|
Windsurfing, or sailboarding, is a
surface water sport using a windsurf board, also commonly called a
sailboard, usually two - five meters long & powered by the wind pushing on a
sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating flexible
universal joint. A windsurfer is steered by the tilting and rotating of the
mast and sail as well as tilting and carving the board.
The sport combines aspects of both
sailing and
surfing, and
with certain athletic aspects shared with other board sports e.g.
skateboarding,
snowboarding,
waterskiing, and
wakeboarding. It might be considered a minimalistic version of a
sailboat -
a windsurfer offers experiences that are outside the scope of any other sailing
craft design. A windsurfer holds the world speed record for sailing craft -
windsurfers can perform jumps, inverted loops, spinning manoeuvers, and other
"freestyle" moves that cannot be matched by sailboats. Windsurfers were the
first to ride the world's largest waves and, with very few exceptions, it was
not until the advent of
tow-in surfing that waves of that size became accessible to traditional
surfers.
Windsurfing includes speed sailing, slalom, course racing, wave sailing,
superX, and freestyle.
Though windsurfing is possible in winds from near 0 to 50
knots, the ideal planing conditions for most sailors is 15-25 knots, with
lighter winds resulting in displacement mode sailing.
Lessons can be taken with a school. With coaching and favourable conditions,
the basic skills of sailing & steering, turning (tacking and gybing) can
be learned within a few hours. Competence in the sport and mastery of more
advanced manoeuvers such as planing, carve gybing (turning downwind at speed),
water starting, jumping, and more advanced moves can require some lengthy
practice.
[photogallery/sailboarding/real.htm]
|
