Kevin Jewett, US Windsurfing IMCO National Champion, teaching his dad.
Photo by Nat Siddall

The Prodigy is a great board to learn on.  It's wide and stable, with plenty of volume to support heavier people.  The Starter model with the small centerboard and fin is easiest to turn, but the Comp model will work fine for beginners, too.  If you use a Comp model, you might want to flip the mast track adjustment pedal down and out of the way. (Take off the orange plastic clip in order to do that.)  You'll probably want to start with the mast set in the middle of the track.  Beginners sometimes trip over the footstraps, so ideally they should be left off at first--but if you are using a board with the straps already installed it won't be a great problem.  With a centerboard, especially the larger one, beginners tend to sail upwind without even trying, which means they can start doing jibes right away.  Many beginners find that jibes are easier than tacks.  And of course, having a centerboard means it is a lot easier for beginners, or anyone, to get home again after making a long trip downwind.

What sail to use?  The Club Class sail, as in the picture above, is an excellent adult beginner sail.  For smaller kids a smaller sail is easier.  The built-in mast base on the Prodigy Comp accepts a pin-type universal.  If you want to use a different type of base you can attach any base with the standard bolt to the threaded hole at the back of the built-in base.  If you have one of the tiny, lightweight Mistral Windglider sails, or one of the other kid sails designed for a small diameter mast, you can use those as follows.  (This is a tip from Stuart Gray of Annapolis Wind.)  "Just pop out the black cap on the 25cm Prodigy mast extension and slip the Windglider mast into it--hey presto, you are ready to go."

If you are just starting out, we encourage you to get a professional lesson.  To find an instructor, for online lessons, and other beginner resources, follow the links to US Windsurfing and US Sailing.  Be sure to read the safety information before you go out.