Windsurfing
(Poole Harbour, England)]]Windsurfing (also called board sailing) is a sport involving travel over water on a small 2-4.7 meter board powered by wind acting on a single sail, which can range from 1.7m2 for kids to about 15m2, depending upon the wind strength. The sport is a hybrid between sailing and surfing. The sail board might be considered the most minimalistic version of the modern sail boat.
Wind surfers can travel over flat water as long as there is enough wind; they can also cut into breaking waves and perform spectacular stunts.
There are two classifications of boards: short boards and long boards. Long boards are usually used for racing and for beginners, and generally have a daggerboard. A short board is usually classed as less than 3m in length and is designed specifically for planing, where the board is lifted out of the water by the upward force created by the movement of the fin, or skeg, through the water. This means the windsurfer travels on the surface of the water rather than through it, resulting in higher speeds and more maneuverability. These advantages can be used notably in the disciplines of freestyle, wavesailing, and freeride. Although traditionally thin, the aim of more efficient low wind planing has led to the development of wider, even shorter boards.
Windsurfing is particularly enjoyable at wind strengths of Beaufort 3 or, better, 4 to 5.
In competitions there are three main types of sailing:
- racing
- freestyle
- wavesailing