Windsurfing, also
known as
sailboarding, is still considered today as one
of the most popular watersports because it requires no energy other
than the wind to be propelled (figure 1).
Fig
1. Sailboards crowding
the beach
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It can be enjoyed in different weather conditions; from the hot
windless summer day to the ugly windy stormy day.
A windsurfer is composed of two main parts: the board and the sail
(figure 2 gives an illustration of the various parts of the sail
and board). These come in various shapes and forms, depending on
the intended use.
Beginners usually learn on long floaty boards with plenty of
volume to support them, and a small set of sails that helps them
get acquainted with the basic rules of mother nature. Today, these
classic heavy boards are being replaced by the more versatile
formula boards, which are not as long but very large. These are
the same boards used in formula racing, and can handle a much
larger range of wind than the older "logs". Formula
boards go on a plane quickly, are easy and comfortable to ride,
and are relatively light for their size.
As the sailor improves and the wind gets stronger, the sails get
smaller and the boards get shorter. Here the classic "funboards"
come into play. These shortboards are sinkers, which
means they are not much buoyant and will hardly float. Only with
speed and the force of wind will they rise out of the water and
get onto a plane. This is when things get really exciting, and
one can start racing, jumping, and some freestyle figures if skilled
enough.
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