It was 15-20 knots in Bunbury today and I was keen to go for a sail, but realising I would have to rig and find a crew the hassle is not worth it. As I gazed out in the estuary I could see a pack of windsurfers blasting up and down the water. So here’s my question, how and where can I learn to windsurf? And how much is it likely to cost to buy a beginners board, sail etc…

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Originally posted by Yachty Boy

It was 15-20 knots in Bunbury today and I was keen to go for a sail, but realising I would have to rig and find a crew the hassle is not worth it. As I gazed out in the estuary I could see a pack of windsurfers blasting up and down the water. So here’s my question, how and where can I learn to windsurf? And how much is it likely to cost to buy a beginners board, sail etc…

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Talk to Bender or Rooster in Bunbury they'll help you out $500 ifya not fussy will get you fully kitted up, check the second hand gear here.

The beauty about windsurfing, is the number of aspects to it, speed, race, surf, freestyle and just good old fun blasting about. To a certain extent, what you want to do, defines the most appropriate learners gear.
If you're young fit and keen, and want to get into wave sailing, I recommend getting a board that will be your sub-planing light wind board, (12-15knots).
This should be about 20-25 liters more than your body weight.

Then learn to waterstart straight off, forget about uphauling and huge boards.
The other disciplines I'm not so sure of, maybe uphauling can be a useful skill.
The problem with learning to waterstart first, is that it's hard work, for no rewards for a while. You need to start with enough power to pull you onto the board so until you learn sail control it can be a struggle.
Where as uphauling a small sail in light winds on a big stable board will have you sailing first lesson. It just takes longer to get to the hooked into harness planning a on a small board stage.

I've got an ancient board my wife used for a while you can have for $50, you won't want to keep it very long but it could get you thru the early stages when a lot of damage can be done to newer equipment.

I think the advantage to learning uphauling is that the beginner gets familiar with the boom (while shlogging) right from the start. I agree that learning waterstarting early is a good move...if you're a beginner and it's blowing 20 knots, work on waterstarting. But if it's blowing 10 there's still plenty to learn.

Yachty Boy...

Having lived down in Bunbury for the last three years, you will find it a great place to learn to windsurf. After you have conquered the basics however (1-2years) you will definitely be looking for a place to sail with more wind. Geographically Bunbury is a big wind hole, and when it is blowing a summery SW 20knots in Mandurrah and Pelican Point, you will be lucky to get a 10knot breeze down in Bunbury.

As I said it is a great place to learn, in particular on the Australind Estuary. As a beginner I would make sure that you have some booties as you may spend some time putting your feet down and there are some unknowns as to what lurks on the estuary floor.

As for tuition, as a yachting person, head down to the Coombana Bay Yacht club and ask for "George". He's an old sailor from way back and still does the Ledge to Lano. He has all the beginner gear and will teach you the basics very cheaply. I have seen him get a number of beginners up and sailing in no time.

As for me...couldnt handle the cold anymore and moved north again in January. Mind you the winter fronts down that way can be great fun!

Hope this info gets you out and sailing soon. Bunbury has a great sailing fraternity who will be more than willing to help out - just ask around for Rooster, Paul, Ian, or Noel.

Happy sailing.