Returning to windsurfing,found and have been using the old Windsurfer and now think it is time to move on.Have narrowed my search to Starboard Go or Rio in a larger volume as I am 100 kgs 6'4" and an old geeser who cant gybe or waterstart.Any advice pre purchase would be welcomed,also should I negotiate a full kit or buy board only and try to save some money by buying mast,sails,and boom secondhand ..........Thanks
Well, it depends...just how old an old geezer are you?
What do you want to do? Are you happy cruising around on your longboard or do you crave speed?
Would you be happy planing comfortably back and forth, or would you like to sail in hell-for-leather devil-may-care oh-my-God-I'm-gonna-die mode???
Can you tack? Do you spend more time swimming than standing on the board?
I have bought GO 150, mast, boom and sails (5.5, 6.5) secondhand, piecewise, from my local windsurfing shop. The gear is all well worn, and I couldn't be happier. Cost averaged 25% of new.
If you have your balance well under control on the Windsurfer, a GO will be great. I have now graduated to a 105 ltr after 2 years on the GO, planing and sailing in any wind.
You would be welcome to try mine, but I don't think you want to drive that far. Hire a GO and try it out for an hour. Its well worth it!
hey,
i have a 144ltr go, if you are up at semaphore during the week, or down at the murray mouth on saturday, you are most welcome to have a test ride. but bring a crow bar as we are inseperable.
send a pm if you want to arrange something.
cheers.
Further to my post,58 years old but reasonably fit still surf longboard regularly,windsurfed may years ago, can tack and beach start and sort of gybe if it is not blowing too strong but swim often when using the wally, live near the sea, so sail in swell sometimes,chop often .when involved previously(10 years or more ago) started to get into harness ,and straps but not confidently.I would love to get to the planing ,harness,straps stage and see how the body holds up,this for me may be the Oh god I,m going to die stage,if my previous harness experience is any indication .Yeah just want to get some equipment that is enjoyable to use and is fun,not something that is way beyond my abilities and might always be.When I got the old windsurfer everyone said dump it and get into the new gear and I think they are spot on but I needed to try it again. I've been looking around a little but secondhand new style larger volume boards seem pretty scarce here in Sth Aust and even interstate on Sea breeze sell and buy.I would prefer the secondhand option if I could find something suitable,but new looks the only option at this time,but not in a desperate hurry ,at my age maybe I should be.....Thanks John
Well I have only had my 155lt GO since a few days b4 xmas. I had not sailed before but am already in harness and footstraps so I dont think you will have a problem seeing as you have windsurfed before.
I got mine as a complete package from RPS .... the GO was secondhand but the rest (sail, mast, boom etc) is new. Saved myself a few dollars by doing it that way.
I think you should definately go the GO. OB64 seems to have followed this advice for a quick learn result. When I returned to windsurfing a few years back I was faced with the go the GO or a 135 litre Carve. I went the 135 Carve which is probably a slightly higher performance board and progressed easily and happily down to a 104 S-Type, 105 Hypersonic, 85 Sonic and CarbonArt44. This was fine for me but what I have now is a big Carve in the shed rather than a GO, I think the GO would be far more valuable to teach my wife and youngest kid cf the Carve. I am now looking for a GO which I would trade for the Carve.
I have just got back into sailing after a 10 year break, and bought a go 155.
Ii have to say it is one of the best boards i have ever owned. It is really easy to sail but still gets up and goes when the conditions are right. I have been using an 8.5 sail on it up to about 18 knots of wind and it is about perfect for my 90kg.
The board does bash around a bit at speed in a bit of chop but it is easily controllable. When i first got the board I looked at it and couldn't believe how bizarre the shape was, but after the first session on it it made perfect sense.
This board has got me totally into windsurfing again!!! I have been boring everyone i know senseless, with my constant talking about windsurfing, have joined up on this site so i can chat to people who are as stoked as i am.
Cheers Chris W
