I started with a 165lt board 2 years ago, recently bought a 'pre-loved' 135lt board (through seabreeze/buy'n'sell), love it! Still keep the big(ger) board for light wind days.....today actually.

I'm about 10kgs heavier than you, you'll find that by choosing a 'smaller' board, you'll progress quicker, 120-130lt would be a pretty good board for Vic's conditions. We don't get the consistent winds that our neighbours (QLD/WA) do, you need a 'floater' until you are fluent with waterstarts, and if you choose a good one, you'll have a lot of fun, without the struggle. By going a 'sinker', you won't get alot of use out of it (unless you live where the wind is 20-30kt consistently!)

I'd recommend a 'crossover' type board, (mine's a Fanatic Cross, but don't let that stop you looking around.)

Hope this helps.

Hi,

I recently got back into windsurfing and bought a second hand Tabou 140. Its a weird looking thing, quite short but plenty of volume. I am used to the drawn out designs of the nineties.

I found this board extremely easy to sail, very stable and quick to get on the plane with a wide wind range.

If this board is anything to go by, when people say the new style boards are better, they are telling the truth. Its not consumerist marketing bull****. Thank God for that coz windsurfing just about killed itself through promoting gear that was hard to sail and pretty useless most of the time.

There is no way I am going to buy an old style board as its a waste of money. I would recommend you try out something like the Tabou 140 or a Starboard as they will blow you away.

There is a Victorian Starboard Hypersonic 133 currently going on eBay which would be perfect for you.

Mobydisc, I tend to agree with you regarding modern equipment, but that hasn't stopped me from buying older boards and sailing them. The differences, although noticeable, aren't ones that you can't either overcome or adjust to. The price, too, is right on the old, used boards.

McMahon said...

Thanks for the input guys, I'm checking out a used Starboard Carve 131 in a week or 2..

No problem. 131 sounds like it will be okay for you. I'm about 95kgs and my favourite board is a 135L.

Don't get too excited and go down too far in volume though. I have a couple of 115 and 116 litre boards and for my weight they are just that much harder to get going. I expect that if you are still getting used to footstraps this would just frustrate you more.