I started windsurfing about 20 years ago in Greece when working a season as a beachboy and having access to gear whenever I wanted. At the end of the season I was blasting around in high winds in the footstraps and harness but always in flat water and off-shore winds. I didn't quite get to the powergybe milestone though.
Last spring I decided to pick up where I left of and got myself a light/medium freeride kit. A Tabou Rocket 125 LTD and 5.4, 6.6, 7.8 North X-Type sails.
It's a nice kit but I underestimated the winter conditions here in Italy. Now I find myself on the 125 Rocket in very choppy waters with winds that are in the 25-30+ range. That means I am with my 5.4 sail fully flat out and it goes all very fast and everything but I feel the board is too much over the edge. I can't say that I am much in control let alone learning the powergybe. At least that is how it feels like..
For our winter conditions I now understand I need a 95 liter board. I was thinking the Tabou 3S. But now the question is would I progress more on a smaller board or would it be better to drill the powergybe in perfect flat-water constant-wind conditions on a windsurf holiday, like Egypt or something?
You could get the gybe together in flatter water but it would still be scary and out of control getting it back in the conditions you are describing. Probably easiest to learn in the flatter water but also get a smaller board for when you get back into the chop.
I can gybe beautifully at times in flatwater but in chop it's a whole new ballgame!
Just an opinion so disagree if you desire. I think the investment in the smaller board makes more sense. Great you may learn to gybe in perfect conditions or maybe you don't. Maybe you don't have enough time to perfect it. Even if you perfect the gybe in Egypt, what happens when you get home and it is all choppy again? Water conditions make a huge difference.
After the holiday you will be back in your usual sailing conditions on the same board that was giving you trouble. Even if you nail a good carve it will be still too large a board for comfortable sailing in that location for most of the time.
I would get the smaller board and learn to handle the conditions you usually sail in and leave the holiday for just a fun bonus when you can.
Select to expand quoteIceman said..
Just an opinion so disagree if you desire. I think the investment in the smaller board makes more sense. Great you may learn to gybe in perfect conditions or maybe you don't. Maybe you don't have enough time to perfect it. Even if you perfect the gybe in Egypt, what happens when you get home and it is all choppy again? Water conditions make a huge difference.
After the holiday you will be back in your usual sailing conditions on the same board that was giving you trouble. Even if you nail a good carve it will be still too large a board for comfortable sailing in that location for most of the time.
I would get the smaller board and learn to handle the conditions you usually sail in and leave the holiday for just a fun bonus when you can.
+1
I agree with Iceman
And even more so with the 3S - it is a natural hi wind alternative to the Rocket as it is even easier riding, a very forgiving board in chop.
125ltr+5.4m+25/30knts+chop=nasty.
Go and get a smaller board and sail and have fun in the chop - much better than flat water which is boring (unless freestyling/speedsailing).
OK thanks guys smaller board is it gonna be than.
The 2014 Tabou 3S looks the max but buying a brand new board is too expensive.
Or I get a 2012-2013 model... or I have to wait untill the 2015 boards come out in autumn next year.
And up to the next dilemma 
Sumer time is less high winds here, that's why I got the light/medium kit in the first place.
As for gybing I will get one of those DVD's and try progressing with that.
The difference in handling between a 2012 and 2014 3S is going to be almost nothing. Go secondhand.
BTW how much do you weigh? 96L is still pretty large for 25 -30kn for normal sized people
Have a look at http://www.windsurf.co.uk/test-type/2013/boards-2013/freestyle-wave-boards-2013/100-litre/ - lots of options, unlikely any bad ones, just some a bit better at one thing than another
My weight is about 80Kg, little less.
What I understood is that the 96 would still float me while uphauling on a 86 ltr. would be a bit of an issue.
Thanks paddymac for the other suggestions. I kinda have my mind set on the 3S but will valuate the other options.
Select to expand quoteTunafish2 said..
My weight is about 80Kg, little less.
What I understood is that the 96 would still float me while uphauling on a 86 ltr. would be a bit of an issue.
Thanks paddymac for the other suggestions. I kinda have my mind set on the 3S but will valuate the other options.
Maybe you need to learn to waterstart so you can then use an appropriately sized board in the 25-30kn winter storms
96 is quite large for that wind strength
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..Tunafish2 said..
My weight is about 80Kg, little less.
What I understood is that the 96 would still float me while uphauling on a 86 ltr. would be a bit of an issue.
Thanks paddymac for the other suggestions. I kinda have my mind set on the 3S but will valuate the other options.
Maybe you need to learn to waterstart so you can then use an appropriately sized board in the 25-30kn winter storms
96 is quite large for that wind strength
Tunafish - are you sailing open salt water/ocean or are you on a freshwater lake/river? Just curious 'cause it seems to make a difference : I'll use a 102 FSW on the river in that wind strength but smaller board (86 wave) on the ocean.
I just ordered the Intuition Gybing & Core skills DVD and think I can make some progress on my own. Maybe later on I will take some drill lessons.
No it's not that I can't waterstart, just out of security I would prefer a board that can float me and uphaul when the wind drops, which happens quite often and I like to sail more offshore.
I actually think the 96 ltrs. is perfect for me because I can start blasting right away with my 5.4 and 6.6 sails.
In the spring and summer I sail on the lakes here in Italy (Garda, Como etc) and the wind is lighter on the sea as well (10-20knts) hence why I bought the light/medium kit. It's just that the bug starts biting and I can't give up the winter. I just need more control to tackle the powergybe.
I first thought a smaller sail like a 4.7 but I like to sail a bit more overpowered anyway and I feel that the board (even with a 32cm fin) is too big as it becomes a rodeo ride over waves and chop and sometimes it even starts flying!
I found a surfshop in Barcelona (frontfred.com/es/) they sell the 3S 96 LTD for 1.150 euro Not bad at all but my budget is about 750 euro. They are almost impossible to find second hand here in Italy so maybe I bite the bullet..
