[ More Advanced Manoeuvres ] [ The Wind ]
Let's Surf!
There are lots of safe and sheltered places where you can learn to windsurf as a beginner. Inland lakes, reservoirs and country parks are ideal. When you are more experienced you can try more testing waters and conditions perhaps close to the coast.The fastest and safest way to learn is through a level 1 or beginners course at a recognised school or club. Under the guidance of the instructor you will soon be skimming back and forth across the water but it will take time and practice to master the basics. Balance and good coordination skills are important.
Know Your Equipment
Your windsurf board is made up of a board and the rig. The rig includes the sail, the mast, the mastfoot and the boom. You will spend many hours initially, learning how to handle and control your board, so it is worthwhile knowing some of the technical names you will use.
The 'Daggerboard' is the large, pivoting and removable 'fin' in the middle of a long or mid-length board. You lower or raise it using your foot. In light winds or when sailing upwind, you lower it for greater stability and sideways resistance. Offwind or when sailing at speed you pivot the daggerboard back so it retracts into the hull.
The 'mast track' is the slot in the deck to which the deck plate is fastened. The deck plate is the socket for the mast foot. Most long and medium boards have a sliding mast track. It allows the rig to be repositioned for different conditions on the water. However, a sliding mast track is a complication for beginners. You should leave your foot in the central position of the track as much as possible while learning.
'The Boom' is the part of the rig that you hold on to when you are sailing. One end of the boom is attached to a 'pulley and cleat' mechanism. By pulling on a rope from the bottom of the sail that is attached to this pulley system, you can adjust the tension of the sail. 'Wishbone' is an old fashioned name for the boom.
Easy Manoeuvres
Your first time in the water will probably be spent learning how to handle your board and you will spend some time practising getting on and off. It is not as easy as it sounds. Many windsurfers spend most of their time in the water rather than on the board at first so don't get disheartened. You will be told about wind direction and this knowledge is vital when you come to move across the water.Sailing across an open stretch of water will be your target. 'Pumping' the rig back and forth creates wind in the sail and gets a board going faster in lighter airs, or gives extra acceleration to get a board onto the plane in stronger conditions. A board is 'planing' when it is skimming across the water rather than sailing through it.
'Gybing' involves altering course through 180 degrees so the tail of the board passes through the 'eye of the wind' - this is the exact direction the wind is blowing from. A 'Flare Gybe' is when you turn a long board with the daggerboard down. To do this you stand on the tail and sink the leeward rail (edge of the board), to pivot the board around the daggerboard. 'Backside' is a wave sailing manoeuvre where you sail or ride the wave towards the wind, with your back to the wave.
As you practise your basic manoeuvres you will have some successes and a lot of 'almosts!' If all else fails and things start to go wrong the only thing to do is 'Bale Out' into the water and start again!
More Advanced Manoeuvres
Experienced windsurfers enjoy the challenges offered by windsurfing. The moves listed in this section can only be attempted by experienced windsurfers.
Any board that's going fast enough will jump out of the water when it hits a suitable ramp like a wave. It's a technique best suited to shorter boards. Top-class windsurfers can jump a board 40-50 ft in the air, and this 'air time' allows them to perform a range of amazing manoeuvres such the Forward and Backward Loop, Cheese Roll, Donkey Kick, Double Forward, Table Top, Table Top Forward or the Gu Screw. Many of these manoeuvres involve 360 degree spins forwards or backwards, including the sail and the windsurfer. Some moves involve two complete spins and there are surfers who are trying for three!
When performing some of the more difficult moves you can get flung straight over the front of the board. Even top-class windsurfers get 'catapulted'.
The Wind
Wind is important to the windsurfer. A 'cross-shore' or 'side-shore' wind blowing from left to right or right to left across your launch point is best for windsurfing. 'Marginal conditions' is an expression used by windsurfers when there isn't quite enough wind to get 'planing' all of the time. 'Gnarly' is a popular expression to describe difficult conditions.
