A little background... I am 70kg, short, 40 YO, fit but am a weak swimmer. More 20 years ago, I got a big floater rig to learn on, and then moved to a tiny Bombora wave board. I got to a stage where I could beach start, could water start in the right conditions 80% of the time, and could only get 1 foot into the straps. Nowhere near gybing.
Now I am toying with the idea of coming back into the sports. My current desire would be to one day cruise around (say South Perth to Fremantle and back), and my 13 year old daughter has also expressed interest in learning. At this stage, I don't have a desire to get into waves and jumping - too old for that ![]()
I visited a couple shops and I know their advice is great, but am seeking for other opinions. They generally advised a 150 liter board like a Starboard Go or Carve, and a 5.5m sail. The problem with that is that those boards are hard to find and are expensive.
My question is, would a Starboard Kode 122 liter be usable for me to learn and get back?
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Learner-Advice/
Someone had asked a similar question before.....see above
Not too hard to find ![]()
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~a2gt7/2008-JP-Australia-XCite-Ride-255-cm-130-litres.aspx?search=6dS%2bE7kXONQXcC3lAzc6udoXoowJop3WkZBPiejIByY%3d
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~a9d-c/2007-Starboard-Kombat-127-235-cm-127-litres.aspx?search=6dS%2bE7kXONQXcC3lAzc6udoXoowJop3WkZBPiejIByY%3d
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~bz6m-/2011-JP-Australia-Funride-258-cm-145-litres.aspx?search=6dS%2bE7kXONQXcC3lAzc6udoXoowJop3WkZBPiejIByY%3d
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~aks_h/2012-Fanatic-Hawk-245-cm-120-litres.aspx?search=6dS%2bE7kXONQXcC3lAzc6udoXoowJop3WkZBPiejIByY%3d
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~a2r_4/Complete-Windsurfing-RigS-245-cm-135-litres.aspx?search=6dS%2bE7kXONQXcC3lAzc6udoXoowJop3WkZBPiejIByY%3d
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~a2_-l/2011-Starboard-Kode-Tuffskin-232-cm-122-litres.aspx?search=6dS%2bE7kXONQXcC3lAzc6udoXoowJop3WkZBPiejIByY%3d
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~a2hsk/2004-Starboard-Carve-260-cm-121-litres.aspx?search=6dS%2bE7kXONQXcC3lAzc6udoXoowJop3WkZBPiejIByY%3d
Stuthepirate - most of the ones you listed are less than 150 liters - so I assume your opinion is that around 122 l is OK for me? Also, most are in other states, is shipping of a board feasible?
swoosh - bear in mind I haven't been for 20 odd years ![]()
I think it would be a steep learning curve with a board + 50 of your weight. My big one is + 60 and I am used to it now and don't have any trouble but it is wobbly in lighter winds and gybing in light conditions.
Can you hire aboard to see how you go?
Maybe get a few lessons and try different size boards and then decide what size you feel you will need.
It also depends on how much wind your area gets and how consistent it is.A larger board will be better for re learning if you have a lot of lighter gusty winds. If you live somewhere with good consistent wind of 15kts + a smaller board may be feasable although harder at first.
Another factor is how often you are going to be able to sail..2 x a month a larger board will be easier.. If you live near the water, conditions allow you to get out a few times a week and your dedicated and determined then the smaller ones may be feasable.
Having sailed before, it will be a help in that you should be able to re-learn it.
To speed your learning up, be prepared to travel a bit extra if necessary go out in light to medium (onshore) winds and flat water.
The gear the shop advised sounds good but it is cheaper to buy a second hand board of the right type.
As you progress, your daughter could maybe use the gear you start with to learn. Width is a key thing for beginners at the start, and if you or your daughter are easily frustrated, it helps to have a very stable board.
You tend to progress to smaller boards, but a good rig will suit both a beginner and an expert (provided the beginner doesn't get catapulted through the sail).
I associate my sails and masts. If I was starting out, I would get a 430 mast, which suits sails from about 5.4m to 6.2m, and then start with either the 6.2 or the 5.3 or 5.4 depending on the common wind strengths in the area. Then as I progressed, get the other sail.
^^Have to agree with Sputnik there GS.
At 70kgs with previous experience 120-130L would be fine.
Good for light wind and medium wind. learning and stepping up to the carve gybes and tacking.
Thank you all for your opinions. Appreciate it! I had gone ahead and got a Kode 122. Now I'm sure there will be lots of laughs and embarrassment.