be an entirely different sport for you then and the smile on your dial will be twice as wide. Hang on to the 145 though, for the light days.

"I see people flying past me and I am very happy for them how ever I would like to be plaining more and and going faster more often."

so, you are underpowered, I suggest an extra sail, one size up. Keep the same fin, extension and board and just buy a 8.7 and a 490 mast. No need to buy a new boom as this will rig on your 230 boom. I bought a Neil pryde 490 x9 and 8.7 race sail, second hand this year for $1000 all up. Beautiful condition, top of the range. ( and your wife won't notice one extra mast and sail!)

if later you aren't keeping up with your mates in higher winds (18knots plus), you could buy a freerace board in a 107 to 115 size. Something like a starboard Futura. This would sail nicely with your 7.8m sail.

fins, 48/50 for big board, 8.7 sail. 38/40 for a 107-115, 7.8m.

Wow thanks for all the info
Yep can water start
my plans are to sail as much as I can
For the moment will keep sailing, can't express how much I enjoy it.
Sounds like a smaller board and bigger sail is the way to go for the future
Very grateful for every ones comments and suggestions.