Think this might be one for me

I started windsurfing age 44 in an atempt to get my eldest son ( then aged 13½ ) interested in an activity that he could not do at home to try and stop him mixing with the crowd of scallies he was starting to hang around with. As it turned out it he soon gave windsurfing up and stoped hanging around with the scallies ( who have mostly turned out to be respectable young men ) when he discovered girls, but by this time I was addicted to windsurfing.

WK and to a lesser extent Bala were the perfect early training locations and I can still remember ( old timers disease not quite setting in just yet ) the elation from the milestone moments - planing for the first time ( bloody hell, whats going on here ! ), hooking in for the first time, closely followed by being catapulted for the first time then footstraps and the speed freak takes over. Big frustration point then - learning to gybe

2 years before going on the tide at WK then first trip to Rhossy where 18" proper waves prove to be too difficult but Maelog lake saves the day. But the challenge of 'wave' sailing has taken hold - still going to WK regularly trying to learn to water start and gybing is obviously so difficult only profesional windsurfers ever learn how do it.

Couple of months before my 48th birthday and I get my 1st forward loop ( but I still couldn't gybe to save my life )

By now its Rhossy and high wind or stay at home/work but the speed bug never really goes away so WK still provides the thrill of blasting down the wall just for the hell of it ( and to try and beat everone else )

Gybing eventually just happens then your next goals are set - mine are now duck gybes and body drag and getting back into forwards ( coz I seem to wimp out on perfect forward take offs now )

So the age dosent come in to it - if your fit enough to stand on a board and sail it age is not an issue. I have often been acused of acting like a frustrated 5 year old when its windy if I can't get out to sail.

Thank you all very very much for the positive comments. think I will have to try this west kirkby place it sounds like the windsurfing capital of the north west.can I throw in one more question? dagger board or no dagger board when i get my first kit?(yes i know its two questions). I dont want to struggle but dont want to out grow my first board to quick.

Good question Floakes -



I say, don't bother with a daggerboard. One you get the hang of sailing you will never use it.



There are now lots of wide stable beginner suitable boards without daggerboards which will function very well in the future as your low wind board with a big sail.

Welcome to the new wonder drug for all ages. Now you have done you level 1 you have been bitten by the bug just wait till you get in the straps for the first time. You life will change you will spend Monday to Friday watching all the weather sites and planning you next week ends windsurfing trip you also end up having to change cars as you end up with loads of kit and it becomes a must that what ever you are driving must have a large load carrying space. Welcome once again and by the way whatever plans you had for Saturday are probably fast changing due to the building wind force 4-5 SW Weymouth will be great (South Coast) sailors will be out in force.

Ok so if I go with no dagger board and get a board about 160lts (I am 14 1/2 stone) what is the difference with the fins?. Is it just two different systems that are in compatable or is one better than the other?. Ps I came across a place called Manley Mere in Cheshire yesterday. its sort of between Chester and Tarvin( I was lost at the time). has anyone sailed there amnd is it any good(or should I be on the venues forum).

Hi Floakes



Manley mere is OK I think. I don't wish to do them any harm but I understand it's a bit small, maybe good for learning at early stages - please anyone correct me if I'm wrong.



WK is the place to go though I can see that it may be intimidating at first - stick through it and you'll find everyone's just the same.



Fins - there are a few different types probably discussed at length here on the forums if you do a search but basically there are different types of fixing into the board; standard (normal on wave boards) powerbox, tuttle, they all claim to have benefits - e.g. a stronger join etc but in the end it will probably be dictated by the board i.e. if you want a "Z1 superfast comp" then you'll have to get whatever fins come with it - I have three different types due to diferent boards.

Then there aer different types of fin, generally upright for performance and swept or curved for manoueverability - again this will be dictated by the type of board and the type of sailing you do.

For a biggish board like you're talking about and to help with not having a centreboard you might want quite a big fin and probably reasonably straight/upright - maybe with a slightly swept tip for forgiveness in turning.