Under the rig! New Years Day 2025 - A Windsurfer LT edit

[@kylebodenham4911]

This makes me want to learn windsurfing so much. What would you recommend to start out on a budget?

[@stan.blueplanet]

The Windsurfer LT I am on here is a great starting point - I started on its predecessor the one design windsurfer 35 years ago and have done a lot bump and jump and freeride sailing on shortboards over the years and now do a lot of windsurf foiling - and I've purchased the Windsurfer LT featured in this video to teach others to sail on and enjoy some one design racing. Brand new a complete LT is about $3.5k but if you can find one secondhand it will be less than that. They double as a handy SUP also when their is no wind! Lots of secondhand gear on sites like seabreeze.com.au too - to start out I'd look for big board (at least 160 L volume and 80 cm wide) with a centreboard of some form - any rig less than 15-20 years old should be suffice - just avoid skinny boards and booms without solid clamp from last century that often appear cheaply on many sites - they just make learning harder. There are SUP boards out there that have mast attachments for windsurfing that can be a good option too to learn.

[@kylebodenham4911]

@ thanks so so much for that. I’ve also been enjoying some wing foiling. That’s got me really into doing more wind sports. I think I’d really enjoy cruising on a big LT. I recently bought a few cheap old windsurfers off Facebook. I had a go but all the sails are like wet blankets. Once they go in the water it’s almost impossible to pull them up! I’m sooo keen to learn though. It looks amazing!

[@stan.blueplanet]

@@kylebodenham4911 Uphauling any sail (including LT) can be hard work - especially when it’s windy. There is a technique to it though that makes it easier which you can learn - but as you progress you rarely drop it and then learn to water start when it’s windy.

[@kylebodenham4911]

@ thanks heaps! I’m so keen to give it more time!