Hi guys.

Completely new to windsurfing and no idea where to start really. Had a couple of lessons and loving it but don't know where to start with the gear really. What kind of board/sail is best for absolute beginners and where is best to purchase.

Thanks in advance for your help looking forward to getting into the sport.

What a beginner needs has always been a highly contentional topic here. My opinion for an average adult: the bigger the board, the better (160-200 litre beginner or freeride board), and a small sail (4.2-5.3 metre squared. Wave or freeride sail) for 5-10 knot winds. You'll learn quicker on a bigger board, and core skills like tacking (which many sailors don't learn) is easier to learn.

Before you spend money, see if you can borrow some gear to try out.

What is your weight and what area of SA do you live ?

I can long term loan you a sail if you live in Adelaide (it's a 4.7 wave sail).

I'm pretty sure others will pitch in with equipment, help and advice.

Good luck , J

Thanks for the reply J a loan would be amazing to give me some time trying stuff out before I bite the bullet and spend heaps of cash.

I'm down in the Brighton area so would be mainly around Seacliff beach. I'm 85kg but that might go up a few kgs after Christmas beers ??

Thanks for the info about a board that will help me narrow. It down a bit for sure

PM'ed.

Relative to body weight. Higher volume and wide.
Any local windsurfing schools? If so, enroll and learn on their gear before buying your own hardware.

Reference point. Friend just started sailboarding at the age of 66y/o. He is 90kg, ~185cm tall. Purchased a Bic Techno 293. Think the board has +200L of volume. Started using another friends 4.7M and then purchased a 5.5M. He initially tried learning on a 80's-90's vintage Alpha. The great "deal" was a waste of $$s and frustrating time. Too narrow and too low volume. I recommended the Bic . Shop agreed. Something he could progress on and still enjoy as a light wind board once he becomes a windsurfer. He's realized that the 5.5M is way too small a sail for the light conditions 8-11kts he is learning in. Ends up holding up the rig vs. letting it hold him up. I told him back in '90 I learned to sailboard on a Mistral One Design and I think 7.4M. The one design sail. I weighed 58kg back then. He just purchased a 7.5M Ezzy Cheetah.

Howdy, I am in the same "boat" and have gone with the windsurfer lt.
Defos no expert but just do some online research...
Happy with my purchase.
Still ****, but having a laugh.

As I suggested to the OP on PM, they could also consider a cheap inflatable SUP-sail board in the order of 10 foot (which would be +160 litre at least.. would float somebody who is 85kg) and a mount point for a base. I walked past Rays outdoors a few years ago and saw one for $600. A duel purpose SUP board will be useful long after the beginner phase is complete. Once they are in their intermediate phase, then they have access to cheap $100-$300 2nd hand boards.

There are no schools here that I know of. I was lucky enough to have lessons at a school when there was one running.

Good on you zim3. The light will be a hoot at West Lakes.