I'm a total beginnner... i've been trawling this forum for months and figured there would be similar people around needing reassurance that they're not alone. I posted this on the SA page a few days ago a few people pm'd me and said i should post it on general page. So here is my story so far. I'll keep it updated as i go... any people with advice or similar experiences please reply because its so valuable to us all
Specs: 30yrs old. Male. 85kgs. 178cms tall. Fitness 7/10. Still playing tennis, golf, cycling, running, paddle a surf ski regularly, Snow skiing, Wakeboarding but have never windsurfed or sailed. Office Job. Engaged. Looking for a few sports to enjoy before golf becomes more common in future years.
My Start: I was given a bunch of 20yr old gear by my uncle, because he wanted the space in his garage and i was silly enough to say yes. Inventory = 360cm learner board, 265cm slalom, 235cm wave board... none of which i can balance on. Also got 4 x Simmer Style sails at 4.00m2, 4.90m2, 5.00m2, 5.25m2. 1 x 441cm Mast, 1 x 465cm Mast. 2 mast foot extensions (700 + 500), 2 booms both adjustable. 1 Neil Pryde yellow harness made for someone 5-10kg skinnier than me.
Progress: Christmas 2013 i am given 2 x 2hr beginner lessons with Windforce at Nedlands in Perth. Lessons taken almost immediately in late December 2013. Starboard Start equipment. Winds 5-10 knots. Picked up the skills pretty quickly and could sail both directions, steer upwind and downwind, carve gybing, etc. Loved it. Easily best in class. Confidence sky high. Started sifting the internet for affordable second hand gear and even looked at flights to windy destinations for future trips and qantas luggage regulations with regard to windsurfing gear. Can't believe people on these forums think windsurfing is harder than kite-surfing... i could be a legendary kite-surfer if that is the case...
Small Initial Investment: Massive amount of internet research leads me to believe a that mysterious SeaBreeze Forum calculation of 85kg Me + 20kg Sail/Mast/Boom = 105kg and theoretically that any board above 105-110L i will be able to uphaul since 1L displaces 1kg water approximately. Its 12 years since I graduated from year 12 with a B in Physics but it seems to make sense, especially when you account 10% extra flotation for salty water because its more bouyant. So on 1st January i purchase a 112L 265cm Bic board with sexy new fin off Gumtree from a friendly dude who gives me a bag for the board for free and a tonne of advice. Bag was apparently bought from some epic shop called "Naish" in Hawaii, so i pretended that was cool and I knew where it was. Great Guy. Intermediate windsurfing world... here i come.
The Real World: So a breezy evening with 10-12 knots comes along and i head down to the swan river. I realise on arrival that i don't have any base plates whatsoever and can't connect the mast extender to the board, so I head to windforce on closing time to buy a couple of parts. The guy at the shop was great, was not dismissive about my ancient gear at all, and gave me a few bits and pieces for free and only charged me for the major equipment. Total gentleman. By the time i get back down to the water its getting dark and wind is almost gone. So i email a buddy of mine and the next night we head to JH Abrahams Reserve when its 20+ knots. Experienced blokes everywhere. I rig up the 112L Bic and my 5.25M2 sail - get everything tight & right with a bit of help, and i'm in the water ready to go. One problem. The board sinks when i stand on it so I can't uphaul, and i start to curse the anonymous post which provided me with the calculation mentioned earlier. Second problem. Water-starts in 20 knot winds are impossible when you've only seen it done on youtube. Whilst my mate is struggling a bit he's got a sweet Starboard-something-or-other which CAN be uphauled so he's getting going... eating sh-t... then getting going again. I have spent 45 minutes wrestling with my sail in the wind like a seagull trying to eat a taco tied to a wind sock. Completely exhausted, i unpick the equipment and pack it back in the car... i'm NOT intermediate. I'm definitely beginner and i will be for a little while. So I need a bigger board in the 130-150L category, a smaller ego, and more time on the water.
Weekend ahead... rental of some more Starboard beginner gear.
To be continued.
Below are a couple of questions i can't quite answer yet... seeking wisdom from the fountain of forum knowledge;
1.1970-1990's windsurfing gear - why is it all in fluro and hypercolour? Is it a safety thing for when you wipeout and can't waterstart the awful thin boards? Was it the fashion? WTF?
2. If I get a 130-145L modern learner/progression board... can i get something like that up and planing? I notice the hired starboards with 4m/5m sails still plough through the water slowly whereas the experienced guys around me are up on top of the water and flying along... can i produce similar planing results with a bigger board that can also be uphauled? If yes... which board(s)? This kind of board would be excellent for my current beginner stage, and any future intermediate stage.
3. Last time i went out i wiped out and I lost my $250 sunnies in the Swan River. That's easily my biggest investment in windsurfing so far. I need some of those unfashionable sunglasses leashes so a similar incident is not repeated... anyone got recommendations of where to get them?
4. Adelaide. I spend 3 out of 4 weeks a month here... but i have no idea where to hire gear on ad-hoc basis. In Perth its easy, there's a bunch of people down the Swan River every day. Does anyone in Adelaide provide easy rental of learner equipment at a regular location?
Select to expand quoteGos said..
1.1970-1990's windsurfing gear - why is it all in fluro and hypercolour? Is it a safety thing for when you wipeout and can't waterstart the awful thin boards? Was it the fashion? WTF?
I learnt last year on a massive 200L+ board from around 1985. Its sail is blue and white thug but i know what you mean about all the fluro pinks a greens 
As someone who has just learnt to water start/plane/get in the harness and straps on a small (80L) slalom board i can tell you that newer gear is lighter, easier to rig, more stable and more efficient.
Also keep it up, i was at Swan Bay today (Queenscliff, VIC) and it was blowing about 20 knots. I can safely say that it was some of the best fun i have ever had on the water and it is so worth the effort of teaching myself to water start and sail on such a small board.
Sounds like you're doing awesome 
Q1: it was a fashion thing, I'm sure 
Q2: yes, you will definitely be able to get a bigger board like that planing, much easier than anything it sounds like you've ridden to date. A bigger intermediate board like a starboard carve or JP funster, or something of the like, will plane much more readily than the starboard start/go boards. The start boards will plane, but it takes a lot of effort (and wind) to get them planing. A more modern intermediate board will typically be lighter and wider than the older gear you've got, which helps when you want to plane. Sail size is the other factor to planing once/if you're comfortable getting round with a 4/5m sail, go for something bigger
Only thing with a big board like your talking about is it'll get airborne and sideways(scary sideways) a lot easier in higher wind strengths (somewhere round 20knts things'll get uncomfortable)by the time that's happening you'll be wanting a smaller board.
Q3: bias boating hardware up the rd (Stirling hwy, nedlands/Claremont) from peli point is where I got my sunglasses strap from. Most boating shop sell them though.
Q4: you'll have to wait for an SA person bout that one
Don't be discouraged by a bad day there'll be plenty of good days ahead.
, don't be afraid to ask the more experienced guys at the beach, they'll be able to give you a whole lot more advice about what gear you should look at and general advice in a short space of time.
One final hint. Keep the $250 sunnies for dry land, buy a cheap set for sailing. I've lost track of all the sets of sunglasses I've lost to the briny, even with a strap on them
Gos, it sounds like your initial over confidence is similar to what I have experienced too. I also did a few beginner lessons at a surf school and could go upwind, downwind, gybe and tack (though not carve gybe... that seems nuts after 2 lessons!). I was filled with confidence and went out to buy my own equipment (I decided to buy new). I learnt on a 210L JP Explorer, but I bought a 145L JP Explorer. These have a retractable centreboard, but aren't quite as wide as other beginner boards like the Funster. I also have two sails, 5.3m and 4.2m. I weigh 65kg and I'm also a 30 year old office worker.
My first outing was in the sea at Altona in Melbourne. It was really choppy and as soon as I stood on the board, I was tipped straight back off by the chop. Spent a few hours out on the water flying the sail and occasionally having another stab at uphauling, leaning back further to maintain balance easier in the chop. But in the end I had to pack my stuff away and go back home. I did find it useful practicing flying the sail though.
My second outing was down at McRae Beach, which had nice flat water and only a very slight wind. I was able to uphaul and start sailing, but kept falling backwards. Looking back now, there just wasn't enough wind.
I've been going out regularly (maybe 7 times in my 16 day xmas break) and haven't gained a lot of confidence, but I still feel like a complete newbie. I get sailing, but lose my balance soon enough and fall back off. Fortunately I can get back on quickly and start sailing again. I've found myself using my 4.2m sail more than the 5.3, even if that means I'm a bit underpowered at times, mostly because it's easier to handle, but I need to stop doing that soon. I generally have been attempting beach starts a few times, then throwing the sail over the other side of the board and uphauling. So far I've only beach started successfully twice, but I'm encouraged by that.
I still haven't successfully gybed on this board, even though I was gybing (not carving) like it was a piece of cake at the school. The back of my board sinks as I step around and I always tip it over. With much fumbling around, I can tack on my board, but it is not at all en elegant procedure!
Keep at it. Each time you go out, find something you can practice in the conditions you find yourself in, and go for it. Analyse what you were doing and what was happening with the board and the sail as you were doing it. Figure out what you might change to correct something that was going wrong and try that next time. You'll slowly start learning things.
I am glad I got a beginner board and not a smaller board though. I would have been much more discouraged on a more advanced board I think. At some point I'll buy a smaller board but suspect it won't get much use beyond an occasional "Can I stand on it yet?" for at least 6 months.
Hello Gos, you sound a lot like me, only I'm 44. I started out 10 months ago on an old Bic battle ship of 200+ Litres and one 5.4 Mt sail - all really old gear. After a few weekends of uphauling, sailing, falling, uphauling, etc I decided I really wanted to progress and I wanted to get family into it as well.
I spent a lot of hours researching trying to decide what I needed and what I could afford. Short story - at that point there was so many different parts, mast sizes, joints etc etc, I just gave up and decided my time was valuable and just contacted windsurfing Perth. I ended up getting a 145 Lt JP Funster (with centre board) and 122 Lt Starboard Carve, 3 sails and a variety of masts and joints etc. I was 90+ kg at the time so the Funster was a good board flotation and width wise. About three months ago I got myself a 130 Lt Exocet RS6 which is a really wide stable, but light board for blasting on.
Since march, I have sailed pretty much every weekend and after work when I can and wind permits. I am now happily using harness, foot straps, water starting, and working on planing gybes so you can progress quickly with commitment. Like d11wtq says, you just need to keep plugging away and spending as much time as you can on water.
Good Luck and keep at it.
Learning is not easy but that is what keeps you coming back. It is a little like riding a bike, with enough speed it is easy to balance but that is not what happens when you are first learning. When you are planing the sail self adjusts to a certain extent and the more you pull on it the more it pulls back, keeping you balanced and on the board. The rewards will come, you just have to be patient.
After 12 years riding I still learn something every time I go out, trouble is I've bored my wife with how I'm going to do something right next time and she won't listen to me anymore.
I think this is a common problem with windsurfers and partners.
With sunnies I bought a floating pair from Whitworths (boating suppliers) and put a neoprene strap on the back. I use them both for windsurfing and SUP. Most days Suping I loose them about twice but quickly find them floating around in surf. Had them 2 years now. I also used small cable ties on to hold the neoprene strap on. Total investment around 55.
Hello Gos and welcome to windsurfing. While you're learning the best advice i can give you is to get a plastic board, Bombora South Pacific would be an excellent choice. It's a large slalom board that is ideal for your weight and is indestructable, easy to learn on and you will be able to get in the foot straps and plane at good speed in no time at all. You should get one for $20. You can learn to gybe it, heck you can even jump it. I had the smaller model X-it and learned on it years ago and even sailed it from Stansbury to Port Vincent some 15 km ocean a couple of times. The reason for a plastic board first is newer ones of carbon composite do puncture easily, much more easily than you think. Go out in say 12-17 knots to start off with learning to stand on the board with the wind in your back and your rig down wind, feet evenly spaced about a foot apart either side of the mast base gently pull the rig up and grab the mast near the boom head. Next, congratulate yourself because that's the hardest part. Now, with one hand on the mast near the boom head use the other hand to grab the boom and as you pull it toward yourself, you will move off either on starboard tack or port tack depending on which way you are facing. Keep practicing this until you are happy. After that get yourself moving along. Don't try and step into the foot straps at this stage, just stand in a position where you feel comfortable sailing along and sail . It,s a great feeling and when your confidence rises, after much practice, you can tentitively try stepping into the foot straps, one foot at a time. Now your smokin. You can go really fast on a plastic board, carve it around a bit without actually gybing it . Be carefull though because there will be a lot of falls. Probably at this stage you can ditch the plastic, floaty, indestructable South Pac and get a newer type carbon composite to get to the next stage of learning to gybe , waterstart and faster accelleration. At your weight aim for aboard around 115litres , 285 long with a power box ( f2 Sputnik will smoke most things on the water ) and their dirt cheap ( $50 ). It,s a mid 90's board with a narrow tail that smokes and is quite long compared to modern slalom boards but you need the length when your learning. I've had mine up to 37 knots 1 sec peak, solid as a rock. Once you are confident with your improvement go to a more modern type board, rig and fins and welcome to a world that land loving mere mortals do not understand.
Cheers and do it
Hi,
I started out just over a year ago by getting myself a new JP XCite Ride (146l) driven by a 5.7NP Firefly. The only experience prior to this was back in the 1980's when I used some hire equipment a few times. Frankly, I did not know the difference between the uphill and downhaul. No one told me about catapults either.
I have learned a lot over the past year or so and it has been a lot of fun without too many bruises. I have preferred the steeper learning curve that goes with using a board that is more for the intermediate. I have also added a larger sail to my quiver this season. In my first season I was able to get planing, in the harness and footstraps to boot. Water starting is now becoming much easier too. Gybing and tacking...that's another story though.
Two of the best things you can do is have plenty of time on the water and to soak-up all the info you can get on DVD and the Internet. The "Beginner to Winner" DVD is an excellent resource for instruction in all the essential skills. Peter Hart has a good book (found it in the local library) as well as a number of magazine articles accessible online. Likewise there is a lot of material on Guy Cribbs website...all gloriously free. Even so, it is best remembered that 'no one size fits all', meaning that you need to take what these guys teach and apply what works for you and your needs.
The bigger boards we are using are great in lighter winds. As the wind increases, issues can arise as you get planing. I found that the 48 cm fin supplied with my board could give a rather wild ride in winds over 15knots or so. A smaller board, around 110 litres is being considered as the next step as I speed into the choppier conditions. Still have a lot, lot more things to learn though.
Trust that you will enjoy the journey. Remember, it is all about having fun on the water (and being faster than your mates!!!).
Hey everybody and thanks Gos for starting this forum:
I'll be 34 on january 15, 75 kg and 5??10 and i am an office guy too.
Experience: Newbie
I think that the best board to start for someone like us is one of the starters big boards with daggerboard just to understand easier how does the sails works, to play around a while with it with no difficult and staying on the board, and the best of it is how much you will enjoy later to teach someone else like your partner, family or friends and maybe who knows you will get you a new windsurf partner??? so this board could be a keeper, also for very light winds and carry a child on it for example or to teach him/her with kids gear??? and then go for a short board. This i didn't know when i got my gear 
I am from the northwest of mexico and from the east side of the golf of California, no waves inside the golf of california. Two years ago i started looking for a windsurf gear on the internet because here from where i am, we have no surf shops, nor surf schools or anything like it, and when i finally found one and had the idea of what i needed i couldn't find any gear online in stock (probably because i didn't even know where to look)??? suddenly a brother of mine comes with this great idea to make a family trip to Hawaii and then i got my first gear on robby's naish surfshop -i didn't know that there, i didn't even know how to pronounce Naish 
- So i started 6 months ago from a big round zero this windsurf journey and i hope i can join yours too. The shipment cost from hawaii to mainland was only $100 just to mention.
d11wtq: i read when you start writing your questions and comments of how did your windsurf go almost a month ago from the very beginning i think. It help me to compeer my self on what i did wrong or good, etc.. thanks for sharing.
Iceman: i have that common problem that you refer of windsurfers and partners too haha
My 1st and only Gear is Naish Freeride Nitrix 155lt 2011 and a Naish Freeride Moto Sail 6.5 2012, i can up haul on this board very easy, at 78cm wide is very stable and light. No center fin nor daggerboard and i knew i was buying a big sail for a starter but because the difficulties to buy anything from my city i decided to go for the biggest sail for a starter and went for the 6.5 (10 to 20 knots range for me is perfect right now) and i have been doing fine with it. If this helps any.
What helps me the most to learn of my equipment are these forums (seabreeze people are very friendly) and Peter's Hart windsurfing book (WINDSURFING) lots of pics, draws, info and steps???. i highly recommended.
And like d11wtq said about finding something to practice any day, here are some things that i like to practice to earn confidence:
-On very windy days before i put the boom to the mast i hold the sail up horizontally (parallel to the sand) from the cut out of the sail obviously with the wind on your back, shoulders/head height and maneuver it for a while with one hand and two hands, so i can get the feel of the force of the wind and how your sail reacts to it (you will notice that when you move the head upwind it will go up and when you move the tack upwind it will go down without using your force: this also will help me later for water starting). You can also notice how your tuning reacts too. (if you do this with all your sails at the same day i think it will give you a very good feeling how diferents they react to the same force of the wind, i only have 1 size)
-Practice using the harness with the board over wet sand with no fin so you practice your stance, practice stepping around the board and maneuver the sail so you feel how it gets more power or less power. Here i found out very easy that if you close the gap you loose power.
-On a shallow shelving beach where you can stand up inshore (knee and chest depth) work out the mechanics of rig recovery: orientation, swimming the rig, handle the mast and releasing the rig before practicing water starting, so when you are in deep waters you know what to do instead of practicing in there.
-Another thing i haven't done yet is to wear a a life vest to learn waterstart on deep waters so you can use both hands to swim the rig instead of using one for you a the other for the rig.
These workouts made me understand how the sail works and the feeling of the wind = confidence and with less time and without finishing the day all frustrated or exhausted. I think that after knowing how to handle the sail you can start trying out some boards and find one that you find comfortable and fun.
excuse my english (not 1st language) and if any have something to advice me on my gear or anything else please do! i am the only guy practicing windsurf over here all by my own and there are like 13 kit surfers that started like 8 months before me.
Have a nice windy day you all and keep writing
Great topic! Hey Lauire something like this would be good to have as a constant post that beginners could refer to so they can share experiences - how about a beginners / newbie forum where all the related posts could live?
I enjoyed reading all the stories brings back memories..
Gos great yarn..Re glasses- I lost a pair of $500 prescription sunnies to the bottom of the lake with a bad catapult even though they were tied on and under a helmet.Since then I've had a hole drilled in one or two arms of the glasses ( get optometrist to do it) and then you can tie fishing line through the holes and onto the glass ties .That way they can't slip off the arms.
Tie the glass tie to your wetsuit leash or similar. Because I only use my sunnies for sailing or driving I have this system on only one arm and it hangs down ready to be tied on.A bit daggy but it beats a $500 bill!
Select to expand quoteTheSailingMoose said...Gos said..
1.1970-1990's windsurfing gear - why is it all in fluro and hypercolour? Is it a safety thing for when you wipeout and can't waterstart the awful thin boards? Was it the fashion? WTF?
I learnt last year on a massive 200L+ board from around 1985. Its sail is blue and white thug but i know what you mean about all the fluro pinks a greens Select to expand quoteSubsonic said...
Sounds like you're doing awesome
Q1: it was a fashion thing, I'm sure
Fluoro yellow and fluoro pink are back baby!!!
Normal colours reflect the light with wavelengths of the same colour, and they absorb light with other frequencies.
Fluro however converts incoming light of one wavelength into visible light of another wavelength, so the material seems to "glow" with a color corresponding to the wavelengths being emitted. /it's cool man.
Basically I got myself a sail that looked yellow and was actually fluoro yellow, and pink, upon opening. And I really like it. Honestly. Dare I say... it's rad!
__________
You'll come back to the 112l board one day and ask yourself "how couldn't I uphaul on this?"
In 2 years you still won't be carve gybing.
You'll give up at least 3 times.
Your legs will soon figure out how sharp fins are.
You'll pray to god to get you back to shore at least twice.
Whenever you see water on TV or a movie you'll guestimate the wind speed on it "looks like 15 knots."
Your family might have an intervention.
You will catapult at least 20 times.
you will smash the nose of your board twice.
You'll dream about Maui but never get there.
You'll hate winter. Detest it. Loath it like nothing else.
You will buy a station wagon.
You'll try to get all your friends into windsurfing.
Due to work and other commitments you'll miss a lot of good days. Get used to it.
You'll be tempted by kiting from time-to-time.
You will get your mast pieces stuck together, twice.
You will hit a sandbank at least twice.
You will inexplicably nearly hit a navigation pole.
You'll hate jet-skis.
You'll wish you had just splashed the cash on good gear the first time.
You will contemplate getting a windsurfing tattoo.
You will spend too much time on seabreeze.
RE QUOTE
1.1970-1990's windsurfing gear - why is it all in fluro and hypercolour? Is it a safety thing for when you wipeout and can't waterstart the awful thin boards? Was it the fashion? WTF?
2. If I get a 130-145L modern learner/progression board... can i get something like that up and planing? I notice the hired starboards with 4m/5m sails still plough through the water slowly whereas the experienced guys around me are up on top of the water and flying along... can i produce similar planing results with a bigger board that can also be uphauled? If yes... which board(s)? This kind of board would be excellent for my current beginner stage, and any future intermediate stage.
3. Last time i went out i wiped out and I lost my $250 sunnies in the Swan River. That's easily my biggest investment in windsurfing so far. I need some of those unfashionable sunglasses leashes so a similar incident is not repeated... anyone got recommendations of where to get them?
4. Adelaide. I spend 3 out of 4 weeks a month here... but i have no idea where to hire gear on ad-hoc basis. In Perth its easy, there's a bunch of people down the Swan River every day. Does anyone in Adelaide provide easy rental of learner equipment at a regular location?
Answers
1 Some of the Blame has to be pointed at pro surfers and Euros ....it started with wetsuits (ripcurl) TOM CARROL AND OTHERS, HE loved his fluro wetsuit and boards who would question the pipe master , guessing robby naish and his Pink sails set a early high standard, fluro was the only thing that could upstage it..........blame that on the Euro wind heads
2 Yes more wind more sail size..........
3 You should only wear your sunglasses at night.........oh..... when you work out a method to keep them on................ post it we would love to see what you come up with
4 Theres only one man to see whom will solve your Adelaide problem ASK for the Iron Shek MR Batchalor Geraldton 1995 Australian finalist at Onboard located in Glenelg...Im sure they will even throw in a pair of sunglasses, for no eyes in Adelaide should go unprotected especially during the day.
You'll come back to the 112l board one day and ask yourself "how couldn't I uphaul on this?" yes!
In 2 years you still won't be carve gybing. Took me about 10. It depends how coordinated you are and how hard you work at it.
You'll give up at least 3 times. No, but came close about three weeks ago
Your legs will soon figure out how sharp fins are. Yes
You'll pray to god to get you back to shore at least twice. Regularly!
Your family might have an intervention. They refuse to listen to anything about windsurfing and can't understand why anyone would take up such a frustrating sport.
You will catapult at least 20 times. Yes
you will smash the nose of your board twice. At least three times...
You'll hate winter. Detest it. Loath it like nothing else. Always did. But at least in winter you get some nice fronts... Autumn, now that's a reall fizzer.
You will buy a station wagon. or SUV!
You'll try to get all your friends into windsurfing. yes
Due to work and other commitments you'll miss a lot of good days. Get used to it. I still get annoyed.
You'll be tempted by kiting from time-to-time. less and less.
You will get your mast pieces stuck together, twice. I had a base that always got stuck...
You will hit a sandbank at least twice. yes
You will inexplicably nearly hit a navigation pole. have got very close on occasion
You'll hate jet-skis. and ferries, and jet boats!
You'll wish you had just splashed the cash on good gear the first time. I don't regret any of my purchases
You will contemplate getting a windsurfing tattoo. never
You will spend too much time on seabreeze. definitely!
You will catapult at least 20 times. And the rest. 20 year windsurfer. Catapulted hooked-in in 10 knots last week 
you will smash the nose of your board twice. 20 year windsurfer. Smashed my first one... guess...? last week
.
You will buy a station wagon. or van!Due to work and other commitments you'll miss a lot of good days. Get used to it. Due to windsurfing you'll miss work and other commitments. Get used to it.
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..TheSailingMoose said...Gos said..
1.1970-1990's windsurfing gear - why is it all in fluro and hypercolour? Is it a safety thing for when you wipeout and can't waterstart the awful thin boards? Was it the fashion? WTF?
I learnt last year on a massive 200L+ board from around 1985. Its sail is blue and white thug but i know what you mean about all the fluro pinks a greens Subsonic said...
Sounds like you're doing awesome
Q1: it was a fashion thing, I'm sure
Fluoro yellow and fluoro pink are back baby!!!
Normal colours reflect the light with wavelengths of the same colour, and they absorb light with other frequencies.
Fluro however converts incoming light of one wavelength into visible light of another wavelength, so the material seems to "glow" with a color corresponding to the wavelengths being emitted. /it's cool man.
Basically I got myself a sail that looked yellow and was actually fluoro yellow, and pink, upon opening. And I really like it. Honestly. Dare I say... it's rad!
__________
You'll come back to the 112l board one day and ask yourself "how couldn't I uphaul on this?"
In 2 years you still won't be carve gybing.
You'll give up at least 3 times.
Your legs will soon figure out how sharp fins are.
You'll pray to god to get you back to shore at least twice.
Whenever you see water on TV or a movie you'll guestimate the wind speed on it "looks like 15 knots."
Your family might have an intervention.
You will catapult at least 20 times.
you will smash the nose of your board twice.
You'll dream about Maui but never get there.
You'll hate winter. Detest it. Loath it like nothing else.
You will buy a station wagon.
You'll try to get all your friends into windsurfing.
Due to work and other commitments you'll miss a lot of good days. Get used to it.
You'll be tempted by kiting from time-to-time.
You will get your mast pieces stuck together, twice.
You will hit a sandbank at least twice.
You will inexplicably nearly hit a navigation pole.
You'll hate jet-skis.
You'll wish you had just splashed the cash on good gear the first time.
You will contemplate getting a windsurfing tattoo.
You will spend too much time on seabreeze.
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
I nearly forgot.
I had a 4' shark cross a few feet in front of me yesterday ( I wasn't going very fast as light winds..) almost heart attack until i saw it's head and realised it was a hammerhead.. phew . Mind you I didn't fall off after in case his rels were around..
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
I nearly forgot.
At swan bay...
Stingrays........Imaginary stingrays everywhere (in 2 foot of water).
Hey guys, great topic. Had a sail at corona classic in Merimbula last year and got hooked. came home and spoke to a mate how
had a bit of windsurfing gear in his back shed and some how picked it all up for $500 buck. with a supping back ground and lots of other water sport over the years i went full on into it. after starting on a starboard starter i went onto a JP 145 cite ride with 6.2m and a 5.6m. I'm 6foot and 95kg so i need some size .after a couple of trips into Surf FX on the gold coast the boys asked me if i was keen on filling there last spot on there yearly Maui trip.
with a little bit of hesitation and them talking me into it i said yes. Have to say it was the best thing i could have done to make some big steps forward in this sport. learnt to water start 3 weeks before i went and mastered it over the 10 days and catapulted about 30 time broke 7 harness lines and dropped down to a 122L board. we just book the years trip and i can't wait a must if your super keen on the sport. Cheers
heres a link for a little video i did of my trip
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said..
You'll pray to god to get you back to shore at least twice.
LOL, plus the rest of the list...pure gold!!
Select to expand quoteHarrow said...evlPanda said..
You'll pray to god to get you back to shore at least twice.
LOL, plus the rest of the list...pure gold!!
x2
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said...TheSailingMoose said...Gos said..
1.1970-1990's windsurfing gear - why is it all in fluro and hypercolour? Is it a safety thing for when you wipeout and can't waterstart the awful thin boards? Was it the fashion? WTF?
I learnt last year on a massive 200L+ board from around 1985. Its sail is blue and white thug but i know what you mean about all the fluro pinks a greens Subsonic said...
Sounds like you're doing awesome
Q1: it was a fashion thing, I'm sure
Fluoro yellow and fluoro pink are back baby!!!
Normal colours reflect the light with wavelengths of the same colour, and they absorb light with other frequencies.
Fluro however converts incoming light of one wavelength into visible light of another wavelength, so the material seems to "glow" with a color corresponding to the wavelengths being emitted. /it's cool man.
Basically I got myself a sail that looked yellow and was actually fluoro yellow, and pink, upon opening. And I really like it. Honestly. Dare I say... it's rad!
__________
You'll come back to the 112l board one day and ask yourself "how couldn't I uphaul on this?"
In 2 years you still won't be carve gybing.
You'll give up at least 3 times.
Your legs will soon figure out how sharp fins are.
You'll pray to god to get you back to shore at least twice.
Whenever you see water on TV or a movie you'll guestimate the wind speed on it "looks like 15 knots."
Your family might have an intervention.
You will catapult at least 20 times.
you will smash the nose of your board twice.
You'll dream about Maui but never get there.
You'll hate winter. Detest it. Loath it like nothing else.
You will buy a station wagon.
You'll try to get all your friends into windsurfing.
Due to work and other commitments you'll miss a lot of good days. Get used to it.
You'll be tempted by kiting from time-to-time.
You will get your mast pieces stuck together, twice.
You will hit a sandbank at least twice.
You will inexplicably nearly hit a navigation pole.
You'll hate jet-skis.
You'll wish you had just splashed the cash on good gear the first time.
You will contemplate getting a windsurfing tattoo.
You will spend too much time on seabreeze.
You're a guru... awesome post. Best thread I've read so far.
Select to expand quoted11wtq said..
Gos, it sounds like your initial over confidence is similar to what I have experienced too. I also did a few beginner lessons at a surf school and could go upwind, downwind, gybe and tack (though not carve gybe... that seems nuts after 2 lessons!). I was filled with confidence and went out to buy my own equipment (I decided to buy new). I learnt on a 210L JP Explorer, but I bought a 145L JP Explorer. These have a retractable centreboard, but aren't quite as wide as other beginner boards like the Funster. I also have two sails, 5.3m and 4.2m. I weigh 65kg and I'm also a 30 year old office worker.
.
Yeah I too was lulled into a false sense of competence at Sandringham.
Width matters. I tried windsurfing at Sandringham 15 years ago on longboards on a windy and gusty day. It was a miserable experience. Tried it again in February last year on those aircraft carriers Funsters on an almost windless day. Piece of cake. "Modern equipment is so much better! I'll be carve gybing in no time!" Went to Vassiliki, started on Viper 85s and could barely balance on the damn thing for the first 2 days. 15 litres more volume, but 15 cm narrower than the Funster 205.
Managed to learn to water start in Vass (took only 2 weeks of at least 4 hours every afternoon in strong cross-shore conditions with a boat always ready to pick me up if I got too far downwind), but not plane in the straps and harness. Got a Tabou Rocket 125 over Xmas. Went out about 7 times. The bays is so much harder than Vass. The chop and on-shore wind is killing me. I can water start, but then what? Smack into the the next pier (on shore)? When it's light the chop makes it very hard to up haul. My goal is to be planing in the straps and harness by March.
BTW, you should be able to learn to beach start in 2 sessions. Don't just sail away once you manage to beach start. Hop off, drag the board back to the starting point and repeat. Do it 100 times. Don't forget to let out the back hand once you mange to get going to prevent turning into wind. (I used to move the rig forward to undo the turning into wind. Gayest thing ever). Same for water starts.
Dear All, thanks for your help, advice, experiences, etc. Just brilliant how good the windsurf community is... special thanks to the guys down at Pelican Point whose names i don't know but are consistently friendly and offering tips to me.
MarkSSC - thanks for the note about Guy Cribbs, i've been having a look at some of that material and its really good.
NetoMx - your english is great! Keep writing, we can understand you perfectly. Seems like you are a pioneer in your corner of the world.
Ok so latest update 13 Feb 2014: I have decided that in the short term, hiring starboard learner gear is the way to go. the windforce crew are parked down at the river daily and its pretty easy to just take their gear out and a chap called Toby is quite helpful as far as trying new things.
Each hire session at Pelican Point (3 in the last month) has seen small improvements in technique and control, particularly my turning (the names of which i always mixup), although beach starts have so far eluded me which is frustrating me. Most of all, i'm having a lot of fun and enjoying the challenge of being on the water in different conditions, and even learning to adjust to changing conditions whilst i'm out there. About a month ago i learned to laugh when i fall off instead of being frustrated... and so now i spend a lot of time laughing at myself instead of cursing.
Equipment: I've been scanning SeaBreeze and GumTree and various websites for affordable learner boards in the 130L++ range but i am consistently 6-12 hours too late to actually purchase what is advertised. There seems to be quite a few boards like the Starboard Isonic 122L and a couple of others around the 96-120L range which are tempting... but my experience with failing to uphaul the 112L BIC has got me spooked and i'm determined to stick to my plan and pickup something 130+. Generous feedback from folks on this forum has led me to believe that a big litre board will still be fun to own for many years to come even if i do progress onto one of my shorter/faster boards. I'm keen to persevere with the old sails i've got, at least until i feel like i've progressed to intermediate level and looking into spending another lot of hard-earned cash on this sport.
Last week i was also given a redundancy - which has come with a bunch of mixed emotions. Whilst losing my job sucks, its absolutely brilliant to be back in Perth fulltime and enjoying the weather, water and more time with the missus. I'm lucky to have a bit of time up my sleeve to look for work. Unfortunately in the process of packing/ lifting boxes and suitcases i managed to tear a disk in my lower back. It is hell. I haven't had a back issue in 10 years and now, in my first glorious week of uninterrupted windsurfing (unemployment)... i am restricted to moving between the couch and the fridge. Thank goodness for Winter Olympics, Big Bash and Test Cricket. Unfortunately the number of Litres required for my new board are going up by the day.
And finally... Temptation: So my fiancee came home yesterday with my Valentines Day present (48 hours early as she's concerned i'm becoming depressed with my busted back and too much television) and she's bought me $400 worth of Kitesurfing lessons! So now my windsurfing progress has two headwinds... firstly the crook back, and secondly the flirtation with a kite.
Once my back is sorted, i'm going to give this kitesurfing thing a crack and see whether it meets the hype.
In the meantime, my hunt continues for a modern, Perth-pickup, high-litreage learner board for $250-600...
Gos
leftfield - yeah i just sms'd the guy with the Starboard Carve 145L and he said its sold. I have to get quicker on the button!
Select to expand quotebspot68 said..
Hey guys, great topic. Had a sail at corona classic in Merimbula last year and got hooked. came home and spoke to a mate how
had a bit of windsurfing gear in his back shed and some how picked it all up for $500 buck. with a supping back ground and lots of other water sport over the years i went full on into it. after starting on a starboard starter i went onto a JP 145 cite ride with 6.2m and a 5.6m. I'm 6foot and 95kg so i need some size .after a couple of trips into Surf FX on the gold coast the boys asked me if i was keen on filling there last spot on there yearly Maui trip.
with a little bit of hesitation and them talking me into it i said yes. Have to say it was the best thing i could have done to make some big steps forward in this sport. learnt to water start 3 weeks before i went and mastered it over the 10 days and catapulted about 30 time broke 7 harness lines and dropped down to a 122L board. we just book the years trip and i can't wait a must if your super keen on the sport. Cheers
heres a link for a little video i did of my trip ?rel=0
Nooooice ;-) we'll have to have a competition next season on how many harness lines/booms we can break thinking of changing my name to BoomsGoBoom instead of tilldark
Great thread!
Hang in there with the back mate I've had it go on me 3 times (slipped disc's) make sure you buy something to help you down haul the sail when you get out again. Pulling down on the downhaul is nasty if you've got a dodgy back, try and find a downhaul crank tool or check out Sean Obriens site where he demonstrates using a harness
carbonsugar.com/technique/save-your-back-rig-it-right/
Select to expand quoteGos said..
Dear All, thanks for your help, advice, experiences, etc. Just brilliant how good the windsurf community is... special thanks to the guys down at Pelican Point whose names i don't know but are consistently friendly and offering tips to me.
MarkSSC - thanks for the note about Guy Cribbs, i've been having a look at some of that material and its really good.
NetoMx - your english is great! Keep writing, we can understand you perfectly. Seems like you are a pioneer in your corner of the world.
Ok so latest update 13 Feb 2014: I have decided that in the short term, hiring starboard learner gear is the way to go. the windforce crew are parked down at the river daily and its pretty easy to just take their gear out and a chap called Toby is quite helpful as far as trying new things.
Each hire session at Pelican Point (3 in the last month) has seen small improvements in technique and control, particularly my turning (the names of which i always mixup), although beach starts have so far eluded me which is frustrating me. Most of all, i'm having a lot of fun and enjoying the challenge of being on the water in different conditions, and even learning to adjust to changing conditions whilst i'm out there. About a month ago i learned to laugh when i fall off instead of being frustrated... and so now i spend a lot of time laughing at myself instead of cursing.
Equipment: I've been scanning SeaBreeze and GumTree and various websites for affordable learner boards in the 130L++ range but i am consistently 6-12 hours too late to actually purchase what is advertised. There seems to be quite a few boards like the Starboard Isonic 122L and a couple of others around the 96-120L range which are tempting... but my experience with failing to uphaul the 112L BIC has got me spooked and i'm determined to stick to my plan and pickup something 130+. Generous feedback from folks on this forum has led me to believe that a big litre board will still be fun to own for many years to come even if i do progress onto one of my shorter/faster boards. I'm keen to persevere with the old sails i've got, at least until i feel like i've progressed to intermediate level and looking into spending another lot of hard-earned cash on this sport.
Last week i was also given a redundancy - which has come with a bunch of mixed emotions. Whilst losing my job sucks, its absolutely brilliant to be back in Perth fulltime and enjoying the weather, water and more time with the missus. I'm lucky to have a bit of time up my sleeve to look for work. Unfortunately in the process of packing/ lifting boxes and suitcases i managed to tear a disk in my lower back. It is hell. I haven't had a back issue in 10 years and now, in my first glorious week of uninterrupted windsurfing (unemployment)... i am restricted to moving between the couch and the fridge. Thank goodness for Winter Olympics, Big Bash and Test Cricket. Unfortunately the number of Litres required for my new board are going up by the day.
And finally... Temptation: So my fiancee came home yesterday with my Valentines Day present (48 hours early as she's concerned i'm becoming depressed with my busted back and too much television) and she's bought me $400 worth of Kitesurfing lessons! So now my windsurfing progress has two headwinds... firstly the crook back, and secondly the flirtation with a kite.
Once my back is sorted, i'm going to give this kitesurfing thing a crack and see whether it meets the hype.
In the meantime, my hunt continues for a modern, Perth-pickup, high-litreage learner board for $250-600...
Gos
You sound like you will be great fun to have around when you learn to windsurf.
Loved this
"I have spent 45 minutes wrestling with my sail in the wind like a seagull trying to eat a taco tied to a wind sock."
When I started, I was on a 180 litre 380cm from waaay back and I sailed around for 45 minutes on a lake in light wind before I fell off. A couple of hires and I was sailing back to sail and feeling pretty confident. Bought a big board and took it to the sea. Spent the day trying to uphaul in the shorebreak - never got sailing once.
I can windsurf well and have done for decades but I am in the process of getting into kitesurfing as I think kiting in light winds will be a good add-on to my windsurfing. So I don't think they are mutually exclusive. I think they can work for me in that combo. Up to 20 mph I know I will prefer kiting, but I am a windsurfer in my soul and will always windsurf - when there is enough wind.
So I would say that you have a sweet fiancee and the kitesurf lessons will be easier on your back when it recovers.
Thing is, you will be able to progress fairly soon onto using your windsurf equipment and forking out for kitesurf equipment is expensive.
Hope you get a job soon.
On the beach starts and water starts - make sure you move your hands far enough away from the mast so that 70% of the pull from the sail is on your front hand. That should help you learn it.
Not a problem. You'll feel this sport is far superior than anyone else's. And everyone else who replied is spot on. Lastly, the end result of their answers seem to be getting zanier by the page. You better pick your own wind tree and not let anyone let you see checking it out even at night. Lotsa luck!
