hi, thinking of taking this up buying some gear and going to hayling island ,

is it safe for a beginner?
what do i need?
thanks and will reply.

Hi, what are you thinking of taking up??

........windsurfing ....................

Thatll be one for Al, or u other wind surfers out there then!

OK... Hayling island should be fine, although if you know nothing about windsurfing and nothing about the kit then your best bet would be to find a local RYA centre and get a beginners lesson and pick the instructors brains about suitable kit.

There is a huge amount of kit available and much of it will be completely unsuitable for you. The exact kit you need will depend on your weight, your ability, your aspirations and the places / conditions you are likely to sail in.

It is difficult to give any suggestions of specific kit without knowing these things and of course your budget.

A lesson or two may seem like a waste of money but it should help you get past the real beginner stage on kit specifically designed for your first steps on a board. After that you should be able to progress onto a slightly less beginner-orientated board so the money spent on the lessons will actually be saved in the long run as it could mean that you are then able to progress onto and spend money on kit that will actually last you longer.

Hope that helps?
Al.

hi justal,
yes thats really usefull , il have a look in a book to find what i should get suitable for my size.
my other concern is the dangers of the sport , as im keen to surf at the sea i spose im interested in the sport and the landscape as well , what kind of things do you need to know before you take to the sea?currents, tides ect??

Where abouts are you from?
I maybe worth visiting a lake for a few lessons before splashing out on buying your own kit and visiting the coast.
Learning the basics is a lot easier on a flat lake without added waves, swell, tides and currents.
The kit that you would need to first learn on is a lot different to what you would need a year or two down the line.

berkshire , think theres a lake/s in reading?

any sea windsurfers out there?

There is a good sailing / windsurfing lake set up just off junc12 of the M4 at Reading ( Theale ).

Its a huge lake and there is a well established club. I grew up in Newbury and windsurfed and sailed there regularly and have friends that still do.

http://www.berkshiresailing.com/contact.php


Mark