Hey Guys, I've only recently been getting back into windsurfing after a 6 year hiatus and I've been loving it. I picked up a beat up old formula board a 60 cm slalom fin and one design rig on the very cheap just to get out there. I've probably put about 20 hours out on the water and have been having a blast out on Sydney harbour, ferries and all. Here are some things i've noticed:
Formula boards are really fast. I tip the scales at 67kg so the smaller rig still gets me on the plane easily, I have to admit the footstraps on the rail are not what I would describe as comfortable but when I'm locked in it does feel great, except when launching off some big cruisers wake at full velocity, when it becomes down right frightening.
Formula boards suck at going upwind when I'm not planing. I'm launching form rushcutters bay. In a southerly its protected so you drift out in occasional puffs, but coming back in between moored yachts in a fickle breeze is not fun, Can't put any angles on and spend too much time slipping. I previously sailed and RS:X and remember fondly that I could create my own breeze when they're was no breeze. It appears pumping without a centreboard is no way to get upwind.
Example: I was out late evening a couple of weeks ago when the breeze dropped to an occasional whimper and It took me almost 45 minutes to cover about half a kilometre upwind. I need a solution that I can feel comfortable going upwind when the wind all but disappears (I sail by myself which kind of adds to the need). The final straw, I'm moving to a launching point which is even more of a pain with fickle breezes and moored boats (rushcutters bay marina). once I'm out in the breeze proper, I want to be hooning
I think it means I want to get something with a retractable daggerboard, (just to save myself in light breezes) and straps that don't test my footwork as much, but still with that wide early planning ability. Ultimately, I'm here just to burn around I have no interest in racing atm.
I'm thinking a Bic techno 160d or a jp Funster 160 or 145 and my questions are:
there is a considerable price difference between them.. is the construction very different? do all the funsters nave a retractable daggerboard, It wasn't super clear? Is there any other boards/ Solutions I should be considering? Is there anything second hand out there, I've done a bit of scouring and can't find much?
www.bicsport.com/language.html http://jp-australia.com/2015/products/boards/funster/
A Kona comes to mind to meet the compromises you face
BIC construction is very tough construction and it's a settled design - i have an experienced mate and this is his lightwind board 90kg
Cheers Jeff
The JP funsters are virtually indestructable.
Plus they have a great resale value when or if you ever want to trade it.
I think the 145 is the smallest funster with a centreboard, after that it's the 130 which hasn't got one.
A Fanatic Viper is a Very versatile and strong board. They come in 85cm wide 80 cm Wide & 75cm wide
Don't be influenced by the "its a beginner board" stuff.
With a fin upgrade they will go very fast and still go upwind with the centreboard.
I have done 24 knots on a Viper 85 in not so smooth water.
They eat chop for breakfast with a V nose.
We have the same issues the other end of the harbour. We tack out through the moorings on our formula boards.
I would stick with formula. Or if you really want a hybrid the Bic Techno is the biggest class in the world.
Can you drive around to rose Bay?not many moorings there and Windsurfing is legal there not that that is a big concern as maritime seems to not care anymore
Still legal in rushcutters thankfully. Any tips for shlogging between mooring upwind in sub planing conditions on a formula board, I'm not sure rolling to windward has much effect 
Launch from the leeward side of the harbour?
How is it out there in a SE? It looks like a good run from about Rushcutters up to ...well, Manly.
The harbour is good in a SE. In one of these photos I raced the Manly ferry back which used to be hard back in the day with the Mistral One Design and 7.4m Olympic Board. On Formula with 12m its easy. The MOD can do it also easy enough with the right conditions. These images would be Southerly.
In SE we sail North Head to Fairlight. In NE we sail Balmoral up to Manly. In West we sail Quaratine to Balmoral. Its a pretty big place. Somewhere in The Sound mainly.
Citysurfer, Slogging to windward on Formula I dip the windward rail in a little. Rushcutters Bay would be hard :-(
