Which board do you recommend?

Question
Hi!

I am a beginner (of sorts) windsurfer.  I have only windsurfed in two occassions.  In  1997 I took a two day beginners class and in 2000 I spent ten days in Bonnaire windsurfing.   I was able to beach start, get on the harness and get on the footstraps.  However, I have not winsurfed since and probably forgot most of what I learned.   

I now live in Central Texas where there is a significant amount of windsurfing in lake travis (ten minutes away).    I am ready to start windsurfing once again.

Here is my question: What board do you recommend for someone at my level?  I am looking at two packages.
1.  Startborad Start -  210 Liters; 264 cm; 5.5m sail
2.  2004 Exocet Cruiser - 205 Liters; 270 cm; 5.5m sail
Will I still enjoy these as a progress?  Do you recommend something else? I am 40 years old so I am mostly interested in cruising and speed.  Btw, I am 5'8" and 165lbs.

Thank you so much in advance!

Pedro

Answer
Hey Pedro,

Welcome back to the greatest sport on the planet. Great to hear you are going to be windsurfing again. From what you say about your abilities, it sounds like you are doing great. Looking at the packages you mention and comparing it to your abilities, I personally feel you should/could step up to a more advanced package.

Both the packages you mention are really entry level rigs. Both boards would work for you now but I feel you would outgrow them fairly quickly. They both claim to work for advanced sailors but any advanced sailor can sail a beginner board. They would be fun but if speed is something you want in the future, you could do better than these two boards.

These boards are based on a Formula style board. Easy to ride, handle most sailors, good in all but the highes winds, and built to last.

For a guy your size and ability, I would think that you could go a bit smaller in volume. Both Starboard and Exocet offer Formula boards in a lower volume. With your size, weight, and ability, I feel that you could easily sail something in the 150-170ltr range. A board of this size would still float you well but your speed and performance level would be much better than the entry level boards. They would also be perfect for lake conditions.

If you get any type formula board (entry or otherwise), a 5.5m sail would probably be your smallest sail. A 5.5m is usually used in 20-25kts winds. On a lake with light to moderate winds, you will probably be looking at having sails from 5.5m to 9.0m or larger. Formula boards can carry large sails and still work well in higher winds. Most Formula boards can plane in 6-8kts of wind with a big sail. Out here in the Gorge, many Formula sailors are using 130-150ltr boards with 9.0m-10.0m sails in 20-25kts of wind. If your lake is like most lakes, the average wind speeds probably run 10-18 unless a good front is pushing through.

So do a little research on the average winds in your area. Try and talk to other sailors that ride Formula boards in your area. Find out what their choices are for board size and sail size. See if your local shop has demos to try. Maybe a local sailor might let you take a ride on their rig.

I really feel that you should buy for your future sailing desires instead of trying to start from the beginning. You have NOT forgotten all that you have learned. One day on a board and you will be right back to the level you ended at. It is like a bicycle, you never forget. I know that the entry level packages are usually priced affordably, but there is a reason for that. Depending upon your budget, there are many ways to get what you want. Buying from your local shop is good for warranty, customer service/support, try before buy, instruction, information, long term relationships, and supports the local economy. Check your local shop for closeouts, used, etc. There are also many places online to get good deals on new and closeouts.

So make plenty of inquiries about gear sizes, prices, local conditions, and you will be able to make a better decision on what to buy. Please feel free to ask more ?'s.

Good luck shopping and welcome back to windsurfing,
Windlover