Pete - For beginning and fun boards, it's tough to go wrong here:

http://www.star-board.com/2012/products/boards/index.php?id=start

I'll give it a look but I don't want to get into trading equipment every few months.

Second lesson tomorrow, weather permitting. There are bound to be improvements because I can't do any worse!

Pete,

If you get into this, you had better not start your "search for experience from behind a keyboard" bit with the windsurfing group. Cat sailors have nothing on the windsurfing guys when it comes to varied opinions and "suggestions" on what you have to have/buy in order to make the things work. Sails, masts, boom, boards, foils ALL different - but all you really nead is a bazzillion hours water time and you might be pulling off a planning jibe.

Have fun man.

Actually, I already did. Maybe I just got lucky but it was civil and well reasoned. The general opinion is that longer is easier and more stable, can be fast, but is not as maneuverable. As I have no illusions about doing flips in the surf, that's not a problem.

Seems these long board are a throw back to the past and a way to combine SUP (stand up paddling- something I never intend to do) and beginner/intermediate skill levels.

Good for you Pete. When I want to go out in a blow, I'll keep taking out a Hobie Wave.

better bring your wallet then..$$

What do you weight in KG?
Board sizes are always measured in volume of liters, basic rules is that a board needs to be equal to your weight in order to float when not planing.
Length is not that relevant, actually short and wide boards are a bit more stable.
You would probably need a board of around 150 liters, that will be big enough to stand on and lift the sail out of the water (test some to see what you like).
For a first sail I would get a 5.5m sail, anything bigger will be hard to sail without a trapeze.
Rule for sail sizes is that your next sail must be around 20% bigger (5.5-6.6-8 for example) thats why there are so many different sail sizes.

Someone posted the Starboard website earlier, their Carve line of boards are perfect for beginner and intermediate windsurfers.

What would you say Tony about windsurfers vs kitesailing for beginners in strongish winds?

I've sailed the Wave a couple of times. I like it on the water but what a pita to move around the beach! That long straight "keel?" is something I'm not gonna put up with! Besides, the whole point is to have something that stows away and rigs quickly, but takes up very little room. A Wave is a boat; I have two I don't need a third.

Rolf- no worries I wouldn't get near a kite!

It depends on a few things, for both gusty conditions are difficult for beginners (maybe a it harder for windsurfing).
Water depth is another, water-starting is easier with a kite.

There are lots of places where they give kitesurf lessons in very strong winds (30kts), you just use a smaller kite.
Before going out on the water students get to learn with a small trainer kite to get a feel of how to steer, and the first time out on the water is without a board anyway.

Pete: You really should take a kitesurf lesson as well, just for comparison.

They offer both at the shop I'm using. But, not a chance! I was watching those guys with all the strings and ****, definitely not for me. I already have a spin boat, why would I want more strings?

Depending on the sailors weight I think windsurfing and kitesurfing both have their strong points.
As a 100kg + windsurfer I needed a lot of wind to get up on a plane, or a sail that was really large. I imagine a kite would have powered me up earlier and been easier to manage.

I sold my sailboard kit 5 years ago. If I was to go back, I would probably go for a kite.

Do a youtube search for the kite guy that got beat to death against a condo when his kite took him across a highway at altitude.

If I decide to learn to fly, I want something with wings.

It's super cheap to operate, and I can get it in the water in about thirty seconds. Mines a standup ski, its a work out, and has made me a better snowmobiler.

I couldn't ride it as often as I sail, and I do get bored after a few hours. But its still fun.

It is a wailing, banshee mosquito from hell! A pox on them all!

Well, I suppose technically I'm a windsurfer, having managed to sail the board through 360 degress. The first hour was impossible the second hour only slightly better (sailing backward for awhile unintentionally). Tomorrow is another day...

good work Pete. I'd briefly considered picking the sport back up when I was donating my (at the time) extensive inventory to the Ft. Myers sailing club (4 boards, 7-8 sails, countless masts, fins, booms, etc). Back injury prevents me from regaining a lot of the skills I used to have (this sport seems to involve a lot of twisting and odd angles)

I was heavy into it in the early-90's when they were just starting out with hollow boards and carbon mast/booms (and G10 foils). Had everything from a 12' longboard (with centerboard) and an 11.0 m2 sail down to an 8'2" board and a 2.9 m2 sail (for tropical storm sailing - yes I was that stupid) which I used a couple of times.

Seems the most used stuff in my inventory was the 9'2" board (narrow) and 6.7 m2 sail (cambered). I could use that in roughly 12-15 kts and get on a plane, or use it in light/medium surf (east coast FL) without too much effort. Enough bouyancy to plane through a gybe, enough sail to waterstart even in lighter air.

Round here with relatively flat waters and light air, you could probably be fine with a slightly larger sail (7.0), but the smaller the sail, the easier it is to toss through a duck gybe.

I bought a long board (SUP/windsurfer really), 10' 9", carbon mast/boom, 7.5m sail.

The plan is to sail the Blade in the morning, learn the windsurfer in the afternoon. I'm curios to hear what reality says.

Windsurfing is awesome, I really miss it. I started out on a 104L Tiga (1990) board (not sure of the length), and a 9m Gastra sail. I was about 70kg then and the 104 liters held me up fine. My friend, at 85kg sunk on it. Jibes were the hardest thing for me to get down. Make sure you get a harness because it's a godsend when your hands are trashed from doing a lot of waterstarts. A good fin/skeg is also a must in 20mph+ winds, or else you'll always be spinning out.

We used to take annual trips to the Columbia River Gorge at Hood River Oregon. I almost moved up there is was so crazily fun and addicting. There we would regularly use 4-5 meter sails (Neil Prydes). I once threw up my 9 meter sail, for kicks, in constant 25 mph winds and it was insanely hilarious.

About the only con to windsurfing is that you're alone on the water. That can be a big negative if you like hanging out and goofing off with friends on the cat in light winds.

Hope you're having a blast!