Wind Surfing

Let’s go surfing in the wind

Wind surfing or sailboarding as it is also known is an aquatic sport that mixes the disciplines of sailing and surfing. This water sport was invented on Hayling Island, Hampshire in the United Kingdom in 1958. The sport was later introduced in California in the 1960’s and it continued spreading fast in other parts of the world. Sailboarding consists of a board that is usually 2-5 meters long that is powered by the wind pushing in a sail. This type of surfing includes disciplines such as speed sailing, course racing, wave sailing, super X, slalom and freestyle. The surfers can either travel on flat or rough water so long as there is wind. This sport is mostly done during the warm months. In this sport, people use a specially designed surfboard with an adjustable mast. Surfers use boards that have been customized for sailboarding which come in both short and long board designs. The size of the board and the sail is what determines the speed. The larger the sail, the faster you move. Similarly, the thinner the sailing board, the faster the speed.

 

There are various types of wind surfing boards including free ride, formula boards, wave boards, freestyle boards, slalom boards, racing long boards and fun boards. Free ride boards are mostly used for straight-line sailing and occasional turning. They are mostly used in recreational surfing mainly in flat waters or in moderately rough waters. Formula boards are short and they are used in formula wind surfing races. They are a meter wide, have a single fin and they carry sails of up to 12.5 square meters. Wave boards are smaller in size and they do not weigh much. They are used by surfers to perform high jumps while sailing against waves. The most common sizes of sails used together with wave boars are between 4-6 square meters depending in the weight of the surfer and the speed of wind. Freestyle boards are wider, higher volume boards that are designed to perform acrobatic tricks on flat water. Fun boards or beginner boards are almost as wide as formula boards. The only difference is that they have more volume to increase stability.

 

The sails used in this sport are made if mono-film, Mylar and Dacron. Delicate parts are reinforced with Kevlar mesh. The front edge of a sail is known as the luff. The rear edge is called the leech. The front bottom corner of the sail from which the mast protrudes is known as the tack. The rear bottom corner of the sail in which the boom is fixed is called the clew. The area between the clew and the tack is known as the foot.

 

 Surfing in the wind requires you to have above average physical conditioning. This is because there is a lot of strain on the stomach, leg and arm muscles and you can get very tired especially in high winds.  In order to perfect surfing in the wind, it is important for you to understand the fundamentals of both sailing and surfing. You should also know how to swim in case of an accident. For beginners, the lessons are offered indoors starting with the basics, after some time you are trained in rivers, lakes , bays and finally in the ocean. More advanced moves require a lot of practice to master, and to reach the sports fun level. Initial lessons can be taken at a windsurfing school. If you want to learn advanced maneuvers, there are training DVDs available.

 

Anywhere with water and wind is ideal for wind surfing. The type of equipment you use for the activity is governed by how much wind there is. In areas with less wind, wide boards with big sails are used. As the winds get stronger, you decrease the size of the boards and sails. Extreme caution is advised when surfing in shallow waters. You should also try to avoid falls in areas with submerged objects. If falling into the water is inevitable, it is advisable to avoid falling head first to prevent head injuries. It is not advisable to sailboard alone. Always inform someone where you are going and when you expect to return. You should also watch out for other water crafts particularly in congested water. Some of the best places for this type of surfing are Indonesia, Costa Rica, west coast of the United States, Hawaii and Australia.