Techno 293 Development Programme

Without a doubt the Techno 293 class is the best option for young kids to enter the world of sailing and windsurfing. Here is the story of the Portuguese Sailing Federation and their support for the class in the country.  [more]

Windsurfing Is Alive, Well and Progressing

While windsurfing has been eradicated from too much of North America, it thankfully remains part of the culture (counter-culture?) on San Francisco Bay. Latitude 38 editor Tim Henry headed to one of his favourite windsurfing spots at the Berkeley Marina . . .

Berkeley is not exactly among the famous locales on the Bay, especially when compared to the epic scenery of Crissy Field, the gnarly ebb swells at Third Avenue in San Mateo or the nuclear sea breezes along the Delta. Berkeley is tame and quiet by comparison.

So we were surprised to see the grass in front of HS Lordships full of brand-new and stylish boards and sails, and lots of young windsurfers with their specialized vernacular. The event was part of US Windsurfing?s 2017 Nationals, and included foil-sailing, course racing, slalom, and the freestyle portion we stumbled on.

As windsurfers, one of the first things people usually ask us is, ?Why don?t you kitesurf?? One of our contributors even wondered if anyone still windsurfed at all anymore.

British windsurfer plans to sail 15,000 kilometers down Europe's Atlantic coastline

The British windsurfer believes it will take him two years to complete the 9,320-mile (15,000 kilometers) adventure in European waters. His planned route includes around 20 different countries.  Dunnett, 43, kicked off his solo and unsupported journey at Grense Jacobselv, in Norway's Barents Sea, on May 16, 2017. He expects to conclude his "Windsurf Round Europe" project near the Russia/Ukraine border, on the Black Sea, by May 2019.

What is "apparent wind"?

Why does the wind seem almost to disappear when you sail downwind and increase again when you sail upwind? Let's learn what apparent wind "feels" like.

Beginner and advanced sailors have already felt it, but they probably haven't thought about it. When we sail in stronger winds, we tend to feel that we're moving faster than we actually are.

This sensation occurs when we start feeling high winds on our face or on our skin. Apparent wind is exactly that. However, let's rewind our lesson a bit to the concept of true wind.

The truth behind true wind

True wind is nothing more than the speed and direction of the wind that you feel when you are not sailing away, i.e., from a stationary observation point. Imagine yourself at the beach, just feeling the wind in your face and your body.

You're experiencing true wind or, in other words, the measurement given by your portable anemometer. For example, you look at the device, and the wind is blowing at 15 knots - that is simply true wind. Simple as that.

Now, suppose you're driving a cabriolet at fifty miles per hour on a windless day. The speed of the car through the stagnant air mass creates an "induced wind" of fifty miles per hour. In other words, if you stand up on your seat you will feel a fifty mile per hour wind hitting you in the face.

In this case, your apparent wind (50 mph) equals your induced wind (50 mph). But suppose you are driving at fifty miles per hour and that there is also a true wind coming from your right at fifty miles per hour.

You won't feel two separate winds, but instead one "apparent wind" which results from the combined effects of both the induced and true wind. While sailing, the faster we go, the more apparent wind direction swings forward. 

What do "port" and "starboard" mean?

Is windsurfing a lifestyle?

Too Old for Freestyle? 5 Reasons Why You're Not

Six (un)orthodox methods for checking wind direction

Knowing the direction of the wind is critical to windsurfers and kiteboarders. There are many wind measurement methods; some of them are quite precise and accurate, some of them are just enough to sail away.

The wind compass is a simple and effective tool to know where the wind is blowing from. The information is given in letters (example: NE, SW), but the compass is usually divided into 360 degrees around the full circle. This will allow for more precise measurements.

Subtle changes in wind direction will have impacts on the way you sail. Although it not always possible to perfectly adjust to the right origin of the breeze, it is important to know different ways of checking wind direction wherever you are.

Onshore beach flags provide valuable information as they always shift with the wind. You can check them if you're at the beach, but you can also take a quick glance at them when sailing out in the water.

Hand pouring sand is another classic way of knowing where is the wind blowing from. It's quite easy; just let those grains tell you if it's offshore or side shore breeze.

One of the most accurate methods is the wind vane. Although you might not find many weather vanes near sailing spots, today you can easily afford a similar product for your smartphone. The WeatherFlow Wind Meter works like a portable anemometer.

Windsocks are not often seen near lakes, beaches or rivers, but if you're driving to your favourite sailing spot, you might pass by one of these conical tubes down the highway. Remember that in this particular case, the wind direction is the opposite of the direction in which the windsock is pointing.

The wet-finger-in-the-wind test is one of the most inexact and erroneous ways of analysing wind sources. The problem with the human wind meter is that it is clearly unreliable in very humid and very hot conditions.

Modern digital anemometers are the most accurate wind measurement method. These portable devices are sold with a broad range of options and functions such as air temperature, air pressure, and wind speed.

Do you know the Beaufort Wind Scale? Take a look at it. Knowledge is power.
Discover the most famous winds of the world. Check the wind forecast for your sailing region.

The best diet for windsurfers

What is the best diet for windsurfers? Health promoter Henrik Beyer shares what research has to say about diets and how this relates to windsurfers.

In the beginning of a windsurfing season, many sailors realize that they have gained weight and consider to lose a few pounds. To what diet should they turn to help them?

Since the milk cure diet that was introduced in the 18th century, which assigned each individual a specific cow to drink from for a week, to "modern" high fat and low carbohydrates diets, we have learnt a great deal about healthy eating.

For centuries, diets have helped people to lose weight, but also consistently failed to assist people in keeping it off. Unfortunately, diets have a tendency to be short-term solutions to long-term problems, and can lead people to an unhealthy approach to food.

Windsurfers wanting to lose weight should ask themselves if they want a long-term solution or a quick fix that is likely to result in the weight returning after a few months. Losing weight is rather easy, but keeping it off is harder.

A healthy New Year's resolution for windsurfers

Promising a health behavior change for next year can be a powerful motivator for increased health and fitness in windsurfing. But it can also be a disappointment. Henrik Beyer gives us a few pointers to increase the effectiveness of a healthy New Year's resolution in windsurfers.

Lack of motivation or life circumstances can hinder even the most determined windsurfer to get or stay healthy and fit for windsurfing. Research has shown that people who decide to start an exercise program are far more successful if they plan their change and are prepared for setbacks and get social support.

We know that windsurfers enjoy health benefits and will increase their sailing performance if they stay physically fit and follow a healthy diet. But knowledge is not enough to help and make us change.

We do not have a certain amount of willpower stored specifically for health behavior change in our lives. Things such as choosing to go to the gym instead of staying home with your family will require some willpower for most people.

"Since each person has a limit amount of willpower, a New Year's resolution will be far more effective if you focus one thing at the time, and choose what is most important to you," says Henrik Beyer, author of "Health & Fitness for Windsurfing."

Beyer suggests that all windsurfers who are serious about their healthy New Year's resolution should answer these questions, and think about these aspects before making their promise. . . .

"We have all failed in life. It is absolutely crucial for success that we dare to fail. Each New Year's resolution is an opportunity to be successful if we are smart about it," concludes Beyer.

A windsurfing love story in the "Atlantic."

The Portuguese and the Spaniards were the first Atlantic Ocean explores. Back then, the Sea of Atlas was an immense secret, an incommensurable treasure. Today, the Atlantic is the center stage for personal adventures, too.

Jan-Willem van Ewijk, the director behind "Atlantic.," has filmed the story of a young Moroccan windsurfer who decides to embark on a solitary windsurfing voyage to Europe.

Fettah Lamara has a strong drive. He fell in love with Alexandra, a beautiful European woman, and he will not rest until he finds his passion in the Old Continent.

But the "Atlantic.," hides dangers in every swell. Will Lamara be able to touch the horizon? Will the saltiest ocean claim his soul? Van Ewijk, a professional aircraft designer, has pinched the story with the right amount of emotions, adventure and water.

"Atlantic." is a windsurfing love film. In 94 minutes, you're invited to dream alongside Fettah Lamara and Alexandra. Morocco is 300 kilometers (186 miles) away from Europe. Will distance tear them apart?

10 Golden Rules of  Water Safety

Learning to windsurf isn?t just about learning to pull up the sail, blast along and turn around. Once you?ve mastered the basic windsurfing techniques, it?s time to learn the rules and etiquette that are key for every windsurfer to know. First up, we learn the Golden Rules of Water Safety with George Shillito.

SAIL SAFE

In times of need your board becomes your life raft, make sure you know how to minimise these times and react to them if it does go wrong.

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail?.

As you read, you may have notice that most of the points are nearly all done before your session on the water even begins and are all complete and utter common sense. Even so I can assure you that all of the below rules will have absolutely no effect to your sailing, nor get in the way of progression, or even damage your beach cred, but one day they might just save your life, so take note and make those otherwise unconscious checks a thing of the past!

Read more at Boards.com

Why I Windsurf - Nik Baker

British summer windsurfing? means something different to all ?of us. Whether it's a road trip with friends, sharing warm days at the beach with family, or getting every ounce of speed out of your faithful freeride gear - it is without doubt what we live for in the cold dark winter months.

British windsurfing legend, Nik Baker talks about his love for windsurfing, journey through the sport and why sharing windsurfing with his family is now the priority?

Read more at Boards.com

9 Ways to Spice Up Your Windsurfing

Do you feel like you are stuck in a rut with your windsurfing?

Have you fallen into the routine of heading to the same spot, with the same people and taking out the same gear in the same conditions?

Are you still enjoying your windsurfing, and all that our sport brings, but have a feeling that your progression has plateaued?

If you answered yes to any of the above, it is definitely time to spice things up a little and re-energise your windsurfing. Highly skilled and experienced coach, Andy 'Bubble' Chambers shares his advice on doing just this.

"For many people windsurfing is at the top of the list of leisure activities when you have any spare time, or even when you don?t. I understand that everyone has other commitments such as work and family, or other barriers to windsurfing including no transport, not enough money etc. This means that when you do make it to the beach or lake, your windsurfing time should be precious; you should make the most of it and NOT become a car park windsurfer.

Some people get into the habit of turning up at their local spot, standing for hours staring out to sea with their arms folded and giving it the good old beach chat about the tide not being right or the wind being too light/gusty/strong/wrong direction. This then moves onto discussing kit tuning, or what board someone has and how it should be set up, basically making excuses for not actually being on the water; you know who you are!

This is where spicing up your windsurfing can really make a difference. You should know when you get to the water you are getting out, no matter what the conditions are. You should be thrilled, ready and excited to hit the water as soon as you get there . . ."  9 ways to spice it up . . .

Committed to . . . reducing the number of youths engaging in drugs & alcohol. Surfity is a sustainable model for long-term success.

Our growing network of volunteer coaches, sports centres and kit donors enables underprivileged youths to experience sports that could change their lives forever.

"Young adults use drugs as a way of letting off steam, winning popularity and impressing their peers. Users typically turn to drugs simply because they're bored. Taking drugs at this important stage in their development has an extremely damaging impact on young people's lives and on the range of opportunities open to them later in life.

"Surfity is committed to reducing the number of British youths turning to drugs by giving them an escape route from boredom. Instead of dead ends and short-term fixes, we offer the adrenaline rush of sports like windsurfing, kite surfing and sailing. Participants in the Surfity programme will also benefit from the knowledge and experience of their peers - likeminded people committed to helping keep them off drugs and on the right track.

"By making adrenaline sports more accessible, we aim to offer underprivileged youths a credible alternative to drugs.

"Surfity offers access to equipment and coaching, giving participants the chance to learn and try a range of thrilling, fulfilling sports. We recruit coaches from local centres of excellence and provide participants with equipment donated by members of the public.

"We are dedicated to helping British youth find alternative means of excitement and fulfilment in their lives."

We offer our youth: A way of keeping fit and feeling good
A chance to let off steam and beat boredom
Something to believe in and look forward to
Engagement with likeminded people