Hi, really enjoying the forum and am now looking for some advice, please.
I used to windsurf (still novice stuff though), but I was 10kg lighter and 15 years younger :) I'm now 45, 80kg, 182cm tall, and committed to get into windsurfing seriously. Kids are older, so I can now leave for a day of water without feeling the guilt!
Looking for a board and sail that can treat me kindly while I get back into this, but will progress with me as I pick up speed. I'll be on Port Phillip Bay mostly, with occasional trips down Shoreham/Rye way (with mates that surf... tried it but just can't get into it!).
I know the gear has moved on in the last 20 years. I love gear that is faithful and surprises you with its flexibility to different conditions. And while I prefer to pick up secondhand gear, happy to buy new if the right gear isn't available used.
Decision making process: the right gear is more important that budget (within reason!)
Thanks for any help.
Welcome back.......
There's some great gear around.
You are right in assuming things have moved on. Try if you can and limit the amount of masts that you need.
Depending on the quiver of sail sizes you want to use and the wind strength you want to sail in.
If its like 0 wind to 30 knots and you are learning but want to buy the lots I'd say something like:
7.2m sail. Freeride.
6.2m sail.
5.6m sail Wave.
5.0, sail wave.
4.5m sail wave.
4.0m sail Wave.
Probably need two booms as the difference in sizes is quite bit and two masts, probably a 460 mast and a 400 mast.
1 x extension and mast base.
1 x Harness and lines.
You could go a sail size bigger but they can get a bit of a handful.
I'd get something like a 140 / 150 litre board, Freeride and probably two fins so you can use it in stronger winds.
You'll probably be able to sail a smaller board but you'll have to progress onto that.
Hope that helps.
I saw a good looking 150litre JP Funster on facebook market place this morning. Perfect for getting back into it. Very uphaulable and centre board for getting you back to where you started, but will also get you planning. SHQ garage sale in Sandringham was supposed to be on this weekend, but as we are in lockdown has been delayed, a good spot to find second hand gear. Avoid buying new if you can, until you get ability up to a 120 litre Severne FOX and then buy one. Designed by local, Foxy with Port Phillip bay in mind.
Port Phillip bay does need sails 7m down to 4m, but initially you will need around a 6.0
Where will you be sailing at the top end of the bay?
Thanks, Madge - this is very helpful.
Considering the bay conditions, would the following be a reasonable start, or something I should build up to?
BIC TECHNO 133 - it's in the "Buy and Sell" section of this site for $1600 (can't post a link due to site restrictions for new posters).
It's 133L with 5.8m sail, so the board's a bit smaller that you suggest.
I've not windsurfed the bay here in Melbourne, but I'm assuming this size sail would be about right for mixed conditions?
Select to expand quoteNelle said..
I saw a good looking 150litre JP Funster on facebook market place this morning. Perfect for getting back into it. Very uphaulable and centre board for getting you back to where you started, but will also get you planning. SHQ garage sale in Sandringham was supposed to be on this weekend, but as we are in lockdown has been delayed, a good spot to find second hand gear. Avoid buying new if you can, until you get ability up to a 120 litre Severne FOX and then buy one. Designed by local, Foxy with Port Phillip bay in mind.
Port Phillip bay does need sails 7m down to 4m, but initially you will need around a 6.0
Where will you be sailing at the top end of the bay?
Thanks, Nelle - I think this is the local knowledge I need :)
I'll be off Sandringham beach and up, and I admit not understanding the bay yet. If someone else has done the hard work of designing a board for it, then that Foxy is what I'll work up to.
I'll have a look for the JP Funster. I liked the look of the BIC board in the "Buy and Sell" section because I remember using a BIC back in the day, but I'd like to buy something to enjoy on the bay. I didn't know about the SHQ garage sale, that would have been amazing timing.
150litre won't be too big?
Your skill level will determine if 150 litres is too big do you remember what board and sails you were sailing previously?
If you were comfortable in footstraps and harness and would rather water start than uphaul, then go straight to the 120 litre Fox or JP super ride etc. Im 70kg and have a fox 105 as my big board, good for down to about 18knots. Im terrible at gybing, so really good at water starts. BTW the funster is also listed here in the buy and sell and I imagine the SHQ garage sale will go ahead next weekend or the one after. After lockdown drop in and have a chat to them. they are very helpful, but I can never get a good deal.
Also next time its blowing the dogs off their chains from the SW, pop down to the beach at Dendy St Brighton, or from the north, Green Point carpark. (the end of South Rd). There will be a dozen guys out and they are friendly and helpful.
Select to expand quoteNelle said..
Your skill level will determine if 150 litres is too big do you remember what board and sails you were sailing previously?
If you were comfortable in footstraps and harness and would rather water start than uphaul, then go straight to the 120 litre Fox or JP super ride etc. Im 70kg and have a fox 105 as my big board, good for down to about 18knots. Im terrible at gybing, so really good at water starts. BTW the funster is also listed here in the buy and sell and I imagine the SHQ garage sale will go ahead next weekend or the one after. After lockdown drop in and have a chat to them. they are very helpful, but I can never get a good deal.
Also next time its blowing the dogs off their chains from the SW, pop down to the beach at Dendy St Brighton, or from the north, Green Point carpark. (the end of South Rd). There will be a dozen guys out and they are friendly and helpful.
I don't remember the board, but got back on one today with an experienced sailor. I think the 140 mark is the right one for me for now.
The Fox 105 looks incredible and will definitely be looking at those in 12 months time. I'll be at Greenpoint next time we get some serious wind - thanks for the tip.
For now, though, I saw the 2020 Starboard Go, which looks like a lot of fun! Probably the 144L for now. Just got to find one now!
Thanks for all your help.
dougaled,
I'm a couple of months ahead of you. Just got back into windsurfing after 20 years and 3 kids. I live in Beaumaris so am just around the corner from you.
Though I'm sure there's great advice to be had from the more experienced guys I think some perspective from someone just a bit ahead of you could help.
I was also in the same position as you and didn't know what to buy. Depending on who I spoke to in SHQ and Zu I got different advice on where to start. I attribute this to people not being familiar with my skill level rather than bad advice though. My experience from before was mostly centerboard sailing on sub 15 knot conditions and no waterstarting. I considered the 150L+ beginner board route but ended up being advised to buy a 124L Starboard Carve. This board was perfect for me and I'd consider going this route (I'm 83kg). At your weight you can still uphaul a 124L as the shape of board is quite wide and therefore stable. Also worth noting is that these boards are popular and in high demand so if you buy one used you can use it for a season and resell it quickly for about the same price so it's like money the bank (this is the argument I tell my wife at least). If you look on Seabreeze at the minute there is actually one for sale at 133L. The same guy (I promise it's not me trying to sell you my gear) is also selling a complete used rig for $500 which might be a good place to get started and allow you time to slowly built up your gear. I found that I trashed my original gear a bit initially from lack of experience (bumping the board/sail into obstacles, getting washed by the surf) so getting that out of the way on some gear you don't care about is good way to go IMO.
Finding a good launching spot for your skill level will also help heaps in terms of making progress. I tried about 4-5 spots before settling on Hampton as my go-to launch spot. As I get better this might change but I found this to be a good spot for a number of reasons: close to home, relatively quick/easy car to rig to water, protected by Sandy harbour so less swell to contend with, large beach so no issues being blown down wind onto rocks.
I'll probably be out at Hampton on Sunday on my foil and happy to chat and discuss gear. Feel free to PM me. As someone said earlier most windsurfers are more than happy to help. It's a small community and you'll tend to see the same guys out.
another route you might want to pursue is to take a lesson with the local windsurf instructor. There's a guy called Andrew who Zu and SHQ both recommended to me. Andrew is super helpful, very generous with his time and loves talking gear. What's good with this route is that you can get a couple of lessons from Andrew using his gear (he's got a big boat type of board) and he'll be able to advise you on what gear to get. You might spend a couple hundred bucks on some lessons but you'll save yourself money in the long run avoiding buying and swapping out the wrong gear. Also, he has a lot of students just like you who buy gear to get back into it and then move on to more advanced gear. So he's always got someone looking for gear as well as selling their gear and is good at acting as a kind of broker. I sold my 124L Starboard Carve to another student of his when I upgraded to my 103L freewave board.
PM if you want his number of just call SHQ to get his details.
Select to expand quotecleverku said..
dougaled,
I'm a couple of months ahead of you. Just got back into windsurfing after 20 years and 3 kids. I live in Beaumaris so am just around the corner from you.
Though I'm sure there's great advice to be had from the more experienced guys I think some perspective from someone just a bit ahead of you could help.
I was also in the same position as you and didn't know what to buy. Depending on who I spoke to in SHQ and Zu I got different advice on where to start. I attribute this to people not being familiar with my skill level rather than bad advice though. My experience from before was mostly centerboard sailing on sub 15 knot conditions and no waterstarting. I considered the 150L+ beginner board route but ended up being advised to buy a 124L Starboard Carve. This board was perfect for me and I'd consider going this route (I'm 83kg). At your weight you can still uphaul a 124L as the shape of board is quite wide and therefore stable. Also worth noting is that these boards are popular and in high demand so if you buy one used you can use it for a season and resell it quickly for about the same price so it's like money the bank (this is the argument I tell my wife at least). If you look on Seabreeze at the minute there is actually one for sale at 133L. The same guy (I promise it's not me trying to sell you my gear) is also selling a complete used rig for $500 which might be a good place to get started and allow you time to slowly built up your gear. I found that I trashed my original gear a bit initially from lack of experience (bumping the board/sail into obstacles, getting washed by the surf) so getting that out of the way on some gear you don't care about is good way to go IMO.
Finding a good launching spot for your skill level will also help heaps in terms of making progress. I tried about 4-5 spots before settling on Hampton as my go-to launch spot. As I get better this might change but I found this to be a good spot for a number of reasons: close to home, relatively quick/easy car to rig to water, protected by Sandy harbour so less swell to contend with, large beach so no issues being blown down wind onto rocks.
I'll probably be out at Hampton on Sunday on my foil and happy to chat and discuss gear. Feel free to PM me. As someone said earlier most windsurfers are more than happy to help. It's a small community and you'll tend to see the same guys out.
Hi cleverku,
Thanks for this guidance - I have now gone a similar route. Ended up with a Go 144L, mainly because I saw someone else on one and they looked like they were having a lot of fun. Similar shape to the Carve, but obviously bigger. Probably the right move for me right now, although that Carve 133L now looks perfect! It was also a "this board will sell in a year" conversation as a parted with my cash.
I'm only just back on a board, so I'm off Brighton dog beach on a southerly wind. No doubt I'll be looking for a bit more adventure soon, so the offer to meet up is a definite one... apparently there is a championship on this Sunday at Sandringham beach, which I will go and have a look at.
Will PM you my details - look forward to catching up once I'm in open water again!
Select to expand quotecleverku said..
dougaled,
I'm a couple of months ahead of you. Just got back into windsurfing after 20 years and 3 kids. I live in Beaumaris so am just around the corner from you.
Though I'm sure there's great advice to be had from the more experienced guys I think some perspective from someone just a bit ahead of you could help.
I was also in the same position as you and didn't know what to buy. Depending on who I spoke to in SHQ and Zu I got different advice on where to start. I attribute this to people not being familiar with my skill level rather than bad advice though. My experience from before was mostly centerboard sailing on sub 15 knot conditions and no waterstarting. I considered the 150L+ beginner board route but ended up being advised to buy a 124L Starboard Carve. This board was perfect for me and I'd consider going this route (I'm 83kg). At your weight you can still uphaul a 124L as the shape of board is quite wide and therefore stable. Also worth noting is that these boards are popular and in high demand so if you buy one used you can use it for a season and resell it quickly for about the same price so it's like money the bank (this is the argument I tell my wife at least). If you look on Seabreeze at the minute there is actually one for sale at 133L. The same guy (I promise it's not me trying to sell you my gear) is also selling a complete used rig for $500 which might be a good place to get started and allow you time to slowly built up your gear. I found that I trashed my original gear a bit initially from lack of experience (bumping the board/sail into obstacles, getting washed by the surf) so getting that out of the way on some gear you don't care about is good way to go IMO.
Finding a good launching spot for your skill level will also help heaps in terms of making progress. I tried about 4-5 spots before settling on Hampton as my go-to launch spot. As I get better this might change but I found this to be a good spot for a number of reasons: close to home, relatively quick/easy car to rig to water, protected by Sandy harbour so less swell to contend with, large beach so no issues being blown down wind onto rocks.
I'll probably be out at Hampton on Sunday on my foil and happy to chat and discuss gear. Feel free to PM me. As someone said earlier most windsurfers are more than happy to help. It's a small community and you'll tend to see the same guys out.
Hi cleverku,
Thanks for this guidance - I have now gone a similar route. Ended up with a Go 144L, mainly because I saw someone else on one and they looked like they were having a lot of fun. Similar shape to the Carve, but obviously bigger. Probably the right move for me right now, although that Carve 133L now looks perfect! It was also a "this board will sell in a year" conversation as a parted with my cash.
I'm only just back on a board, so I'm off Brighton dog beach on a southerly wind. No doubt I'll be looking for a bit more adventure soon, so the offer to meet up is a definite one... apparently there is a championship on this Sunday at Sandringham beach, which I will go and have a look at.
Will PM you my details - look forward to catching up once I'm in open water again!
