Im a beginner windsurfer, i'm only 18 and 70 kilos, am i going to struggle with a 6 metre sail and a bomboar board? Ive read that bombora boards aren't that great...
Yep,
Look for a 5 - 5.5 rig and a 120 plus beginner board (Starboard go - JP funster)
DON"T BUY OLD CRAP OFF EBAY NO MATTER HOW AWESOME THEY SAY IT IS!!
Anything 2000 and above should be OK though boards of that age might be getting fragile.
A good idea BEFORE you buy a board is to get the specs and take a set of bathroom scales and weigh the board. If it's heavier than what the spec sheet says, it might have water inside (not good)
im not sure what type of bombora it is, this is a picture of it though
it was all given to me by a relative, i want to try windsurfing before i buy anything :P im just worried i'll hate it cause the equipment is all wrong...
It looks like an X-It.
If so its not a beginners board. Unless you are naturally talented and enjoy falling off more than actually windsurfing then its best to learn on something else if possible.
The sail is not a beginners sail either. Its a NP V8 which was their semi-race or street racer sail from that era.
And fins in the sail isn't the best.
Get someone to help you, so you have some tips.
try: "FREE! 'Learn to windsurf Series"
Even if the gears all wrong, take it down there, get it wet, fall in, talk to people.
Most of the guys/girls down there are more than happy to help others with everything and advice is free.
The gear shown isn't the best to start on but if it's free then it's a good start. And free gear is the best fun because it doesn't matter if you wreck it. 
Just don't be discouraged if you don't get up planing across the bay on the first day because it's not going to happen on that rig.
Once you get it all happening then that rig will be quite fast.
sure it's not ideal - but in my early twenties weighing not much more i started to learn short-board technique on a battered x-it with a v8 6.5. i had a history of one design, but this was first without a dagger-board. i spent almost two seasons on it and by the end i was sailing it very aggressively (frequently outside it's range), and hitting most my gybes (planing in, but not out - still had a lot to learn!).
so not ideal, but you work with what you got right? look up some early nineties you-tube footage to see people rocking gear a lot dodgier than this!
this board will get you planing, let you up-haul, waterstart, gybe and tack without punishing you for minor misteps. add a bit of determination, and a sail-friendly area and you got all the ingredients you need. find some locals to sail with, get on it and get out there!
Mate, try these links out. they really helped me sort the basics out. then all i had to do was practice practice practice
And like pweedas said, just get out there and have fun. I found evryone is more than willing to offer a few tips if asked.
I don't want to sound negative but old gear is just not worth it. In my opinion I'd rather not sail it because it could make it so frustrating that you'll be put off windsurfing forever.
A big sail like that 6 on a thin old board like that will make you hate windsurfing.
Stay away from thin boards when learning, get something shorter and fatter like a 130 funride witha 5.5 or 5.7 sail. They easy to learn on, plan, jibe, go fast, straps etc. Everything you need to get into it.
You'll be a very happy chap, and you'll sail it for ages. Worth the money for sure.
I disagree.
If you've never tried it before and don't know if you will even like it, the first thing is to get hold of anything and go down, get on it and get wet, even if the gear is hopeless. You might only use it for a month or two and then get something better, but you have to start somewhere and I think you want to start now. Start with what you've got.
Yes, you might be put off it, or you might see that it's lots of fun and you need better gear, in which case you will then have some incentive to beg, buy or borrow something better for the job.
Years ago I learn't on the oldest most crappy gear and I had the best fun for two summers. It was almost for free.
It took me two summers to get up planing in the straps because the first summer was spent falling in. It was all lots of fun. 
If you've got buckets of money then fine, go out and buy the latest and greatest, then if you don't like it you can store $2000 of gear in the garage for a few years until it's worth nothing and then sell it on ebay for $150.
If you don't have buckets of money then get whatever you can and give it a try.
And yes, you might get put off it because it's too hard. But then if you wait until you can afford the best gear you might also never get around to it because it's not worth spending that much money on something you might not like.
When the itch first starts, scratch it with whatever you can find before it goes away.
Keep in mind that when that old gear first came out it was the cutting edge of windsurfing technology and everyone raved on about how good it was. (
people raving)
Thousands of people learnt to sail on it and most of them enjoyed it, including me.
Just because it's no longer the cutting edge doesn't meant it's good for nothing and no longer fun.
I don't think many people learned windsurfing on X-its and V8 slalom sails. These products were never marketed at beginners. If money is an issue you can pick up an old 80s long board for next to nothing with a baggy 6 or 5m sail.
I've seen plenty of people try windsurfing on old slalom and wave boards and guess what? You only see them windsurfing once.
Yes of course if its all there then its can be a useful exercise to learn how to put it all together and then give it a go.
Specialkaela, what I'd recommend is just take the gear you have down to the water. Take the footstraps off as they will get in the way. Try to pick a spot that has no current, has warm clear water with a sandy bottom and a light steady wind. Just take the board out at first and get your balance on it. Feel where the tipping points are and take it from there. Once you have the board sussed put the rig on on it and see how you go.
If you don't succeed, don't worry. Its not your fault and its not that windsurfing is too hard. From there decide what the next step is.
Not sure if it was mentioned here and where you are located. If in Melbourne then the board stores will be able to loan you beginners gear for a try. Windsurfing Victoria and Inverloch Windsurfing Club also schedule beginners clinics with the help of these stores, check out their website. I would imagine similar things may happen in other states two.
I must agree I used to have pre 1990 equipment and the newer stuff makes the whole thing way easier. Also the V8 sail may have cambers and the luff pocket runs full of water, making uphauling quite difficult.
In any case I strongly suggest to get into it, it's an awesome sport.
I took my 5 kids 8-14 for lessons on the weekend. I had one board starboard start with no centerboard in and my own jp sup/windsurf with a centerboard. The start was more stable but between the two boards they all wanted to use the jp because the centerboard stopped it slipping sideways and made rig steering a lot easier. This isn't an add for JP the point I want to make is learning on a board with a centerboard that has bouyancy in light winds and can be rig steered is the way to go. I used to have a starboard go and when ever the kids got up they would get blown sideways into the shore. They all got up and going straight away and a couple even managed to tack without falling off now their hassling me to again this weekend. PS I asked at least three time for the company conducting the lesson to get a centerboard for the starboard start but they refused on the basis as the board could be run aground
Er, (cough) excuse me everyone. It apears that Ms Sparre is probably not a "usual novice".
"CHS SAILING CHAMPION
Congratulations Kaela Sparre of Year 11.
She was crowned the CHS Sailing champion during the Easter holidays.
In difficult conditions Kaela was able to manage the tricky winds to record a victory. Going into the last race of the regatta there were three boats on equal first and in an exciting races it was Kaela who emerged"http://www.rsc.nsw.edu.au/newslettermonthly/May2010.pdf
(Sorry to blow your cover Kaela- not that you were hiding your sailing skills from anyone).
Can I make two suggestions. Have a go with the gear you have been given first. If you get going- and anything close to planing- great. You'll be hooked. But it would be like you sending a newby for their first sail in a leaky clapped-out tippy dinghy. But if you spend a frustrating day trying to uphaul and falling off each time, please, please please do yourself a favour and beg, borrow or hire some modern beginners gear like others have suggested so at least you are giving yourself the best shot at getting bitten by the bug.
Obviously you have some impressive sailing skills and I'm sure everyone here would hate to see you discouraged by a bad first experience where the gear is the main problem, rather than lack of skill.
The preferred option is a big floaty beginner board and small sail. But this might not be feasible, if you're a student or on a tight budget. Learning on an old 6m sail and an even older short, low volume board is going to be hard and frustrating. A lot of beginners who acquire old unsuitable gear never get past the beginner stage, because it's so frustrating. So it really depends on your determination and enthusiasm! My first short-board was a Bombora Exit, it will be fine as a first shortboard, when you're learning how to plane, footstraps etc, but yeah if you can try and pick up some cheap old beginner gear, do so.
Kaela, i've only started sailing this season too. I bought myself a JPfunster 160L with a smallish 4.5m rig.
The first few times out i used it with the centreboard and no problems. It only took a week or so to get the hang of it because the board is so forgiving. Now i don't even use the centreboard, got a larger rig 5.5m and i'm out in the breeze with the harness on and in the footstraps.
I guess what i'm trying to say is that you want a board that is going to versatile. Bouyant enough to take out on the light days to practice with, and lively enough so on the windy days you can experience the thrill of it all.
Thanks MikeyS, but im not sure my sailing skills will be all that useful as a beginner windsurfer :P At least i'll know where the wind is coming from :)
Anyone know a good place to windsurf in Sydney?
You should definitely get down to this:
hi specialkaela
maybe this has already been said.
just my 2 bobs worth 
provided the board floats you when there is no wind, nothing is impossible to learn on. try using what you've already got. learning the basics is frustrating (but rewarding). specialised learner gear makes it somewhat less frustrating, but it is still frustrating, and not really like any other sport
most fellow windsurfers are concerned about beginners giving up prematurely out of frustration and slow progress, and therefore will recommend suitable gear, but if you are the persistent type and not likely to give up easily, you will still be able to learn on it. be prepared for days where you don't think you made any progress whatsoever. it's like 1 step forward, 3 back, and then out of the blue another 4 forward (followed by another 3 backward ;))
some people need the additional support of beginner gear, some don't. you may be the type who manages to pick it up quickly regardless of the gear i've seen it happen
if you spend money on something, invest in a small sail for learning, which can be later used as a high wind sail
Nice to see another woman trying the sport. When I was learning I had the attitude that this sucker isn't going to get the better of me..I'd fall off swear at it and keep at it..I still had fun though!
I think if you have that type of attitude ( which you probably do to get as good as you have sailing) it will help you stick with things.. It's worth it!
Best and safest place to learn is Narrabeen lakes, you want flat water but no offshore winds. There is always someone windsurfing in summer and they can help you. The sail is not too big for wind up to 10-12 knots. I learned on an old 'long' board with a centerboard: its more stable and cheaper than buying a new beginner board.
good luck !
