Go for a wide board. Like a Starboard Go.

Good luck, and make sure you persevere - it's an awesome sport.

And try and learn with a mate - it's much more fun and competitive!

My oppinion is to just go out on the gear that you've got. I learnt on a couple boards of mates, my dads, uncles (Tyronsea: 360, 330. TC: Beacher, Runner. Windrush. Windsurfer. All extreamily old boards). I also had triangular sails which was'nt great either. But all did the job.

I think that when your learning and just getting the hang of the sport you don't need great gear at all. Then when u get better invest in some really nice gear. It seems pointless to me if you have got gear that you can use, to go and buy more gear, then sell that gear in a year or two when you want some realy good gear.

My oppinion is to learn with what you've got for a year or so, then once your going well on all that, purchase some awsome new gear. It's not like you need awsome gear when your just learning anyway. And your not going to be wanting to sail a board thats over 150L in a year or so. So why waste your money on new when what you've got is fine.

Unless the gear that you have got is realy badly damaged, i would use that to learn on, then get new gear in a year or two. Most people i know all learnt with old boards and old triangular sails because it's fine when your not in much wind. My dad even sailed his old Beacher with a 6.0 triangle sail in about 15 knots only a couple months back.

Also. My brother, a mate and i also got away without lessons. I would give it a shot without them, but if your realy struggling they may help a bit. You might be able to find a mate or something who could give you helpful tips aswell. Although my dad helped my brother and i a lot when we were learning and i'm teaching a mate myself at the moment. I think it would be very hard doing it completely on your own. You need someone who has at least done it a bit before.

Anyway good luck.

bubs

I'm sure he would be able to sell it. But how ever you go about it your always going to loose money by buying new gear then selling it again.

Personally i think if his got gear it's stupid not use it. If he was going from scratch and did'nt have anything, yes, he should buy modern gear. But to ignor what his got seems silly. As a learner i don't think you need realy responsive gear when your just in light winds.

bubs

Yeah have fun. It's probably just hit 3 knots here and i cant drive anywhere anyway.

I realise that you say "it delays the learning curve", but most people i know have learnt on big old gear so i don't see why he can't do that, rather than spend money on new gear.

Anyway, thats just what i think.

bubs

Most important, go get a lesson or two - the instructor will advise whether you will progress quickly or not. You may be able to use the old gear for a little bit for muscles/balance, or you may need to get the modern learner gear.

The biggest decision is whether you can persist using gear which is "harder to learn, but free" vs "spending money to learn faster".

Also, one of the best places to buy modern learning gear is the "buy&sell" section on this forum - often "reasonably-good not-so-old but reasonably cheap" learner gear comes up for sale.

Getting lessons and new equipment is the way to go but don't get suckered into buying a real big floaty wide board that you will grow out of quickly.

Try and get a lesson deal that includes several days of cheap hire after the lessons have finished. This way you will hopefully be ready for something smaller and that you will be able to use for several seasons. Gear is not cheap so don't rush in and buy the lateest and greatest gear until you are absolutely sure you love the sport and you are getting gear you will be able to use for a long time.

Also don't forgot, people like me love buying new gear so there is always cheap second hand quality gear available.