Windsurfing Tips

Below you will find user submited Tips and How-to information for Windsurfing. Tips are displayed based on reader popularity, so make sure to vote for your favorite Tips!

Wind Surfing Tips - Beach Starting

The easiest way to get on your board in shallow water is the beach start and it teaches some of the essential elements to the water start. Start by going out a bit over knee deep with your board. Go deeper if your fin tip hits the bottom. Stand on the upwind side of the board.Grip the boom with a wide, comfortable overhand grip, and luff the sail (sheet out completely with the sail flying like a flag in the wind). Point the nose of the board about 45 degrees upwind, and place your back foot on the centerline of the board midway between the front and back straps. Sheet in some to power up the sail, and hop up onto the board moving the sail toward the nose of the board some as you go. Sheet in more when you're ready for more power, turn the nose off the wind some to get up to speed, and your off!

In a very light wind you can beach start by using the mast as a sort of pole vault to help you onto the board. Apply downward pressure through the boom, mast, and mast foot to the board (mast foot pressure -- mfp) as you mount onto the board. Sheet in some as you go to keep the sail from back winding you as you move it forward. Pump the sail if you need more pull from it to help get you up on the board. With practice, you should be able to beach start in the lightest of breezes.

In high winds, keep a defensive position with the body well back and upwind of the sail so you won't get launched forward and over the other side. Keep the sail angled over into the wind and close to the water to decrease the power. Sheet in slowly and only when you're ready to have the power in the sail pull you up onto the board. Then hop on, hook in, get in the straps quickly, and zip.

Tips For Windsurfing - Harness

Once you're ready to sail in winds of 10 mph or more, then you're ready to learn to use a windsurfing harness. The harness eliminates the strain on the arms, and are needed for windsurfing in higher winds and/or with bigger seas. We highly recommend a seat harness with a reactor bar. A lot of surfers use waist harnesses, but they tend to lead to sore backs for anyone prone to such issues. The reactor bar has a roller on it as the contact with the harness line and allows quick adjustments of sail position. This makes for smoother and rapid sheeting out or for good power control in gusty conditions while windsurfing. Get a harness with a good, snug fit and an about body center hook height.