windsurfing kit

Originally posted by Merlinboy Has any one got a cheap mast they want to sell??? Thats all i need to get myself windsurfing again now! sails have a 4.75/4.76 luff length  so i think i need a 4.6 or bigger mast (i have an extender) I'm probably wrong! I'm desperate for one though as the winds look good this week!

I have - I'll dig around the garage and pm you the details if you're interested.

The classified adverts on www.boards.co.uk do have a more elaborate way to search for specifics, so give it a try too.

The board I used to have was a BIC Veloce 298.  It was 130litres ish from memory.  I found it good fun, but it was fairly narrow compared to the more recent styles of boards - this means you spend a lot of time getting used to riding something with lower stability and a bit of time in the water!

I've been windsurfing on lots of other kit.  More recently a Neilson break and found that wide and bouyant are loads more fun.  They are very forgiving and are all about just having fun.  I think they were Starboards that I was using.  Can't remember the volume, but they wouldn't have been lower than 130 -140litres.

I haven't sailed a board with a daggerboard in years.  Going up wind on a wider board is a bit more difficult, but then I was told to really sink the windward rail and it seemed to click.

The sails I most regulary used was 6.5 - 7.5m2.  I always found that bigger was better for me.  I weigh about 95kg and only ever wanted to blast in a straight line!!

I'm sure that someone else can offer better advice, but there's my penny's worth!

 

no, im located in north wales. ideally im looking at spending £200 - 300 at a push (?).

would it be worth looking at EX centre boards etc?

do centreboards really make that much difference as the one i learnt on just had the fin (skeg?)

tom

Originally posted by Kudlinski I hate to say it but would a fanatic viper suit, higher volume and wide with a daggerboard, or am I just getting boring

Not boring, sensible. If you have one, first dibs, pm me, if you don't then yes thats the right category.

Tom - have you done any windsurfing recently on new kit? You will find anything 80cm or so wide is good to use, old kit is old and everyone will laugh at you!! (which is the norm cheap stuff on ebay!)

Fat Face have teamed up with Tushingham an Starboard to offer a decent kit at a decent price. OK its new but for £800 its a good buy. If you don;t have that to spend, then something like the Fantatic Viper/F2 Discovery/Starboard Rio M are floaty boards.

As for sail, you mention something when its too windy to sail. I recon something around 4.5 to 5.5 is what you are after, anything bigger you will struggle with.

On another point, have you done the RYA non planning course? It teaches you to use the harness, essential when going out when its windy!!