Hi lads -

To begin with, let me thank everybody who have taken the time to comment on my previous post, about best board options to transition from longboard to shortboard windsurfing.

Following some of the insightful input provided, I have now decided to go for a ~125 freeride board as my next purchase, while keeping my longboard and 5.4 sail as a lightwind option (i.e. up to 15 kts).

Basically, I'd like to stick to my sails quiver (4.7 and 5.4) and organize my board options around that. I am inclined towards the 2 following options:

Lightwind setup (up to 15 kts)
- Fanatic Fly 10'6 longboard (177 lts) + 5.4 sail
- I have been sailing with this setup quite a lot, so I know it works pretty well (even over 15 kts)

Higher wind setup (15-20 kts)
- Freeride board ~125 lts (preferrably wider than 80cm) + 5.4 sail
- Depending on how strong the wind gets, use the above + my 4.7

Can I just maybe get some opinions on whether you think the above setup would work well? Especially the high-wind option (as I am quite confident with the lightwind setup already).

Home spot conditions as of below (Loutsa, Athens, GR):


So between June and Oct-Nov, there is usually enough time on the water with N-NE winds > 15 kts.

Considering my weight (88 kgs) and my experience level (I carry quite some experience on the water, but don't water start), should I maybe consider going closer to 130-135 lts? Would a 130-135 lts board work similarly well with my 5.4 under the same wind range?

As always, thanks to all for all comments and insight.

Best regards

Your boards seem very big and your sails very small.
im about your weight, 90km and this is what I use
ultrasonic 149L with a 9.2m for wind 9 to 15knots
fox 140 with the 9.2m or 8.6 for wind 11 to 20knots
fox 120 with 8.6 or 7.8. Can get this going for in 11knots and still uphaul it if needed. Still happy at 25knots.

the wind range given is comfortable sailing. If if got over 25knots more often I would probably get a 90-100 litre board and a 7m sail.

if would have to be seriously windy to think about a 5.4

+1
im 95kg. In 25+ I'd be on a 90l board. 18+ I'm on a 110l board
Water starting is a novice skill that I suggest you learn. Inability to water-start seems to be pushing you towards unnecessarily large boards

I also agree, I sail often at loutsa's spot with a hawk of 110l and sails from 6.5 to 4.7. The windy days the board of 110 l is too big especially When there are bigger waves. I am seriously Thinking for a 95 l fsw board to buy the September.

P.s best is to learn water start , will take you to the next level

Hey Anodizer, I strongly recommend that you learn (teach yourself or, better yet, take a lesson) to get the waterstart. 15-20 kts of wind is most excellent for this. It is a critical skill for any kind of shortboarding. Yes, critical. Focus on this for now.

Rhonda used to call it your "travel pass."

Once you have the waterstart, you can confidently figure out which combination of board(s) and sail(s) work best for your local sailing conditions.

RM
WIPA certified instructor

Get something a bit over 100L you'll love it one you get used to it. An impaxt/buoyancy vest will help with water starts

The other thing I found confusing after getting back into windsurfing, is sail sizes. After deciding my 80's gear wasn't going to cut it, I went out and purchased a 5.0m Neil Pryde Search from about 2005 and a JP Magic Ride 104. That all felt fantastic and no problem planing in 15-20 knots. Once the addiction kicked in I bought smaller boards and modern sails. The modern sails (Severne NCX and Overdrives) are all about 1m larger than my instinct told me would work. I'm guessing it has something to do with twist. My goto setup these days is a 90L speed/slalom and a 6.2 slalom. My goto setup in the 80s was wave board and 4.7 (5.2 if the conditions were ordinary).