Sport Today

My 40 year old wife wants to get back into windsurfing. She needs a
lightweight rig. Any advice on a good sail/boom/mast package. Say 4.5
meter sail, $500-750.
Any reccomendation for online retailers would be appreciated.

Check out the Gaastra Swifts.  They are two-cam sails that make a lot of
power for their small size.  Keeps the weight down, and they don't require
expensive masts to work just great.  My wife uses them and loves them, and
they handle great in gusts and when "overpowered".  Any decent aluminum boom
will work and most are not especially heavy at that length.  Try Chinook,
Windsurfing Hawaii, HPL -they all make good aluminum booms at very
reasonable prices.  You should be able to buy everything in used but in top
condition and come in well under your limit.

-Dan

My wife had some of her best sessions (at our local lake) on a "kids rig"
from Sailworks - it was a 3.3 or 3.5 with its own mast, boom and sail....
It's so light and handled fairly windy conditions without a problem...do
consider these rigs as they are meant to work like normal sails...

Now if she's going to take it into breaking waves, I would consider more
"bomber" gear....

www.surfingsports.com  can help - of course www.sailworks.com - see the
"Ripper 2" model...  Talk with either of these 2 people and you're sure to
get pointed in the right direction.

Good luck with your search..

-WillV-

Roger Jackson came to our little windless lake today. Really nice guy.
I think WillV has a good point. I saw some of the bigger RR2's rigged
and they are nice. It might have a little better resale too. I would
check it out anyway.