Windsurfing 2010

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WindsurfingManual


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H O O F E R S A I L I N G C L U B

Windsurfing Manual

Table of Contents

PART ONE.............................................................................................2 AN INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................2

Windsurfing for Everyone ................................................................ 2 History of Windsurfing.................................................. ...................3 Windsurfing Steps.............................................................................3 Windsurfing at Hoofers .................................................................... 4 Getting Your Ratings........................................................................5 Fast Tracking.................................. ................................................. 6

PART TWO............................................................................................7 BEGINNING W INDSURFING ...................................................................7

Sailing Safety....................................................................................7 Parts of a Windsurfing Board and Sail.............................................9

Mast Track ...................................................................................9 Footstraps.....................................................................................9 Centerboard & Fin......................................................................10 Universal Joint ...........................................................................10 Sail Components ........................................................................10 Sail Areas ................................................................................... 10

Basic Sailing Theory ...................................................................... 11 Rigging a Sail................................................................................. 13 Putting the Equipment Away......................................... .................14

Launching from a Pier ................................................................... 14

Uphauling the Sail..........................................................................15 Uphauling stages............................................................................15 Basic Position.................................................................................16 Starting Position.............................................................................16

Balance Position ............................................................................17 Sailing Position.................... ..........................................................17 Tacking and Jibing ......................................................................... 18 Getting a Light Wind Rating........................................................... 18 The Windsurfing 3rd Day Lesson ...................................................18

PART THREE......................................................................................20 INTERMEDIATE WINDSURFING ...........................................................20

Planing...........................................................................................20 Harness and Harness Lines............................................................ 21 Foot Straps.....................................................................................21 Getting a Heavy Wind Rating.........................................................22 Testing Out.....................................................................................22

PART FOUR ........................................................................................ 23 ADVANCED WINDSURFING ..................................................................23

Getting a Short Board Equipment Rating....................................... 23 Waterstarting..................................................................................24 Going Fast......................................................................................26 Windsurfing is for Everyone...........................................................27

Windsurfing Manual Editors

2010 Jeanne Morledge and Jim Rogers2004 Jeanne Morledge and Jim Rogers2002 Arden Anderson, Jeanne Morledge, and Jim Rogers1998 Bob Holz1997 Arden Anderson and Jim Rogers1988-90 Jim Rogers1986 Dierk Polzin1985 Mark Lepke

Text by Arden Anderson, Tony Chang, Roman Druker, Jerry Ebert, Jane Foster, Bill Kroner, Mark Lepke, Jeanne Morledge, Bob Pennington, Dierk Polzin, Norm Roettgen, Jim Rogers, and Marty Wilson.

Photos by by Arden Anderson, Carl Bowser, Darcy Graf and Jeanne Morledge.

Graphic Layout and Design by Arden Anderson and Jim Rogers Version August 5, 2010 © 2010 by the University of Wisconsin Hoofer Sailing Club Hoofers

Wisconsin Union800 Langdon StreetMadison, WI 53706


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W I N D S U R F I N G M A N U A L

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Part OneA N I N T R O D U C T I O N

Windsurfing for Everyone veryone can learn to windsurf because windsurfing is a finesse sport. Withproper instruction and good equipment, a bit of patience, you too, can be

windsurfing.

The Hoofer Sailing Club provides quality instruction on a variety of equipment at anaffordable price in a fun setting, making it an ideal place to learn and improve

windsurfing skills. Hoofer instructors will teach you on-land on a windsurfingsimulator, and then on the water on equipment that makes learning easy.

Everyone has the potential to become a good windsurfer. With the Hoofer instructionprogram, each sailor can improve at his or her own pace. Keep in mind that learning to

windsurf is highly dependent on the wave and wind conditions. Light wind (5-12 mph)and flat water are ideal for beginners. As you practice and improve your skills in light wind, take classes and clinics to learn skills for sailing in winds 12+ mph.

Don’t get frustrated! Remember the 3 P’s of learning any new sport: Patience

Learning to windsurf takes time. Improvements are noticeable overdays, not hours. Each time you go windsurfing you will notice someimprovement.

Practice The more time you spend on the water with a board and sail, the moreyou will learn and your windsurfing skills will improve.

Persistence Sail with an instructor, watch instructional videos, take clinics, askquestions, there are many fine points to learn that will improve yourskills.

Part

1E


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You will fall in the water when learning to windsurf (as well as at every level of windsurfing). Everyone falls, though you will fall less often as your skills progress.Learn to assess wind conditions and get out on the water as often as you can. As youlearn new skills, you will be able to sail in more challenging conditions.

History of WindsurfingIn the early 1960’s, two guys in southern California were arguing at a bar about which

was the best sport, surfing or sailing. They couldn’t agree on much, but decided that ifthe two were combined it would be a good time. They tried it, and in 1967 windsurfing

was born. The product of their newly formed company, Windsurfer™, became thestandard in One-Design racing for the next 17 years.

In Europe the sport exploded even more than in the United States. With companiesjumping in to see if they could make money in the new sport, boards got sturdier andsails got easier to handle. In Hawaii, where the trade winds blow regularly and the

waves are big, the sport developed spectacularly. A native Californian by the name ofRobby Naish won his first World Championship at age 13. At that time he weighedonly 90 pounds. Since then, Robby Naish has led the sport to sponsorship and highgloss professional events that, in Europe, regularly attract 100,000 spectators for a

weekend series.

When windsurfing was added to the Olympic Games in 1984, a wide variety ofequipment was available for all wind and weather conditions. During this time a varietyof names were used to describe this sport including surfsailing, windriding, and

waveriding. There was a brief movement to standardize the name of the sport to

‘boardsailing’ or ‘sailboarding,’ but ‘windsurfing’ remained the generic term, in memoryof the now-defunct Windsurfer™. Only in 1991, when the US Boardsailing Association became the US Windsurfing Association, did the name officially become‘windsurfing.’

Windsurfing Steps The following outline shows the progression that most people follow as they learn to windsurf:

1. Basic Sailing

Uphaul

Positions

Sailing Upwind & Downwind


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Tacking

Jibing

2. Intermediate Skills

Harness & Harness Lines

Footstraps

Planing

Waterstart

3. Advanced Skills

Fast Tack & Planing Jibe

Jumping & Chop Hop

Freestyle

Wave Sailing

Windsurfing at Hoofers Windsurfing came to the Hoofer Sailing Club in 1978 with a fleet of Windsurfers™and some homemade sails. The Hoofer windsurfing fleet has up-to-date boards andsails for learning to windsurf and for all levels of skill and wind conditions.

Boards are stored in the Lake Lab , which was named by Professor Edmund Birge who studied Lake Mendota’s ecosystem. In the early part of this century, he conductedexperiments and taught in the two-story structure, helping to make Lake Mendota themost-studied lake in the United States. Since 1950 the Lake Lab has been used by the

Hoofer Sailing Club to store equipment. In 1980 the second floor was cut off and asolid concrete deck was installed to provide for a better view of Picnic Point by patronsof the Memorial Union. In 2004 the wooden sidewalk was replaced by the solidcement walkway.

Check out equipment and get lifejackets at the Boathouse and get sails and boardsfrom the Lakelab. The Boathouse is located next to the tunnel where most lessons


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usually meet. Lockers are also available here to store some things during lessons andday sailing. The Boathouse is run by Outdoor Rentals which keeps the same hours asHarvey , the University Lifesaving Station. See “Part Two Sailing Safety,” for moreinformation on Harvey. Many of the Hoofer windsurfing instructors are certified by

US Sailing. Classes of all levels are held each week from May through September.

Getting Your Ratings With your Hoofer Sailing Club membership you get unlimited lessons and clinics anduse of the windsurfing equipment that you have been rated to use. There is usually afee for use of short-board equipment or special equipment the club carries. Fortunatelyfor those of us who join without any background in sailing or windsurfing, the HooferSailing Club provides lessons, clinics and test outs to get rated. Lessons and clinics havea classroom and on-the-water component, and test outs are strictly on-the-water.

If windsurfing is new to you start with the Windsurfing A lesson. This two-day lesson will cover the basic theory and fundamental skills of windsurfing. TheWindsurfing A lesson will help maximize the amount of time that you will spend sailing. If weatherpermits, you’ll get on the water your first day so bringing a change of clothes with is agood idea. See Part Two.

The first day of your Windsurfing A lesson meets regardless of the weatherconditions. However, your instructor may cancel the second day of your Windsurfing

A lesson if wind and weather conditions are not suitable for on-the-water sailing. Inthis event, or if your instructor from your Windsurfing A lesson feels that you wouldbenefit from more practice on the water, your instructor will request that you sign up

for a Windsurfing 3rd Day lesson. A Windsurfing 3rd Day lesson is a one daythree- hour lesson mainly on the water. Many students choose to take the Windsurfing3rd Day lesson several times to continue to get instruction and tips from severaldifferent instructors. Your instructor may choose to give you a light wind rating but

with a recommendation to initially sail at in winds only up to 12 mph blowing towardsshore. A light rating allows a sailor to sail in green flag conditions with winds up to 18mph.

As you learn, practicing two to three hours for each hour of instruction will help youimprove your sailing skills and get you ready for more advanced windsurfing. As youprogress you may take more advanced lessons and clinics and learn skills that will behelpful to you in sailing in heavier winds. As your skills improve you may want tocomplete a Heavy Wind Test Out .

By completing a Heavy Wind Test Out , you can use the standard equipment onheavy wind days. Also, advanced lessons can be taken showing you how to use theShort Boards (which are particularly good for high wind days), how to use harnessesand footstraps, and how to complete waterstarts. See the Hoofer Sailing Club’s ratings


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progression sheet at www.hoofersailing.org , or posted in the Tunnel to see what thecurrent procedure is for moving through classes and ratings.

Fast TrackingIf you have some advanced skills in windsurfing, start with the Windsurfing 3rd Daylesson. This will get you familiar with the idiosyncrasies of rigging, storing, andlaunching Hoofer equipment. After you take this lesson, come down when the wind isblowing 18-30 mph (blue flag) and sign up for a Heavy Wind Test Out .


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Part TwoB E G I N N I N G W I N D S U R F I N G

Sailing Safetyoofer Sailing Club policy REQUIRES A LIFE JACKET ON ALLWINDSURFERS AT ALL TIMES. Remember, a lifejacket and staying

with your board are the most important things that you can do to reduce thechances of drowning once you are in trouble. Some emergencies that may

be brought about by exposure to excessive heat include heat cramps, heat exhaustionand heat stroke. Drink plenty of water before going out and keep cool by falling in tohelp prevent these problems.

If the environment is too cold , body heat is lost faster than it can be generated, leadingto general body cooling (hypothermia). This can happen more frequently when the

water temperatures are somewhat cool, when the air is cool, or if it’s windy (even if the

air temperature is warm) because water splashing onto the skin evaporates faster as itgets windier. If you begin to shiver, put on a life jacket. Wet or dry, it will help to keepbody heat in. A wetsuit is the best solution to cool water, but a windbreaker helps tokeep you warm above water. Of course, don’t hesitate to call it a day if the water or

wind temperatures are cold, or if you get cold. Develop skills to determine wind speed,direction, and conditions in which you will be able to safely sail.

The best way to avoid dangerous sailing conditions is to check a local weather forecastor radar imagery before you go out . At Hoofers you can also check with Boathouse staff.

When out on the lake, periodically check the weather , lights, and flags. Always stayalert for quick-moving dark clouds since conditions can change rapidly , particularlyduring the exciting Wisconsin primary storm season (mainly April through September).

Before you launch, note the wind direction and establish an area to sail within.Continue to check the wind direction while you are sailing, as it may change andrequire you to adjust the boundaries of your sailing area.

Don’t let yourself drift out too far. If you are having trouble sailing back to the pier,you might need to pop your centerboard up, and paddle your Board and rig in with

Part

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your arms. On Lake Mendota there is a Lifesaving station available for emergencies. Ifyou need their services, slowly wave your arms back and forth above your head untilyou are noticed by the Hoofer Sailing Club or Harvey , the UW Lifesaving Station.Slowly drifting windsurfers are lower priority than boats in danger, so it may be a bit of

a wait.Pier starts and landings are forbidden at Hoofers. Pier starts are when someonesteps onto the board off of the pier without first setting the sail in the water. There is adanger of falling against the pier either during landing or take off or of having abeginner emulate you and fall against the pier. For this reason it is a good idea to pushaway from the pier while you are kneeling on the board, and to drop the sail in the

water well away from the pier before landing. Anytime you fall, the sail is in the wateracting as an anchor preventing the board from floating too far from you. Always becareful with the sails, as they are easily punctured or torn. Be careful not to drop the sailonto a pier. A sail dropped onto a pier is easily ripped. If you begin to get close to apier or other object use your uphaul to lower your sail to the water and paddle awayfrom the object.

In general:

Take good care of your windsurfing equipment! It’s fragile, expensiveand you need it.

Stay with your board at all times and keep the sail attached to theboard. It will provide flotation and make you easier to spot. Startpaddling in before you over-extend your range—not after.

Stay away from piers, or other objects that may damage equipment. Stay away from the rocky or cement shore areas.

Eye protection from ultraviolet radiation is necessary. Wear a goodpair of UV-protected sunglasses when around the water.

Always wear sunscreen. It’s foolish to forget about the hazardouseffects of the sun.

If at any time you injure yourself or become ill, or see someone else who may be in need of assistance, contact an instructor or theBoathouse staff as soon as possible.


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Parts of a Windsurfing Board and Sail

Mast Track The mast track on the board allows the sail to be positioned fore and aft on the board. The goal of where to place the sail is to reduce drag and allow the board to plane whenpossible. In most cases when sailing upwind, the sail can be placed more forward. Thesail can be moved farther back downwind and in higher winds. If unsure, it’s better tohave the track a little too far forward and not too far back so the board’s tail doesn’tdrag in the water. If the rider is learning and standing very far forward on the board, orif a very small sail is used in light winds, the weight distribution on the board needs tobe shifted backwards. On most boards the mast base can only be adjusted byunscrewing it from the board, sliding it, and screwing it back to the board again.

FootstrapsFootstraps are used to control the board in windier conditions. Footstraps can beplaced in a variety of positions (fore and aft), depending on the board. In general,straps are set farther forward for use in moderate conditions to facilitate early planning,and the straps are set aft for use in windy conditions and to maximize speed.


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Centerboard & Fin The centerboard prevents side-slip of the board and gives directional stability. Thelarger the centerboard, the more sideslip is prevented. When going downwind or goingfast the centerboard is less necessary to be down and can be brought more up or all the

way up.

Universal Joint The universal joint joins the sail and board together. This device is what makes windsurfers so unique. The first account of windsurfing was in the 1930’s when surfer, Tom Blake (one of the original Waikiki Beach Boys, along with Olympic Gold Medalswimmer Duke Kahanamoku), experimented with placing a sail on his surfboard tosave his tired arms from paddling. Blake, however, rigidly fixed the sail to hissurfboard, and steered with a foot-controlled rudder. Among Blake’s other

contributions to sport was his invention of a hollow surfboard, which led the way tohigh performance surfing. By the way: Tom Blake was born and raised in Milwaukee ,Wisconsin!

It was not until 1948 that Newman Darby became interested in the idea of steering aboat without the rudder. He used a universal joint to fix a sail to a sailboat , and hecontrolled the boat by tilting the sail fore and aft. In 1966, Jim Drake and HoyleSchweitzer got together and used a universal joint to attach a sail to a surf board , and

windsurfing was born. The universal joint is the single most distinctive thing thatseparates a windsurfer from any other sailing vessel.

Sail Components The sail has a mast that is usually vertical and a horizontal boom which is also used bythe person windsurfing to hold on to the sail. The sail is also given rigidity by itsbattens. Battens run horizontally (more or less) across the sail. At the leading edge ofthe batten there may be a “camber inducer,” that helps force shape into the sail, as thename implies.

Sail Areas There are four main areas of the sail. The bottom of the sail is called the foot, and thetop is called the head. The head of the sail includes the curved portion that runs untilthe vertical part of the trailing edge of the sail, which is called the leech. The angled partof the sail that joins the leech and the foot is called the clew.


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Basic Sailing TheorySailboats and windsurfers get theirpropulsion by the wind blowing past thesail. As the wind flows past the sail, airtravels more quickly past the leewardsurface of the sail, and more slowly past the

windward surface of the sail. This creates ahigh pressure on the windward surface of the sail, and a low pressure on the leewardsurface of the sail. The result is a net force, called lift, that acts between the pressuredifference. We can thank Bernoulli for describing the physics that apply here.

Most of this lift acts perpendicular to thedirection of travel (when sailing upwind oron a reach), but the combination of thecenterboard, rail, and fin counteract thisforce and allow minimal side-slip.Fortunately, the rest of the lift acts in thedirection of travel and propels the boardforward.

You can never sail straight into the wind source, only about 30 degreesor more away from the source ofthe wind. This is because at smallangles to the wind, there is nocomponent of lift pushing youforward; this component actuallybegins to act backwards. Think ofthe possible angles that you can sailas points on a wind clock. The 12o’clock position is where the windis coming from and 6 o’clock is thedirection the wind is going.

Between 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock your board will not sail. In fact, you’re very likely tostop moving or to move backwards. This area of the wind clock is called “in irons.”

To get to a point directly upwind, it is necessary to sail out toward 2 o’clock and thentack, moving the bow through the wind until the wind is coming over the right orstarboard side of the board to sail toward 10 o’clock. Sailing at 10 or 2 o’clock is called

Wind

Side component of Lift

Rail Force

LiftForward component of Lift

CenterboardForce

Fin Force

WIND


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beating or sailing close hauled, with the back of the sail hauled in close to thecenterline of the board. Sailers frequently call the process of getting upwind by sailingclose hauled and tacking sailing upwind . On a sailboard this is tricky for beginners tomaster, but is a necessary skill to acquire.

Sailing across the wind to either 3 or 9 o’clock is the easiest on a sailboard; however, itdoes not get you upwind and often times it does not help you to get back to the pier.

This point of sail is called abeam reach because the wind is perpendicular across thebeam of the board. Heading up is when your board turns toward the wind source.Bearing away or falling off is when your board turns away from the wind source.Since “falling off” has its own unique (but well-known) meaning for those who

windsurf, “bearing away” or “turning away” from the wind are the terms frequentlyused.

Sheeting in is when you move the back of the sail more toward the middle of theboard (by pulling in on your back hand). Sheeting out is when you move the back ofthe sail out away from the middle of the board. As you steer downwind (going fromclose-hauled to a beam reach, for example) you should generally sheet out (although ifyou are going very fast you will usually be sheeted in any direction you can sail). As yousteer upwind (going from a broad reach to a beam reach, for example) you shouldsheet in.

Having your sail over trimmed is a common mistake among sailors. It’s when the sailis sheeted in beyond the point where the sail is working efficiently. You only need tosheet in until the sail becomes powered up. The clew, or back end of the sail, shouldnever cross over the back of the board. When the sail is “powered up” it will feel asthough the sail is trying to pull you over the front of the board. Counteract the power

of the sail by leaning back with your body weight. You should always be trimming thesail, sheeting in and out to make sure the sail is powered but not over powered. Itshould feel like the sail is pulling hard that you can barely support it with your body

weight.

The sails have battens . Battens give the sail shape and stability by preventing the sailfrom luffing, as well as keeping a constant sail shape when the sail is powered. Luffingis when the leading edge of the sail (the luff) flaps or luffs in the wind. For sails withfull battens, such as for wndsurfers, this usually does not occur. To avoid overtrimming your sail, never pull the sail across the centerline of your board.

There are many other useful sailing terms to learn. Check your Hoofer Sailing ClubTech Manual to learn more of them. The lingo is half the battle.


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Rigging a SailRigging your equipment correctly can make the difference between an enjoyable day

on the lake and a frustrating struggle in the water. At Hoofers most of your riggingshould be done on the Windsurfing Pier. The pier itself is a high traffic area so youshould try to move your sails on and off the pier as quickly as possible and, particularly,reduce the amount of time the sails are in the sun—the ultraviolet light exposuregreatly shortens the life of the sail.

STEP ONE Choose your sail from the LakeLab according to wind speed and your sail rating.

STEP TWO Choose a boom from the boomracks according to sail size and need for harnesslines.

STEP THREE Place your boom on themast. Adjust the length of the boom to about 2-3 centimeters beyond the clew of the sail.

STEP FOUR Outhaul the sail. If the boom isadjusted to the proper length, it should take verylittle force to pull the clew of the sail to the end ofthe boom. The outhauled sail should have a“wing” shape and it should rotate easily on themast.


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Putting the Equipment AwayHoofers maintains windsurfing sails being rigged on their masts/universals. This

reduces equipment wear and tear from rigging and derigging and also saves time.

Detach the boom and return it to the boom rack with the uphaul tied –up to theouthaul line.

Rehang the sail in the Lakelab according to its size.

Place the windsurfing boards back into their current proper location, usually staggeringskegs so the boards fit. Having someone help you carry windsurfing boards is not onlysocial, but it reduces the chances of killing a windsurfing board by dropping it.

Launching from a Pier When getting ready to launch, slip on your lifejacket and choose your board from theLake Lab placing the board right side up on the pier with the fin hanging over the pier.It is easiest to carry it with the bottom flat against your body, one hand (the right, if youare right-handed) on the centerboard knob and the other hand underneath. If you haveproblems, ask someone to help!

Next, with another person get your sail and carry it out to the pier. It is easiest in abreeze to carry your rig horizontally, with one hand on the boom and the other on themast, supporting the mast on one hip. Carry the rig with the mast towards the wind. (It

will be obvious if you do this wrong!) When you are ready to go out, throw your sailperpendicular to the wind direction as far away from the shore and pier as possible andon the upwind side of the pier.

Rapidly launch your board by positioning it perpendicular to the pier with the finover the water. Grab the nose of the Board and slide it into the water (fin first). Whenthe back end is in the water, the flotation will make it easier for you to bring the boardalongside the pier.

Get on your board, lower your centerboard. Paddle out to your rig and connect it to

your board. To connect the rig (sail, mast, and boom) to the board, put the universal into the holeof the mast base and then lock it in place.

You may want to paddle a bit away (preferably, upwind) from the pier as possiblebefore you try to lift your sail out of the water. One (somewhat advanced way) of


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doing this by laying the rig on the back of the board so that no part of the sail touchesthe water. To avoid damage to the sail or board, stay away from piers, shoreline,and other boats! Drop your sail when you are within two mast lengths of ANYobject so you do not drop your sail on ANY object—the sail must always be

lowered or dropped ONLY into the water.

Uphauling the SailGrab the uphaul line and carefully stand up and assume the back-to-the-wind position

with your front foot instep against the mast foot and your back foot, shoulder widthaway on the centerline of the board.

Uphauling stages

Photos by Jeanne Morledge

Bend your knees and adjust your hands on the uphaul so your arms and back arestraight then take up the slack on the uphaul line.

Push up with your legs and lean back a bit to start lifting the sail. At first you should liftthe sail slowly to let the water drain off the sail. Small sails will clear of water morerapidly than large sails which can hold a lot of water.


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When the top of the mast is level with your head, pull hand over hand on the uphauluntil you can place both hands on the mast, keeping your arms extended.

Basic PositionIn the basic position your back is to the wind and you are holding onto the mast withboth hands with the sail flagging downwind.

Your front foot instep is against the mast base and your back foot is behind the maston the centerline. Your feet are roughly a shoulders width apart.

Arms are extended and holding onto the mast justbelow the boom. Knees are slightly bent. The sailis flagging downwind and a “V” is formedbetween the mast and your body.

From the basic position you can:

• Lower the sail to get off the board orassume the rescue position,

• Turn the board,

• Go to the sailing position.

Photo by Jeanne Morledge

Starting Position

Holding the mast with your front hand, release theback hand from the mast letting it fall to your side.

Take a step back along the centerline with your backfoot and move your front foot so it is pointingforward behind the mast. Keep the mastperpendicular to the board and the sail flagging

without power.


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Photos by Jeanne Morledge

Balance PositionIn the balance position you are back of the sail andfacing forward. You are balanced on the center ofthe board and you will tilt the sail towards the wind(with your front hand) until it is balanced over theboard.

Sailing PositionPlace your back hand on the boom just infront of your back shoulder. Rotate yourshoulders about 10 degrees—just until youfeel the wind begin to fill the sail. Balance

your weight against the pressure generatedby the sail, arms extended, shoulders back,hips under shoulders and toward the sail.

Tips incliude:

• The centerline is the most stablepart of the board. Keep your feetnear it when you are learning.

• As you sail with a little more wind,you will move your feet further backon the board.

• As you are able to lean back to counter balance the pull in the sale, strive to getto the “7” position (your arms are the top of the 7 holding on to the boom andyour shoulders-hip-legs are the long somewhat vertical part of the 7) with yourhips “squared” to the board and sail. About 75% of your weight can be on


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your back foot. Have your back leg flexed and front leg and arm moreextended. Keep you hips tucked way under your shoulders.

Tacking and Jibing Turning the front of the board across the wind source (from about 2 to 10 or back) iscalled a tack. Turning the back of the board through the wind is called a jibe. Bothturns require you to maintain your balance while moving to the opposite side of theboard. You may want to consider only tacking when you are learning windsurfing as itkeeps you and your board from drifting downwind. From the Basic Position you canturn the board 180 degrees.

To tack the board, stand with your feet on the centerline evenly spaced from the mastbase with arms extended and hands holding onto the mast. Slowly swing the sail in thedirection you want to head toward, keeping your feet in place until the sail touches

your back leg. Taking small steps, move your feet half way around the mast and thencontinue to swing the sail towards the direction you want to head until it again touchesyour back leg. Complete taking small steps around the mast until you are in the basicposition, now on the other side of the board and you are ready to assume the SailingPosition

Getting a Light Wind Rating The Hoofer Sailing Club light wind rating allows you to sail in winds up to 18 mphfrom any direction (green flag). (1 knot, one nautical mile per hour, equals 1.15 mph— miles per hour). The light wind rating is based on the following criteria:

Can you sail upwind and downwind, given plenty of time? Can you determine wind speed and direction? In light wind, can you complete most tacks and jibes you attempt? Can you avoid unwanted contact with other objects such as piers and

boats? Do you have the confidence and competence to handle all green flag

conditions? Can you get back to the pier on your own in any green flag conditions?

The Windsurfing 3rd Day LessonSailing in light wind and flat water is usually pretty easy after a few times out. If you’rehaving trouble, feel free to take another lesson. The Windsurfing 3rd Day lessonserves a dual purpose, letting you practice with an instructor or test out for a LightWind rating .

Practice these skills:


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Seeing when a puff is coming Knowing when your sail is sheeted in too far Knowing when you hands, feet, or body are in good position Sailing towards a point, turning, and returning to the pier


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Part ThreeI N T E R M E D I A T E W I N D S U R F I N G

s your sailing skills improve you will find that you are able to sail fast enoughto get your board planing and you’ll want to learn to use a harness andfootstraps.

Planing When the board is planing the only wetted surface is the back third or less of the boardand the fin. To get the board up on plane you must maintain adequate mast-basepressure, and power in the sail. When the board is planing, and with your feet in thefootstraps you can steer the board with your feet. In order for high wind foot steeringto be effective, the centerboard must be all the way up.

Up to this point you may have been steering the board primarily by moving the clew ofthe sail towards or away from the water. This works well in light winds for making slowturns but it is unsuitable for high winds or faster turns in light winds. Foot steering isthe answer.

In light winds , when the board is not planning and the centerboard is down, theboard is tilted in the opposite direction you want the board to go. For example, to headup, sink the leeward rail; to bear off, sink the windward rail. In light winds you will alsohave to steer with the sail but your turns will be much quicker. This technique can beused to make your jibes and tacks much easier and quicker.

To jibe, bear off as much as you can by using traditional sail and foot steering. The nextstep is crucial: step back, way backon the board. With the bow of the board out of the

water and the tail sunk, tilt the board to sink the windward rail. If all goes well, theboard will spin astonishingly fast. To stop the turn, simply step forward. This will levelthe board. At this point you should be able to sail on the new tack with the sail clew-first.

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3 A


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Now, grab the mast with one hand and let the sail swing around to its new tack. Becareful not to let the clew hit the water on its way around. Watch the more advancedsailors to get an idea of the timing of the sequence of events.

In heavy winds , bearing off by raking the sail is a good way to get launched. When theboard is planing, it can be steered like a skateboard. Tilt the board in the direction you want to go. To bear off, put pressure on the leeward rail; to head up, put pressure onthe windward rail. Also, in order for high wind foot steering to be effective, thecenterboard must be all the way up. Even the longboards will respond well to footsteering if the centerboard is all the way up.

Harness and Harness LinesOh, my aching arms! If you find that your arms are getting tired, though you’d like to saillonger, you are ready to use a harness. You will be amazed at how much longer you willbe able to sail without fatigue by wearing a harness and using the harness lines on theboom. Using a harness also helps you and the board to plane earlier and moreefficiently.

There are two different types of harnesses available; the waist harness and the seatharness. Waist harnesses give back support and encourage good sailing posture. Seatharnesses give some support and tend to stay in position. Attend a clinic on harnessuse and you’ll be able to try some different harnesses before deciding which to buy.

Set your harness lines on the boom on shore by standing your rig up and holding ontothe boom with one hand. Set the universal against your foot and pull the sail into the

wind. The spot on the boom at which you can balance the sail is the center of efforton the boom. Set your harness lines equidistant from this point. The harness linesshould be long enough so that you can easily hook in and you can sail with extendedarms. If you are hooked in too close to the boom, you will quickly learn the meaning ofdoing a “face plant.” When a gust hits, bend your knees as you normally would (or sheetout if the gust is very large) or you will find words like launched, catapulted, and bodyslammed added to your sailing vocabulary. Your usual boom height will work fine forthe waist harness, but you may want to lower your boom a few centimeters if you areusing a seat harness.

Foot Straps After you have learned to use the harness effectively, you can progress to using thefootstraps. Footstraps enable you to carry a more powerful sail because they keep yourfeet planted when the sail is lifting you by your harness and waves are trying to sweepyour feet off the board.


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Getting into the straps can be awkward at first. Footstraps are meant to be used only inplaning conditions.

Getting a Heavy Wind Rating The Hoofer Sailing Club heavy wind rating lets you sail in winds at 18-30 mph (blueflag) coming from any direction. The heavy wind rating is based on the followingcriteria:

Have you mastered the criteria for the Light Rating, or do you havethat rating?

Are you using a harness and footstraps? Can you make necessary sail and equipment adjustments for heavy

conditions? Can you get back to the pier without help in blue flag conditions? Can you continue to care for the equipment in heavy wind conditions?

Testing OutDuring blue flag conditions, “Windsurfing 3rd Day” lessons are canceled and theinstructor will hold Heavy Wind test outs. Check the written sign by the Boathouse ona blue flag day for information about how to test out.


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Part FourA D V A N C E D W I N D S U R F I N G

ow that you’ve reached the point where you feel comfortable sailinglongboards, you are ready to learn some of the advanced techniques thatmake windsurfing such an exciting sport.

Getting a Short Board Equipment Rating The Hoofer Sailing Club short board equipment rating lets you use the short boardsand a selection of high performance sails. The rating is based on the following criteria:

Have you done a heavy weather testout? Can you take care of expensive, fragile equipment? Have you started using a harness? Can you attempt waterstarts? Can you sail upwind and get back to the pier without help in blue flag

conditions?

Short Boards are the most exciting and easiest tosail in high winds. They have less flotation thanlong boards, and they have no centerboard.Because of their smaller size, they are easier tosteer and control in high winds than are longboards. Tacking is very difficult because the bow

will sink if you step forward of the mast. Carvingjibes (right) are the way to go. Before trying ashort board, try sailing a long board upwind

without a centerboard. It’s not cool to have to getrescued every time you sail a short board becauseyou can’t sail upwind. Also, make sure you can

waterstart the board or uphaul it before you gozooming off on a one-way trip. Waterstarting a

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Photo by Juan Gonzalez


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short board is different than waterstarting a long Board and takes some getting used to.

Take care of the short boards that the Hoofer Sailing Club has – they are in highdemand when it’s blowing! You wouldn’t want to be responsible for denying someone

a great ride because of damage due to carelessness. Remember to secure your sail andboard while they are on the rigging deck, and put all high wind equipment away whenyou’re done.

Waterstarting Waterstarts can take much time and effort to master. They are, however, one of themost important skills you can learn before you attempt to sail short boards in windyand wavy conditions. Uphauling in high winds and waves can be extremely difficultand tiring. On a short board, it can be next to impossible. Don’t try to learn waterstartson a short board. Use a board with plenty of flotation that you will be able to uphaul ifyou have to. Ask others if there is enough wind to practice waterstarts. Use a large, fullybattened sail if possible. If you wear a wetsuit, it helps you float, too.

The first step in waterstarting is to clear the sail off the water. Swimming under thesail and pushing on it is tiring and you will probably drink lots of water in the process.

The easiest way is to start with the sail on the leeward side of the board with the clewof the sail closest to the front of the board. What if the clew is closest to the back of the boardSimple. Grab the clew and swim it around so that it is pointed into the wind. Then liftthe clew up so that the wind catches underneath it. When the wind wants to tear it outof your hands, let it go and it will flip over to the correct position.

To clear the sail from the water, place one hand on the tail of the windsurfer and theother on the mast near the boom. Sink the tail of the board with one hand whilepulling the boom across the tail of the board with the other. When the boom isbalanced on top of the tail of the board, let the buoyancy of the board lift the sail outof the water. As the sail fills with air (with the mast into the wind), it will want to flyaway or flip over, so hold on to the mast and don’t let it get away. Once the sail is clearof the water it should set comfortably on the tail of the board.

Now, keep the board perpendicular to the wind. It will want to head up. You willneed to use your front hand on the mast to keep pressure on the nose of the board tokeep it downwind, or you can use your back foot to pull the back of the board towardsyou. The next steps happen quickly and will require much practice. Grab the boom andswing the sail over your head and place your back hand on the boom, about 10cm back from the back harness line. and into the wind. Keep it low to the water sothat it doesn’t waterstart without you. Check the position of the board. Is it still on thebeam reach? If not, you may need to swing the boom closer to the nose of the boardto point the board downwind. Practice these steps until they are comfortable to do. Ifyour Board and sail are in the wrong position, your waterstart will not work and you


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will need to start from the beginning. Wearing a life jacket will make things easier andyou will swallow less water.

Before proceeding, let’s think about physics a little bit. Would it be easier for the sail to

pull you out of the water if you held on to the tip of the mast or if you held on to theuniversal joint? The lower you are on the mast, the easier it will be for the sail to pullyou up. It has more leverage that way. When waterstarting, you want to get your weightas close to the board as possible with your arms extended over your head holding on tothe boom. (This is when it’s nice to have a life jacket). Put the heel of your back footonto the board – in front of the back foot strap and feet towards the centerline.

Check again to see if the board is still in position. When you’re ready, place your fronthand on the boom just in front of the front harness line, sheet in and let the sailcatch some wind . With the foot that is still in the water, kick and try to bring the kneeof your other leg up to your chest. Think of ducking your head under the boom andtowards the mast. This will keep you low on the mast, giving the sail maximumleverage. It is very important to keep your knees bent. As the sail comes to a verticalposition, begin to stand up and place your other foot on the board. Easy, huh?

Remember, stay low and go slow.

Experiment, talk to other people about problems you are having and find out what works best for you. The strength of the wind also determines how you do your waterstart.

Here are some common mistakes that everyone makes while learning. The first iscalled the “chin-up”syndrome. It happens at the point when the sail is just starting to

pull you out of the water. The natural reaction for everyone is to try to pull themselvesout of the water by pulling down on the boom. You go up a little but the sail comesdown into the water. Keep your front arm extended, hold your breath and let the sailpull you up.

Another common problem is called “butt drag.“ This happens when you don’t bendyour knees when being lifted up or you place both feet on the Board at the same time.

The sail has enough leverage to lift your torso, but not your rear end, out of the water. You end up sailing rather quickly with your arms and legs extended and your butt inthe water. Bend your knees and waist and wait until you are up, before placing yourother foot on the board.

Rounding up into the wind is also a problem encountered by many learning to waterstart. There are several reasons why this happens. Make sure the board is pointingno higher than a beam reach when you initiate your waterstart. Remember to waterstartone foot at a time. The other foot dragging in the water helps keeps the board pointedoff the wind. Rake the sail forward with extended arms as you stand up.


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Getting launched is another common problem that people have when waterstarting. This occurs when the sailor successfully gets out of the water but then is not preparedfor the power from the sail filling with wind, and the sailor gets pulled over thehandlebars. You can avoid this by coming up on the board slowly and being prepared

for this pull as you come out of the water. Start to shift some of your weight to yourback foot as you mount the board, and use this weight to counteract the sail filling with wind.

The only way to learn waterstarts is to practice every chance you get. You will probablymiss some great rides while trying to waterstart but remember in the future there willbe some rides that can only be caught if you know how to waterstart.

Going FastCongratulations! If you have made it this far, you have refined your skills to the pointthat you are pushing the equipment to its limits. Not satisfied with just going fast, youare looking for ways to tune your sailing and rigging to go even faster. One of the mostexciting aspects of windsurfing is going fast. Here are a few tips to get the most speedout of your board.

Mastering waterstarting is a must. You won’t have the luxury of uphauling when it’snukin’ and you’re sailing a sinker. This is a major component of high performancesailing along with getting back to the pier without help.

A comfortable harness system is amust. Using the harness effectively

holds the nose of the board down, tohelp the board plane and go fast.Because leaning back on your harnessgets you so close to the water, thesensation of speed is phenomenal.

Your harness lines should bebalanced at the center of effort of thesail. Your stance should look like thenumber 7, with your hips toward thesail, and your arms and legs extended.

This allows the sail to be as vertical aspossible when you’re hooked in.

You’ll notice that you will have tosheet in as you go faster due to theapparent wind coming more from infront of you. Move your feet backand place them in the foot straps,


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keep your hands as close together as possible, and extend your arms and legs fully.Remember to keep more weight on your back foot. This will prevent most “launches.”

Try to settle into a comfortable position so that you make very few movements thatcould stall your sail or causespin out . As speed increases, you will be able toclose the

gap by raking the sail back until the foot of the sail nearly touches the board.

After a gust hits, bear off to a broad reach. This keeps the sail from backwinding andthrowing you backwards in the water. Undoubtedly, after your first good ride you’ll

want to broad reach all day. But remember, you don’t get anything for nothing andeventually you will have to sail back upwind.

On days when the wind is blowing on shore, lake Mendota becomes quite choppy and wavy. You may find yourselfcatching air even if you don’t want to. As you land, it’simportant to bear off to reduce your chances of spinning out and rounding up.

Learning how to sailoverpowered will save youfrustration and rides fromHarvey. Being overpowered isnot simply sailing too large asail. When overpowered, thedraft moves backwards and thesail shape deforms. Stiff battensand camber inducers candiminish this somewhat, butmore importantly, rigging withtons of downhaul to get a floppy leech with lots of twist at the top of the sail will help

spill off wind when you get overpowered. If your board is bouncing around and tail walking, then move the mast foot forward. That will keep the nose down and help youregain control when you’re sailing overpowered. If it feels like you actually have topush with your front hand to keep the sail up, then it’s time to rig down a size or two.

That’s always a good sign.

Windsurfing is for Everyone ANYONE can learn to windsurf. Because windsurfing is a finesse sport, it takes nogreat strength or endurance to enjoy. Remember, with patience , practice , and persistence you will be shredding it up in no time.


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Index

B

balance position .....................................................17basic position .........................................................16battens ........................................................ 10, 12, 26beam reach ................................................. 12, 23, 24Bearing away...........................................................12Boathouse ........................................................... 4, 21

C

camber inducer ......................................................10centerboard...................................7, 10, 11, 14, 20, 22clew................................................. 10, 12, 19, 20, 23close the gap ...........................................................26

D

downhaul ................................................................26Downwind.................................................................3

F

Fast Tack...................................................................4Foot Straps .............................................................. 20Footstraps..................................................................4

H

Harness.................................................... 4, 20, 22, 25Harness Lines..........................................................20Harvey ............................................................ 5, 8, 26Heading up .............................................................12Heavy Wind ................................................... 5, 6, 21

I

in irons ...................................................................11

J

Jibing.........................................................................4

L

Lake Lab ............................................................ 4, 14

LIFE JACKET .................................................. 7, 24lift.......................................................... 11, 14, 23, 24light wind rating ................................................ 5, 18Long Board “A” ......................................................5Long Windsurfing 3rd Day ........................... 5, 6, 18Longboard...................................... ...........................3longboards......................................................... 20, 22

O

overpowered ..........................................................26

P

Planing .......................................................... 4, 19, 20

S

sailing position .......................................................17sheet in ........................................................ 12, 24, 25sheet out ............................................................ 12, 20Sheeting in ..............................................................12Sheeting out ...........................................................12Short Board ............................................................. 22spin out ...................................................................26

T

Tacking ..................................................... 3, 4, 18, 22Test Out ................................................................5, 6

U

universal joint.................................................... 10, 24Uphaul.......................................................................3uphauling the sail ..................................................15

Upwind......................................................................3W

Waterstart..................................................................4waterstarting................................................ 23, 24, 25waterstarts ................................................... 22, 23, 25wind clock ..............................................................11Windsurfing “A” .....................................................5

Windsurfing 2010

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Transcript of Windsurfing 2010