I used to wear 2 thermals ( bushwalking peter storm types ) under a 90's 2/3mm steamer + an over long sleeve 1mm top + buoyancy vest + helmet + wetsuit helmet + gloves & booties. I could hardly move and ran out of energy before I even got into the water . Kept me pretty warm but I'd still gasp when I fell into the 11 degree water 12 degrees air + 30kts wind off distant snow..
Bought one of these last yearhttp://www.npxwetsuits.com/index.php?option=com_npxproducts&view=all&Itemid=85
The serene women's version. I haven't had it in the depths of winter yet as it arrived in spring but it's SO comfortable! I can move! I'll save my energy for sailing..I think it will do the job. I got the thicker one as i figure I can always fall in the water to cool off if necessary 
but its not that easy to get warmer..
I'm a cold frog & like to be warm so if I need to I'll still wear the wetsuit top over.
Not a bad price either. Email me for more info..
What about in Brissie over winter? Over Easter I just had boardies and a lycra rashie but it's chilling off a bit now. Something good enough for midwinter but not too hot from now would be good. feel the cold a bit.
thanks
Michael
may sound a bit weird but mix a bit of ginger in your tea or coffee or even in warm water, ginger helps keep your body warm...
i use a 5/3 smooth skin for most of winter and a 3/2 for short sessions during winter
I was just going off Ripcurl website and the H-bomb yeah $1500
I live pretty near as far south as you can in WA. I'm guessing that I'll have to start wearing my 1.5mm spring suit by next month - the Southern Ocean is definitely colder than the Indian. Until then I'm still using boardies and a rashie. I do have enough blubber to keep a small whale comfy though 
.
Mid-Winter I wear everything I can find...4/3 steamer, polyfleece, two rashies, 2mm vest, booties, hood, life vest, helmet, gloves, anything else in the car I can find...my fillings still hurt some days.
Thermos filled with hot coffee is nice, two sugars please.
I'm also thinking of running a tube out, my feet are turning yellow.
winter sailing in Victoria...not for skinny people...cheapest thing to do would be to put on a few kgs...a lot maybe..not what I would ordinarily recommend, but that's the biggest protection (body fat). It's the exact thing they're trying to replicate with a wetsuit, only it's not so healthy.
Other than that.. With the cost of all the gear recommended, you could probably go on an overseas holiday to a warm place and take your gear with you...that sounds more like it to me.
My son would like to be able to attach his sail to a skateboard in winter and minus the water...there's an idea.
As one of my favourite Australian's said:
"Harden the f#@k up"
I use a 3/2 excel surfing wetsuit with short arms in the winter here, but on really cold days I'll use my long sleeve suit.
What also works well is a 4/3 with the arms cut off!!! Basically every year my surfing suits get trimmed on the arms to become sailing suits for the next year!!!
But then I think your winters are way colder.....brrrrr.
Remember to vote: http://freeworldsport.com/videos/ripping-pe-crew/
PLEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZ!!!!!
We never used to sail in winter until the gpstc came along but now I have worked out a few ways to not suffer too much. On the coldest days I wear a 5/3 Promotion windsurfing wetsuit (extra stretchy) over a thermal top and a ripcurl 1.5 hotskin and have a electric hotsuits wetsuit heater in a rashie (no longer available) which is a small panel hooked up to a battery that lasts about 90 min and is fantastic. Super freak booties, helmet and Mystic impact vest which is quite thick.
I take an esky with 3 one litre bottles of hot water and put my towel in there so when I finish sailing 1 litre down the wetsuit 1 in the booties and give the other one to someone else. The hot towel after is really good.
I'm not sure why the others reckon I'm soft
what do u think http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-5mm-SCUBA-DIVE-BOOTS-REEF-KAYAK-Size-US-13-/350407045480?pt=AU_Scuba_Diving_Snorkelling&hash=item5195e33168
$50
Best way to keep warm is to shiver and to get cold a lot. You get used to it after a while.
You got to try boots on before you buy, unless you are replacing like for like.
Every brand is a different size, width and shape.
I wear boots all the time, not for the cold but for .. long story, but I get a new pair fairly regularly.
Best ones in the world for me always used to be Gul. Now I get whatever feels OK when I try them on in the shop.
You don't need anything more than 3mm in a boot north of Sydney.
I find less is more - zips, straps, fancy clips and buckles all just get annoying / press on your ankle wrong / do nothing, but try them before you buy them.
what shop at north syd , can i pick them up from any surf shop. i know the local dive shop charges around $90 which i think is too much , hoping to get them around $50
how much are they normally
Never really thought about either.
Pretty well any surf shop I try has them. Bigger shop bigger selection maybe ?
Think I have Xcel ones at the moment. They have got a very low ankle, lower than I would usually have. They are OK, maybe 3 stars Margaret.
Don't know what I pay, I can't remember so it can't be that much. $50 sounds about right though.
Try 'Gul Boots' on ebay. $50 ish incl. postage from UK. Not saying they are better than what you posted, just that I used to like Gul for being the warmest and most comfortable
Looks like you can get OSX boots for < $20 delivered on ebay. No idea what they are like, probably like a $20 boot
Then again old chinese proverb : Better buying a $100 boot that you know fits than buying 10 pairs of $20 boots that you can't walk in
Don't worry about booties and stuff like that unless you need foot protection when wading through the water. Footware will not help your windsurfing. I don't think it gets cold enough here to warrant them either.
I don't know how a diving suit will work for windsurfing. However if you are cold when using that suit over the last few days, save your money for a decent wetsuit designed for windsurfing. I bought my Neil Pryde one last year for about $400 or so. It was expensive but honestly its worth it as I don't have to worry about the cold if its windy in winter. I think its a 4 by 3. Its quite elastic and easy to get on and off. Its very warm compared to a West Suits full length wetsuit I had before.
Good morning, Billybob,
Mirage Classic diving boots, 5mm shown here: http://www.prodivecentralcoast.com.au/shoponline/prod96.htm. Note: some Mares and equivalent boots have the sole wrapping around the toe area on to the top of the boot and I found the "wrapping" interfered with getting my foot out of the straps during a gybe. Discarded the Mares, went back to the Mirage.
Neil Pryde 3mm standard hood shown here: www.neilpryde.com/accessories/headwear/headwear.html.
The long neck guides water outside the wetsuit. Had to import mine from the UK but you may be able to find an equivalent in a surf shop. Fits under a helmet.
Neil Pryde 3000, 4/3, single sided wetsuit shown here: www.neilpryde.com/wetsuits/mens/3k-series/semidry-4-3.html. Best features are boomerang arms, ? back zip for ease of entry and Velcro on the legs (makes getting into/out of easy). Got mine from WSnS in Sydney, 2 years ago. Note: single sided suits require extra care in use. Treat with 2 x applications of McNett Anti UV before use then reapply when suit is not being used in summer. Wash in McNett wetsuit shampoo and conditioner. Do not hang on a coat hanger to dry, rather, hang it in the centre over something about 50mm in diameter to prevent rubber collapse.
In August, when we have the coldest water (down to 8 deg. C), you may also add a RipCurl Dawn Patrol long sleeve vest shown here: www.ripcurl.com.au/shop/guys/wetsuits/vests/dawn-patrol-long-sleeve-jacket.html. Sprinkle with baby powder on arms and shoulders to ease entry into the wetsuit. Equivalents are available.
Neil Pryde open palm mitts shown here: www.neilpryde.com/accessories/handwear/handwear.html. Had to import mine from the UK. An equivalent may be available from another manufacturer in a surf or windsurf shop.
Hope this helps.
What is this McNett stuff, I've never heard of it however I'd like to look after my wetsuits.
went to the same place where i got my wetsuit -
got some boot ( non zipper) as i thought if i slip off the board i wont scratch it with the zipper.
they said without buying a new wetsuit - this 3mm vest with hood for $60 would be the cheapest way to to keep warm. http://shop.prodive.com/sharkskin-parkervest/
was also thinking of getting for $60 , but i can use it in summer
shop.prodive.com/mares-thermo-guard-5mm-short-sleeve/
went you guys were walking about rushie , i thought u meant the $10 one from bigW
What about poor old me, I do most of my sailing during winter, for 20 years now and never ever in a wetsuit 
