Hi all - I'm interested in people's opinions/experience on how better to enjoy 12 to 18 knots.
I am an aging 90 kg intermediate windsurfer who still aspires to wavesailing (dream on baby...). I enjoy any winds above 18 knots when my 6.4m sail cranks my 92 litre wave board up to the plane.
However... I am in a quandary. I'd like to extend my sailing days down to 12 knots plus, which seems to be becoming more common here in Perth.
Should I invest in a 110 litre plus board, plus big sail and mast etc etc, or should I go out and learn to kitesurf?
It seems like there are lots of kites out in 12 knots plus - often with people on strapped surfboards. Looks like more fun than windsurfing at these low wind speeds. Or is it?
I can see where this thread will go.
People are going to tell you to get light wind gear, probably even formula kit.
But I'm with you, kiting does look a lot more fun than windsurfing in light winds.
It looks effortless and so much more manoeuvrable, probably heaps easier too!
big freestyle boards are good. they plane early but are still very maneuverable and fun to use. with a 6.4 you should be going easy.
if ya think kiting is better check out my second vid on the forum i posted on light wind GPS speed, stay away from kiting windsurfing is more fun.
Thanks Windwarning - that vid is very impressive. Looks more frightening than fun though. 31 knots! Yikes. Where's my Gath.
12 knots.. 90 kgs... 
You could get out in a minimum of 13/14 knots, gusting 15+ with a surfboard and 14m kite. We might 'go' a lot easier, but its not all that much fun cruising along. The fun factor of it wears out pretty easily.
I remember my days using a 20m C-kite... Yikes...
If you enjoy windsurfing, and just need another board, its a lot to go through to learn to kite if the majority of the time you will be windsurfing.
I'm planing by the time it hits 10 knots; 12 knots is the edge of the white-knuckle crazy zone where you're more cannonball than human...what are you talking about again?
I'm not advocating the use of big sails. I think 10m is plenty.
We bought a 12m Airush kite and board with the intention of kiting when the winds were too light for windsurfing.
However, we discovered that our 12m kite needed as much wind as my Neil Pryde 6.1m RX-1 to get going. The only kiters who were doing well on light wind days had ginourmous 20m kites (talk about a handful)
As a result of that (and a near-death experience driving home just how quickly a dream kiting session can turn into a kitemare), we've gone back to windsurfing. My advice is to just get a bigger sail for light wind days. :-)
-Mart
We bought a 12m Airush kite and board with the intention of kiting when the winds were too light for windsurfing.
However, we discovered that our 12m kite needed as much wind as my Neil Pryde 6.1m RX-1 to get going. The only kiters who were doing well on light wind days had ginourmous 20m kites (talk about a handful)
As a result of that (and a near-death experience driving home just how quickly a dream kiting session can turn into a kitemare), we've gone back to windsurfing. My advice is to just get a bigger sail for light wind days. :-)
-Mart
What about a longboard?
My wife and I both have one and they are great. We can go out in anything from 5 to 25 knots (Im sure the good guys can go out in stronger breeze though!!)
Once the breeze comes up, just lift the centreboard up, pull the track back and you have a slightly oversized shortboard!
You can go cruising and can always head back upwind easily with the dagger board down.
Its not always just about blasting!
rbglee - I love windsurfing on the Swan River when it's lighter. I have a 122 Futura (~70cm wide) on which I use an 8.5m and 44cm fin when it's light. 12 knots? Need to pump but a steady 14 is fantastic - very relaxing. Can't comment on kiting as I've never done it.
Like the man said: go where the fun is.
If planing and nothing else is your thing, then you knew the answer before you posted: larger sail. If you want to get into tricks and fun and cruising: larger board - needs not be a lot.
Since you knew all the answers, I wonder if you're not just looking for an excuse to take up kiting. Well there you go: you are vindicated, go for it.
Kiting more fun in 12knot I doubt it there mostly just kiting back and forth like us but at lest we are doing it at speed 
. Kiting is prob lest active than windsurfing where you need to pump abit to get on the plane but hey i dont mind the exercise
.
That's all food for thought - thanks.
I don't know the answers - except that I can go one of two ways right now for my (once shot only) investment of an additional $2K! I really am torn.
The majority above seem to suggest that I haven't explored all the windsurfing options.
Its encouraging that maybe just by investing a $1000 in a second hand 120 litre freestyle board I could seriously extend my wind range.
I might try that first. That's quick and easy, and the old dog won't need to learn any new tricks (much).
A full set of formula gear can be had for under 1000, just take your time and look around.
The earlier formula boards, which weren't as big as the new ones, must be getting pretty cheap now as they have been around almost a decade.
You can get a carbon mast extender instead of a whole new mast, and an oldish sail with a bit of tape on it; who cares, you're not going to catapault through it at 35 knots.
$2000!!??? You'll get it easy.
What was the biggest Carve that Starboard did.. a 135L? Secondhand for $500.
Mast $200, boom same, sail spend a bit more so it may last a while those race sails are hell dodgy after 3 yrs maybe 400. All up $1200 - $1400.
BTW when you say 12 to 18 knots...well, 10 to 18 knots is basically the whole range of planing conditions on offer over here in Singapore, for which I have 3 sails and 2 boards on permanent standby! If you can get one set to cover 12 to 18, more power to ya! 
to the original question if you wish to sail in lighter winds then get bigger board, infact one with at least 20 litres above your body weight if your bodyweight was measured in litres not kilos (get it!)
or.......
take up a new sport! 
you have to really want to do it!
you have to commit to lessons and new kit.
your next year will be dragging and falling and swimming.
it is not an easy task to do both,
a new skill or maximising your windsurfing?
both are rewarding.
went through this 2 years ago ... bought the kite gear for light winds but did not find it my style (yeah I,m old) did not seem like sailing just getting dragged and hanging off the monkey bars in jumps
must admit it is a lot easier to learn and even easier to sail for extended periods
none the less it went the same season so got pretty good money back
whenever it was windy I just wanted to sail
so now I have some nice "bigger gear"
if you are a sailor probably better to stick with sailing
for me, its SUP in under 12knots (subkiting), paddling on the lower end, then stick a sail on it at around 6-7knots, either catch some waves, or pratice some old freestyle, then in the 12-18 knot range its a kite and a surfboard, which imo is great fun until i can get going solidly on my 105l board. i still dont like bigger sails than around 6.2 or so.
i did go full on kiting for quite a few years, but i did miss the windsurfing, and now im back wondering why i ever left it.
btw, kiting is much easier to learn than windsurfing, but potentially much more dangerous, know your safety systems.
anyway its all good, and good to try new things.
have fun.
I can get planing in 12knts with some pumping on a SX XL (135LX80cm wide) with a 8.4m 3cam sail and a 40cm pointer or a 49cm weedy.
When planing there is usually bugger all white caps. Anything lighter you would need a surf cat to sail at any speed
I strongly recommend at least trying a bigger board. Drop in on one of the hire places and go out on one of the 120L, or 150L boards and see if it does what you want.
I did this one afternoon when there was only ~12kt at Pelican point. 130L board and a 6.0 sail. It made my afternoon, as I spent the time working on my technique - light winds really make you work the breeze!
windsurfing in less than 18knts is well gay!
search your true feelings, come to the darkside.
Grab yourself the smallest sail you can find and go out on your big board and practise light wind freestyle stuff. You know, stuff like helitacks, back to sail, 360s, ducking the sail, push tacks, etc. This can be awesome fun especially when you pull off the trick for the first time. Try them on both tacks and I guarantee you will never be bored again in 12 knots. This stuff helps your strong wind sailing!
