Starting out (again)

This seems to be a recurring theme! Looks like a lot of ex-windsurfers are coming back, which is great. But try and do a bit to bring in your son/daughter/neice/nephew into the sport as well :)

With the gear, look for a 120L to 160L board. Ideally with a soft "technora" type deck as that will be softer and less painful to fall on than deck grip. Sail - start with a non-cam or 2 cam at most 5.5m and a 6.5m which should hopefully fit on to a single 430 mast and a circa 160-210 boom. Then a large (36cm) extension. Don't worry too much about fin just yet - anything slalom around 36cm would work.

After a few months of this, you will move to a 100L carbon or wood slalom board with 3-5 sails, 2-3 masts and a whole bunch of expensive fins.

there are a few threads about you situation here too, have a browse & lots of questions answered. Look in the other states forums too for even more info.

I'm 59 years old 90+kg. Wave sailed a lot through the 80's and a bit of the 90's, had a meagre team rider deal for a while. I stopped due to kids and work and just getting back into it. I've found the new wave sails fantastic compared with the old ones, even on my 80's boards. But I'm having a bit of trouble getting used to the newish 65L FSW board, I should have got something with more volume. It seems my old custom fibreglass wave board with less volume is easier to sail in light wind, maybe because of the extra length at 8'6". Also the mast track is about a foot further back than I'm used to which feels completely different. I should have bought a 95L board. If I can find a steady 20 knots a lot of good memories come flooding back, they just disappear when I sink like a stone in the lulls.

I wouldn't knock back a fun board just because it has a centreboard, they're usually retractable and make little/no difference to the performance. I'm a learner and using a Starboard Express (180L Go with a centreboard) and my learning buddy uses a 160L Funster, both these boards go like the clappers on the plane and are nice and stable for tacking (I don't know how to jybe yet) and uphauling, and most of all they are .................... FUN! You'll have a ball on any of them.

Hey Chris. Very similar vintage to yourself and do remember the 295 well.

After a long period as a bit of a non-believer as far as the new gear is concerned I have had a real change of heart recently. New boards are great and you will particularly enjoy relearning Gybing a lot more on them than the older gear.

I think the modern learner boards due to the extra width do need a bit input to get them unstuck and on the plane. Point downwind a lot more than you might remember, find the back of a bit of swell, bit of a pump and hang on. When they break free they really take off in a hurry, and do seem to stay on the plane better, although you may need to bear away a bit to do so. But with the big fins, once you are powered up again, it is easy to head back up wind and regain any ground you lost.

Modern sails are also better, but different in my opinion. First thing I noticed is my old go to sails were a 6.2 and a 7.0 for the lighter days, my most used sail now is an 8.8 and 7.5 on the windier days. I had a 9.0 on my old race board and I could only use it in the lightest wind as it would tear my arms off otherwise. The way the modern sails spill the excess wind as it gets stronger is awesome, but you will need to rethink your sizes when looking at the new stuff.

I reckon the Funster or similar at that size would be a good choice. Dagger board is a bonus, and good for someone learning, but as you have sailed before and as I mentioned the big fins do make it easy to head up wind, so don't discount something like a Go or similar if you find one at a good price.

Enjoy.

Hi chris.
I am 47 and sailed since I was 13.
Like you I had a hiatus from 25-40 and have been back into windsurfing since moving to the Gold Coast 5 yrs back.
Like riding a bike as they say.
Only used to put boards back together in Maldives and Fiji on holidays desperate for a sail to relive the old days while recovering from big night out.
I have been accumulating a new quiver of boards and sails over last few years. My original Sunshine Coast 'Sirocco' custom circa 80's is still going strong ad is the 90's 'Strapper' short board. I did pick up a Waitata 2 in an auction 3 years ago and have had hours of fun on it.
This would be a great board for you to reacquaint yourself with.
I have it for sale on eBay but you may be a bit far away.
I am 73 kg and it goes great in medium to fresh breezes
They are a little hard to find these days but a greet alround slalom board really fun to sail.
I have been having the time of my life getting back into windsurfing.
This is a fantastic website.
Cheers

Mabee think about an older Starboard Go around 150 litres. Later when you get better think about a newer fragile board. They have padding for your knees , go really fast for a big board and are very forgiving. You will regain your skills quickly on a board like this and u should be able to pick one up for around $ 500. They are also a tough board and will keep there value , but you wont sell it because you will fall in love with it and keep it for a light days. I own a couple , 170 and 155 and smaller boards and the 155 is my favourite , I am a heavy bastard.
P.S I have never heard anybody say a bad thing about the old Starboard Go.

I started on a JP magic Ride with NP Ryde sails 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 X3 boom & 430RDM NP mast. Im a bit younger and heavier but had heaps of fun with this kit. Add a few extra fins in there and its a nice easy combination to come back on. I had an 8yr rest.