Windsurfing as a sport

What is windsurfing?

According to WordIQ:

"Windsurfing (also called boardsailing) is a sport involving travel over water on a small 2-4.7 meter board powered by wind acting on a single sail, that is connected to the board via a flexible joint. The sport is a hybrid between sailing and surfing. The sail board might be considered the most minimalistic version of the modern sailboat, with the major exception that steering is accomplished by tilting the mast and sail rather than with a rudder. Windsurfers can travel over flat water as long as there is enough wind; they can also cut into breaking waves and perform spectacular stunts. Windsurfing is very versatile by its relation to the sailor. It can mean a peaceful relaxed pastime on the water to some people, it can be a high-stress high-adrenalin sport to others, but it can also be a lifestyle of seeking the endless limits of perfection in skills and self-expression."

Is the bay area a good place for windsurfing?

Yes! During the spring and summer, many locations around the bay area are blessed with the high winds that windsurfers love. Coming from Stanford, the closest windsurfing spots are 3rd Avenue and Coyote Point. Both of these are located on the bay between the San Mateo bridge and SFO airport. On this part of the bay, the spring and summer winds are typically thermally driven, so they build rapidly on most afternoons. Winds of 20 knots or better are not uncommon during this time. If you get tired of coyote and 3rd and are willing to drive a little further, there are other great windsurfing spots scattered all over the bay from San Fransisco to the East Bay, up into the Sacramento River delta. More advanced windsurfers can head to the coast (Half Moon Bay and Waddell Creek are popular) to windsurf and jump in the actual surf.

Some people are suprised at how cold the water in the bay is compared to the mild climate in the area. This is due to the steepness of the California coast as it drops off into deep ocean and that we are situated directly "downstream" of Alaska. So yes, the water is cold. However, a good 3mm wetsuit (or preferably a 4-3 during the winter) is perfectly adequate to keep you warm and happy enjoying the great windsurfing in the bay area.

Where are other good places for windsurfing?

Anywhere with water and wind can be a great place for windsurfing. In general, people just use different types of windsurfing equipment depending upon how much wind there is. For areas with less wind, formula boards (wide boards with very large sails) can be a lot of fun starting at under 10 knots of wind. As the winds get stronger, the boards and sails get smaller. This trend continues up to winds in excess of 40 knots. That said, some of the more famous windsurfing locations in this country include the Columbia River Gorge (near Portland, Oregon), Maui (in Hawaii), and Padre Island (near Corpus Christi, Texas).

What is the history of windsurfing?

Windsurfing is a relatively young sport with its roots set in the 1940's. In 1948, twenty-year old Newman Darby came up with the idea of mounting a hand-held sail and rig on an universal joint. In 1968 sailor Jim Drake and surfer Holy Schweitzer got together and this saw the birth of windsurfing in the state of Southern California. They obtained the first patent for the original windsurfer which measured 12 feet in length and weighed 60 pounds. Despite its origins in the U.S., the sport caught on in Europe and developed there during the 1970's. The professional World cup tour and Olympic status in 1984 furthered the growth of the sport globally. (compiled from multiple sources online)

How fast are windsurfers?

Very! The speed record over a 500m course is 46.24 knots!

Is windsurfing hard to learn?

No. Most people find that learning the basics of windsurfing in the proper conditions and with the proper equipment is relatively easy. On the other hand, mastering the sport of windsurfing is very difficult and becomes a lifelong venture for many.

Where can I find out more?

For more general information on windsurfing, check out some of the pages in our links section .

This page last updated 11/13/05
Maintained by : Flavio Poehlmann