ok, so while searching for a new SUP (#4) I stumbled across boards with windsurf attachments. Hell yeah, I thought, why not get a crossover board. Sure as hell spend enough time off the water due to wind, why not utilize it. One thing led to another, mostly me realizing that if you want to get serious about windsurfing its probably best to be strapped in, so the idea of a crossover board went out the window. Why get a new SUP, just buy a windsurfer. But where to start? In this day and age help is never far away, so here I am.
Some stats...60 years old, fit, SUP surf everyday if possible, ride a 9'2" x 29" C4 Waterman, intermediate skill set. 6 ft, 87kg
Looking for a board to hopefully progress quickly in the windsurfing department. I'm semi retired and live on the coast so can get out everyday, at least when I'm not on my SUP.
Advice appreciated.

your first idea wasn't so bad, a sailing sup is a great way to learn, plenty of stability and can get you into the waves before the kiters go out. Then after that, for stronger wind you can get a smaller board

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decrepit said..
your first idea wasn't so bad, a sailing sup is a great way to learn, plenty of stability and can get you into the waves before the kiters go out. Then after that, for stronger wind you can get a smaller board

Most good learners boards aren't good in waves and you'll quickly grow out of it.

There is the option if you are indeed very fit, and not adverse to plenty of initial failures, you can learn the hard fast way on a board that will eventually become your light wind board. This method bypasses the normal start with uphauling method and goes straight to waterstarting, but you need good tuition, a lot of the stuff is counter intuitive. You need to have the right gear for the conditions and your current skill set.
But with the sup, you can start with small sail and uphaul, and be sailing on your first outing. But it can take a while before your are proficient, and you may need to unlearn bad habits you've picked up.
So at 87kg you'd need at least 130litres, but I know nothing about commercial light wind wave boards, I'll leave that to others.

Huge step from a sup to windsurfing if you want to plane, but if you just want to cruise around sub-planing on a big board with a small sail then get a big wide beginner windsurfing board.

But first, get some lessons in windsurfing, will hopefully prevent you from getting in trouble when on your own. Windsurfing can get exhausting very quickly (10-15 min.) in the beginning when you are not using a harness line, and even with harness lines in higher winds, regardless of age. Now if you stick to wind below 10 knots that will help. Just make sure you have an on shore wind and are in a bay, I would avoid open water.

Are you a surf SUPer or flatwater paddler?

If your surf on a 9' 2" x 29" SUP then you've got good balance. You'll also know how to foot steer. Do you have any sailing skills?

If so, you could consider something like the Fanatic All Wave, around 9' long with mast attachment. Foot straps are not obligatory, In less than 10 kts, with a small sail (around 6m) you'll be able to learn to uphaul, slog around, tack and gybe in flat water. Then in similarly light (less than 10kts) cross onshore conditions you could try to float out and catch a few soft waves, substituting your sail for the paddle. Once you become adept in this mode, you could try a 120 to 130 lit freestyle wave board like the Fanatic FSW to Starboard Kode and get hooked on planning.

If you have no sailing experience, you'll probably have to start with a 160lt beginner board with a centre board, like the Starboard Go, then progress to the FSW board once you've mastered planning in the straps and harness.

Are there any windsurfing schools near where you live or where you can go on holiday?

all very helpful, thanks to all. Might go back to the initial idea of a sailing SUP. In all honesty I hadn't even considered catching waves on the windsurfer, happy to do that on my SUP (intermediate skills). I just wanted to be able to get out on the flat water and cruise with the wind in my sail on those days when its no good for SUP surfing. Last time I got on a windsurfer was 30 years ago when I was a young fella, I loved it then but never really pursued it. Unfortunately no schools nearby, I'm in Bicheno on Tassies east coast. I was initially looking at the Fanatic Allwave as John340 suggested or maybe one of the JP surfwide boards. If anyone has experience/advice in this regard be great to hear. I have actually never seen anyone sailing on a SUP so all new territory. cheers

Grab yourself a Windsurfer LT, great beginner board, very versatile and even has a leash plug for SUP mode. It sails well in 5knots+ Complete board plus rig packages are very reasonably priced! see below. windgenuity.com.au/shop/windsurfer-lt-hull-and-rig/

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underdownunder said..
all very helpful, thanks to all. Might go back to the initial idea of a sailing SUP. In all honesty I hadn't even considered catching waves on the windsurfer, happy to do that on my SUP (intermediate skills). I just wanted to be able to get out on the flat water and cruise with the wind in my sail on those days when its no good for SUP surfing. Last time I got on a windsurfer was 30 years ago when I was a young fella, I loved it then but never really pursued it. Unfortunately no schools nearby, I'm in Bicheno on Tassies east coast. I was initially looking at the Fanatic Allwave as John340 suggested or maybe one of the JP surfwide boards. If anyone has experience/advice in this regard be great to hear. I have actually never seen anyone sailing on a SUP so all new territory. cheers

If you just want a sailing SUP then like Windinyaface said like the LT would be perfect

I have had a Fanatic Allwave that John mentioned and sailed with it many times. It is surprisingly fun. I would only use a small sail on it though- anything over 5.7 wave sail would not work well. A 5.3 in 10kn is ideal.