Windsurfing (also called board sailing) involves travelling over water on a small 2-4.7 meter board powered the wind acting on a single sail, which can range from 1.7m2 for kids to about 15m2, depending upon the wind strength. It's truly a hybrid between sailing and surfing. The sail board might well 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.
For windsurfing beeing fun it takes about 3, better 4 to 5 Beaufort.
In competitions there are three main types of sailing:
racing
Course sailing, fastest to complete the course wins.
freestyle
Usually a timed event which is judged and the sailor who has the greatest reportoire, or manages to carry of the most stunts, wins.
wavesailing
Similar to freestyle (though wavesailing preceded freestyle) except that the stunts are generally performed airborne and in the surf.
