Getting Into Windsurfing: The Beginners Guide

From an outsider’s perspective, windsurfing can seem like a difficult and confusing sport to get involved with. There is all that equipment to deal with, new terms to learn, and techniques to master. Learning windsurfing can be difficult, relative to other water-sports, and so some people who try windsurfing on holiday or at their local centre give up before they have had a chance to improve. It is worth persevering, as anyone who has ever known the thrill of catching the wind in their sail and feeling the water move under their board will tell you.

Equipment

Windsurfing gear seems cumbersome…until you get it rigged up, and then it works perfectly. It is designed to combine the best of sailing and surfing, making this a very flexible sport. The main components of a windsurfing rig are the board, sail, mast and boom. To rig up, you slide the sail down over the mast, and then attach the boom (which is what you hold onto when sailing). The mast attaches onto the board with a ‘universal joint’, designed to allow easy movement of the sail. It does take a little practice to get it right, but once you know how, it is easy.

First Steps

Beginners often get frustrated with their initial windsurfing attempts, and find themselves in the water as much as on the board. A good teacher is essential to get started, and use a board designed for beginners – they are more stable. Take your time getting your balance and getting a feel for the steering. Keeping your feet close to the mast tends to make turning easier at first. Your sail should held ninety degrees to the wind and slightly forward to keep you moving.

Safety

Windsurfing safely is all about matching your equipment and location with your experience. When you are learning stick to flat water close to the shoreline. Beginners should not go out in winds of more than 12 knots (although experts can handle anything up to 50!). Generally, the higher the wind, the smaller the sail you need, so check weather before you set off. Dress for the weather too, with thick full-length wetsuits, hoods and gloves in cold weather. Shorts and vests are only for tropical sailing – remember that water temperature tends to be lower than air temperature, so you can get cold quickly if you are wearing the wrong gear.

Where

You can windsurf at coastal and inland locations all over the world. The coastal strips along both sides of the Atlantic tend to have strong, consistent winds, but there are some great spots in the UK too. The Welsh island of Anglesey, the Scottish island of Tiree and the stretch of coast between Sussex and Dorset are some of the best. Look for beaches with a lagoon or protected area of flat water when you are learning. Once you gain confidence, you can head out to wavier water, or up your sail size and try speed-sailing.

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