At the end of last year I started a thread with the same title:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/help-with-buying-a-windsurfer-as-a-gift/
This was my first post:
Hello! I am not a windsurfer but my husband used to be. He is a tall reasonably fit guy with windsurfing and sailing experience--but he hasn't had any windsurfing gear for quite some time. I suspect he would like a board to play around with and maybe challenge himself a bit, but it would be nice to start with something that he could use in a variety of conditions. He is 6ft3in and about 65(?)lbs (190.5cm/75kg). I am hoping to find something in good, used condition.
Can anyone tell me what kind of board and/or sail I should be looking for? Most of the stuff I have found on the internet is directed at either beginners or total experts (I don't want a beginner board and I am too much of a novice myself to understand the stuff aimed at experts!).
I just wanted to say how things went. With the help of the lovely people I met on the forum and Remi from the Windsurfing Shed I was able to come up with this:
> - 2011 Sting DT 114
> - 2010 Mauisails Switch 6.0
> - Mauisails 430 mast 55
> - Mauisails alu boom 180-230
> - Mauisails uphaul rope
> - Mauisails harness lines
> - Streamlined extension US cup
> - Streamlined base US cup
> - harness
> - board bag
This is everything that my husband needed to get started again.
At first I had been looking for a lighter wind sail, but a friend I met on the forum said that my husband would probably want to advance to bigger winds over time. So anyway, that is why I ended up with this mast and sail--he can buy smaller sails with this one mast.
I had also been looking for a bigger board, but my friend was a similar age and weight, with a similar history to my husband, and he suggested I buy a smaller board.
The verdict?
First of all, I very highly recommend the Windsurfing Shed in Sydney. Remi was very helpful and I still can't believe how little I paid for brand new gear and recent model, used board. I paid what I expected to pay for used gear. The shipping was reasonable too.
Second, my husband was so surprised!!!!!!! Thank you for all of your help! And, of course, he LOVES the gear. At first he was worried that the board was too small, but within a few days he was whizzing around working on his jibes. He loves it. He is also surprised at how much better everything is to when he windsurfed 15 or 20 years ago.
So anyway, thanks everyone for your help. I really wouldn't have been able to do it without you!!!!
Happy sailing!
Congrats! That sounds great.
One thing I have to ask though is, does he understand how to rig the sail properly? It has changed a bit since the old days. The only reason I ask is that I have seen a friend get back into it and rig a new sail the old way, and found it was more difficult than it should have been.
Nice work with the Sting DT - I love that board. Got mine from the Windsurfing Shed also.
Your husband is a lucky man - good purchase 
Great story and love what you did for your partner. Will you also give sailing a try? You might as well!!
Nice work Chrissy although I'm really thankful my wife didn't see your original thread as she would have sold all my gear to you 
An excellent outcome from the sound of it. I'm glad it worked out well and was able to give a bit of advice.
