What is the fastest way to progress from zero to wavesailing? I'm currently between jobs, so I have plenty of time on my hands.
Background.
Melbourne, male, 35 years old, 174 cm and 80 kg. My fitness is so-so. I used to work out a fair bit up until 5 years ago. I am getting back into it again. (After 5 years of sitting on my butt, my leg, hip and lower-back mobility could really use some improvement).
I tried windsurfing 15 years ago at the SHQ in Sandringham (2 x 3 hour course over 2 days). I found it to be the most frustrating, infuriating thing ever. The fact that it got quite gusty on the second day, the sunburn and all those expensive boats parked nearby probably didn't help things. At least I swore like a sailor. I did a hang-gliding course a few years later and found it infinitely easier to get the hang of (pun intended). As fun as it was to ridge-soar with the eagles in a buttery smooth afternoon sea breeze, it never felt safe to me. What also gave me pause was an experienced windsurfer who was doing the course with me. By his estimation, windsurfing is 100 times safer, and the weather appropriate much more often. (Driving up and down mountains only to find no wind beats watching TV, but was still tiresome. OTOH, a tow launch is the most s*it-inducing thing I've ever done.)
Now, fast forward to the present.
* Am I too old?
* What is the quickest way to progress? Longboard with a centreboard (what I tried at SHQ 15 years ago) followed by a big wide floaty shortboard? Will the longboard be of any use later? Back in 1998, I remember fat wide shortboards appeared which were touted as an alternative to the longboard. Have they stuck?
* Any intensive courses around Melbourne?
* Maybe go to a really windy place like Maui for a couple of months?
* What is typical windsurfing season around Melbourne? (I vaguely remember being told that it's September-February, autumn is unreliable and winter is too cold.)
The windsurfing bloke I met at the hang-gliding course went from zero to wave jumping after 3 months on the water 3 days a week. Granted, he started when he was 20 and was athletically gifted. In 2000 he was using a grand total of 2 boards from the 80s (one of them a custom) and, I think, 3 sails. That's it. Which brings me to another question.
* What is the minimum of equipment required? I look at the equipment section of the SHQ site and I get a migraine. Money is not the issue. But I hate spending money on the wrong stuff. In fact, I prefer spending money on services rather than goods, because you don't have the evidence of your bad decision hanging around if you get it wrong. (Kitesurfing seems attractive in that regard. Though I can't shake the feeling these guys are not sailing, but are rather dragged along by the kite. Also, while taking up less room on land, they seem to take up all the room on the water. I just can't impose myself like that on others, especially as a newb. I hope I didn't offend any kitesurfers.)
* Does weight make a difference? I can drop down to 75 kg without too much trouble and to 70 kg eventually if needed.
* How important is swimming ability? I admit, I've never swam much in open water. I used to be able to do 2.5 km in a swimming pool despite my torturous technique. I've started swimming in a pool again, and I'm trying to correct my swimming technique to be less exhausting.
* What is the optimum vehicle? I am looking to buy a car anyway, and I'll consider anything but a van. I was looking at Subaru Foresters that were a couple of years old and other small SUVs, but would consider other cars. I heard that mid-2000s Holden Commodore wagons (the ones that were still built on the longer Statesman wheelbase) are the next best thing to a van when it comes to stashing windsurfing gear.
Sorry for rambling, but I've always loved windy weather (most seem to hate it). When the wind picks up these days, I just can't help thinking that I'm missing out. It's really blowing outside right now actually.
All replies very much appreciated.
Fitness is the first thing you need, as to get better you have to put in a lot of time on the water.
If money is no object, get lessons and get to the waterstart stage as fast as you can.
Learn to surf - maybe on a standup to begin with then maybe a longboard.
Get lightwind freestyle sails and a 100l freestyle board and practice on it until your sail control and board handling are very good. Lots of the top wavesailors have a freestyle background.
Then you can get the wave gear and work on wave riding and jumping.
Go on a windsurfing holiday somewhere windy with instructors. 2 weeks.
www.planetwindsurfholidays.com/?url=/resorts/United%20States/Maui/
Get daily instruction, use of loads of gear in warm water.
When you come back you'll have some ideas.
)
Am I too old?
No.
* What is the quickest way to progress? Longboard with a centreboard (what I tried at SHQ 15 years ago) followed by a big wide floaty shortboard? Will the longboard be of any use later? Back in 1998, I remember fat wide shortboards appeared which were touted as an alternative to the longboard. Have they stuck?
Yes I have one for teaching friends/family members. They are so much better than the crappy longboards I used in the 80s. Stable, light, grippy and you can plane them like a shortboard. If you buy one and then out grow it, you will still end up using it on light days if you really want a sail.
* Any intensive courses around Melbourne?
Yes do a course, but you will get better by simply spending time on the water. An intensive course won't take you from a beginner to jumping in a week. If you want lessons, have them periodically i.e sail for a month then get some lessons, then sail for another month more lessons etc.
* Maybe go to a really windy place like Maui for a couple of months?
What do you do for work?? Obviously the windier the place and the more time on the water you spend, the better you will get. I advanced quicker in 3 months when I moved to WA than in 2 years up in Darwin. You sail intermittently you will advance slowly. So yes Maui would be great, no idea what it's like for beginners though. There are probably better, cheaper places or were you just speaking hypothetically??
* What is the minimum of equipment required? I look at the equipment section of the SHQ site and I get a migraine. Money is not the issue. But I hate spending money on the wrong stuff. In fact, I prefer spending money on services rather than goods, because you don't have the evidence of your bad decision hanging around if you get it wrong.
I would suggest buying second hand to start with. There is a ton of 2nd hand bargains to be had out there. Sails are 6 or 7 years old are practically worthless from a dollar point of view, but would be great for a beginner/intermediate. You obviously don't want to go to old, but you don't need a new 2013 sail. You will spent most of your time being catapulted into it! Wave sails would be great, as they are, powerful and the xply ones are bulletproof. Board wise, you want something that is floaty, that you can uphaul, yet is light and still feels & acts like a shortboard when planning. Again 2nd hand is your best option, when you get closer to buying your own gear, post on seabreeze any potential buys you are considering & people can advise. Getting gear any older that say 10 years will make your learning harder, but 6/7/8 year old gear should be ok. The minimum amount of gear you want is 1 mast, 1 board & 3 sails. High wind sail 4m, then a 5 – 5.m and perhaps a 6m for light winds (depending on your typical conditions). Not many guys have 6m sails in WA. I would strongly advise walking into a shop and spending $5K+ on new gear unless you are absolutely sure you know what you want. I got bored after a few months of going back and forth on flat water so just wavesail really, so get second hand gear and then see where you are at after a few months. You will have a much better idea of what kind of sailing you want to do and therefore what gear you need.
* Does weight make a difference? I can drop down to 75 kg without too much trouble and to 70 kg eventually if needed.
Being a bit lighter will allow you to sail (plane) in lighter conditions. But it's not a huge consideration.
* How important is swimming ability? I admit, I've never swam much in open water. I used to be able to do 2.5 km in a swimming pool despite my torturous technique. I've started swimming in a pool again, and I'm trying to correct my swimming technique to be less exhausting.
Depends. If you're sailing in the open ocean then being a decent swimmer could save your life! It's good you're addressing this. When you have time, do some laps in the pool, this will only help your windsurfing especially if you ever decide to get into the waves.
* What is the optimum vehicle? I am looking to buy a car anyway, and I'll consider anything but a van. I was looking at Subaru Foresters that were a couple of years old and other small SUVs, but would consider other cars. I heard that mid-2000s Holden Commodore wagons (the ones that were still built on the longer Statesman wheelbase) are the next best thing to a van when it comes to stashing windsurfing gear.
Got a Forester and they are great off-road considering they are an SUV. Had a 2003 Commodore wagon years ago and that was huge, pile of sh!t though.
wow - ambitious question and zealous answers
one must crawl, then walk before running
hope u did not book the trip to Maui yet :)
you can start at home with DVDs like Beginner to Winner
while doing this - find local rental, schools, clubs, etc
get fit, lose weight and swim
take notes of what works and what does not
once you can waterstart, get in footstraps and use the harness THEN
you can think about spending the big bucks and go to Maui
in other words - learn to love it first
extreme windsurfing is dangerous and it does NOT need to be crazy out there to have a lot of fun. boards for light winds are getting better and better and that is where one can get comfortable before taking the LEAP of FAITH
welcome and learn to be patient
relax and ENJOY IT !!!
WELCOME BACK
174:
yes time on water assumed that there were constant winds down under..
obviously TOW means wind requirement
AND if you have time and money to burn Maui is the place
nothing stops OP from starting at home NOW ....
now git out there OP 
joe windsurfer
Thanks for all the replies. I think a trip to a windy resort, where I'll do nothing but sail, is the way to go. Once I am fit enough.
Hi MrCranky, Two weeks with us in Cocos will shift you up the scoreboard!
www.facebook.com/2ndwindsailboards
