Hi All,
Been learning on a mates 145 for a while and just sold my 180 I am 70 kgs and will do most my sailing on the bay. Looking at a Freemove, freeride whatever board and just wanted some advice on how old is too old. The new RRDs and Fanatics that are a lot wider and thinner appeal to me as the stability will make me more confident to head out knowing while I am still learning water starts that I can uphaul if its a real issue. Price ideally around 1k max.
Here is an example: Cheap but probably too old... (buoyancy is not well distributed...)
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~t7e8v/Fanatic-Hawk-123-249-cm-123-litres.aspx?search=iVVAl2umBXlM$7gkdXkWfe4t3dOWMjxd
New, costly and maybe a little undersized?
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~t220i/2015-Fanatic-Gecko-105-litres.aspx?search=iVVAl2umBXlM%247gkdXkWfe4t3dOWMjxd&t=0
My sails are from 5m through to 6m (mostly second hand wave sails..)
Maybe this one is a good balance only $ a bit high...
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~tu5w8/2014-Starboard-Carve-Carbon-252-cm-121-litres.aspx?search=EjQ0DoWvNYhAy8mo2nnt4zFZHec8xW7w
P.S In harness, front foot strap still getting into, back footstrap not yet...
I used to have a hawk and also had a free move. I now ride mainly full slalom boards in flat water in Syd, but the have ridden a free move on the Bay (originally from Melb) and found these boards excellent in bay conditions. The Gecko is the best choice by far out of your options. Why don't you go down to the Zu and hire a free move the same width as the Gecko and then a free ride about the same width as the hawk. The hawk is quite a fast lively board requiring a far bit of skill. The hawk will feel smaller than the Gecko to up haul as it is narrower and you will be struggling to hold it down. I use to float around on a 110 free move no probs and I'm 87kg, but was swimming in light conditions on the hawk and struggled to up haul it in any chop.
+1 gecko. At 70kg it will have plenty of float. Very easy to ride. Your sails will work with it as well.
Minimum volume 120 litres
12 years old max.
The BIGGEST mistakes people make at your level is going too small too early!
The carve is a good choice
How about this older carve - I really worry this is too old and I should fork out a little more for something a little newer.http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/craiglie/surfing/131-carve-windsurfer-new-half-price-1200-/1072667223
He is asking a bit much I think considering I dont need all the kit as well...
I'm going soft too and convincing myself I need about 130 litres as well.... :S
This coule be an option...
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~tfdm6/2013-JP-Australia-2013-XCite-Ride-251-cm-134-litres.aspx?search=iVVAl2umBXmHLC7VP1FIeA==
But somehow I have convinced myself I need a Fanatic Gecko or FireMove.... That 105 gecko is just toooo small im certain....
Ginno
Hi ginno
the carve would be perfect. I can't advise on the price.
my mate was in the same shoes as you. He bought a 130l board to learn jibes and water starts. After one season he got a 115l board. Two months later and he is looking at a 90l. But he will keep the 130l because it is awesome in light winds
Ok its done.... Its probably still too much volume for me still but I had to opportunity to purchase the last ever board from RPS - 2014 130l wood Carve for a good price.
Hopefully ill finally get out this weekend on it and (not) smash the nose on the first day.... (Ive actually been waiting for a boom and mast protector to arrive which has just come in)
My sail and mast range is only up to 6 m but I guess long term if I grow out of it maybe it becomes my light wind board... Would actually be good to borrow a larger rig one day and try it out in lower winds when the bay is still relatively flat...
Wish me luck...
You might be in luck this weekend. I hope we finally get at least some weekend wind.
Those protectors don't all work 100% as I have seen a few dinged noses from others with the bra/ nose protector etc on. One thing I can advise on with skill is stacking! Don't let go of the boom and you should avoid the nose job, unless you get to doing flicky spinny stuff or serious air and you are in survival mode.
Got out at Parkdale on Sat - Board is a dream! - Got into both straps for the first (short) time but was always planing downwind where I could have my weight over the center of the board (felt like too much weight over the back fin and board would start scouping each rail) - Tried sitting in harness more and looking upwind to get the board to swing round but always felt that my arms were loaded up more than the harness... Anyone have any thoughts?
Thinking I need to push shoulders out more, maybe boom was too low (I could hook in when 0 wind), harness lines not balanced / have me too vertical?
Vid here interested if anyone can see anything I could improve...
Saw you all out there. Which was your sail. Was going to come out as well till I discovered I had left my boom at home 
by time I got back you lot were gone. Sailed down near the bronze horse. Gusty wind with big holes. Unable to see video, might be my machine. Keep trying.
Hi Ginno
The boom height looks ok, looks a little above shoulder height and your elbows are still bent when the harness is hooked in. If you look at the video between 0:13 to 0:18 where you have sheeted in, the board also starts to point upwind a bit more. Having both straps will give you the leverage to hold that position, you will need to commit your weight to the harness and trust that the wind will hold you up. That may have been difficult today if the wind was flaky. Worst case you'll fall in backward, but you'll know where the limit is for next time.
Thanks guys - sail has a bit of yellow and orange on it nazsail - think I drove past u as you were beach starting on my way home so you just missed us. Commiting to the lines more is prob right but I never really felt like the sail would hold me up unless I had my weight in a bit - probably a combo of the long lulls and the fact that on this new board I'm probably planing in lighter winds (never been blasting when there was not even little caps) nervous thinkin how fast this thing may go... 
Looking good out there Ginno!
It was nice to catch up and get some much needed wind!
See you soon
