Windsurfing

Holidays & Courses	Contacts & Addresses	Windsurfing Beaches
RYA National Windsurfing Scheme	Windsurfing Safety	Where to Sail
Buying Your First Board	Buying Second Hand	Why Join a Club
Suitable Clothing		Personal Buoyancy

Windsurfing Locations in Cornwall

(Supplied by Windsurf Magazine)

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Rock

Half way up the Camel Estuary, opposite Padstow, Rock is ideal for all levels of windsurfing from beginners on long boards to short board sailors. Tides are very important here as the estuary becomes restricted around low tides especially on Spring Tides.

Best Wind Direction: NW and SE for cross shore. Suitable for everyone.

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Marazion

A fantastic sailing location with the beautiful back drop of St. Michael's Mount. Most windsurfing takes place from the two main car parks. This site caters for all levels of ability, depending on the conditions. the beach has a shore dump at high tide. It's best to wait until the tide drops below the steep shingle part of the beach. If it's too onshore at Station House, Long Rock is a better bet. It's more sheltered in fickle winds, bigger swells or close to high tide. There's a prominent black mast in front of Long Rock which is covered near high tide. If you are sure where the rocks are, head towards the Mount straight after launching.

Best Wind Direction: All except NE and N. The best condition is West which gives a cross shore breeze. Suitable for all abilities depending on conditions.

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Coverack

Set in a mile wide bay on the east side of the Lizard. It's an excellent site for beginners and intermediates who like to blast down wind because in any wind from S to NE the water in the bay remains flat. the only time it gets wavy is in an easterly. A wonderful spot, well worth a visit.

Best Wind Direction: S to NE. Suitable for everyone.

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The Helford

On the Lizard's East coast is the beautiful Helford Passage. This creek is perfect for beginners to learn and intermediates to improve in relative safety. Windsurfers should, however, beware as the area is popular with other boat users. You'll have to dodge past the moored boats and many are in front of the Ferry Boat Inn.

Durgan Beach is slightly less crowded but involves a short walk down from the beach to the road. Parking in the summer can be difficult

You can also launch from the South side of the Helford at St. Anthony-in-Meneage and there is also windsurfing in Gillan Harbour on the South side of the spit.

Best Wind Direction: E and W. Suitable for everyone.

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Maenporth

A small East facing sandy cove with flat water in most conditions. Quite sheltered, therefore good for beginners.

Best Wind Direction: S and NE. Suitable for everyone.

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Carrick Roads

Falmouth Harbour is the world's third largest harbour and has a lot to offer windsurfers. The myriad of creeks and inlets offers a wonderfully safe yet massive expanse of water to play in. Considering the size of the water, launch sites are scarce. But the three main sites allow you to sail in any wind dir or up the hill past the church. This beach works well in most directions except W which is off shore and very gusty.

Best Wind Direction: SW, S, SE and E.

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Portscatho

A tiny village and beach which faces SE.

Best Wind Direction: SW and S. Suitable for intermediates.

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Pendower

Pendower Beach is easily accessible via Veryan through a small National Trust Car park at the back of the small dunes bordering the Pendower Hotel. Beginners and experts alike. NE and SSE are good directions but watch out if there is an easterly or a big southerly swell as it can create an unpleasant kit destroying break. Beware of the wind on the extreme sides of the beach as it can be fluky under the cliffs.

Best Wind Direction: NE and SSE. suitable for all abilities.

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Par

This beach is situated between Fowey and St. Austell and offers good windsurfing in WSW winds at high tide. At low water it is still sailable but can involve a long walk over the sands.

Best Wind Direction: WSW. Suitable for all abilities.

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Looe, Hannafore Point

The ideal time to launch is one and a half hours each side of high tide when you get a clean run out to sea from the beach towards Looe Island. Low tide uncovers a maze of rocks but if you follow the sandy gully down to the uncovered wreck there is easy access into clear water. At high spring tide the water comes right up to the sea wall restricting launching and landing.

Best Wind Direction: S to W. Suitable for all abilities.

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Millandreath

Another South facing beach. Conditions are best at low tide and can be a great spot for heading into Looe Bay for a bit of cruising. It can however get crowded at the height of the summer.

Best Wind Direction: SE and SW. Suitable for all abilities.

Local RYA teaching establishments, equipment retailers should be able to advise you further on suitable windsurfing locations.

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Information from the RYA

'A Beginner's Guide to Windsurfing in the South West'.

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Where to Sail

 

Before purchasing a windsurfing board you must decide where you wish to sail. The most important consideration is safety. If you gave just completed a taster course please refer to the safety section which follows later.

Windsurfers often tend to sail from their nearest beach or lake. All too often they arrive, get changed by their cars, put their kit together sail for a few hours and leave. Often they talk to one or two other windsurfers sailing from the same beach.

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Why Join a Club?

At many of the premier sailing sites in Cornwall you will find a sailing club. The advantages of joining a sailing club are numerous. From the safety point of view sailing in numbers is much safer than venturing out on the water by yourself. Some clubs also organise a rescue craft over the weekend which adds that certain sense of security.

One of the most beneficial reasons to join a club is the fact that you will progress much faster by sailing amongst like minded individuals. The challenge of one person trying to go faster than another is common in many sports. In windsurfing it adds yet another element of excitement to your on the water activities.

Racing is easy to organise and not nearly as complicated as it may first appear. As a result the majority of clubs run a regular dinghy series which windsurfers can join in with. By taking part in the racing you will find that your sailing will improve considerably.

Some clubs also offer facilities such as windsurf storage, showers and a bar. A definite advantage after a long day out on the water.

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RYA National Windsurfing Scheme

Windsurfing has something to offer everyone at every level of ability. From a pleasant Sunday afternoon spent cruising on your local lake, to tackling Cornwall's world famous wave sailing venues. As a result it's no surprise that this relatively new sport has had such a dramatic rise in the past few years.

The RYA National and Junior Windsurfing Schemes have been developed to help you progress rapidly through the sport, whatever your age or level of ability. Like any activity, good tuition and sound advice mean that you will learn more easily, and more importantly, ensure you'll enjoy all that windsurfing has to offer.

Learning windsurfing skills is progressive: you cannot learn advanced manoeuvres until the basics are fully mastered. With this in mind the RYA has established three extremely good junior and five adult courses and assessments.

If you have just completed a Taster course, you are strongly recommended to complete a level 1 course before venturing onto open stretches of water.

During level 1 important safety aspects and manoeuvres are explained and practised. This will ensure that your next on water experience will be even more rewarding and safe. The centre where you completed your Taster course should be able to book you on a level 1 course.

Buying Your First Board

Mark Kasprowicz is the Editor of Windsurf Magazine. Windsurf is produced ten times per year and is available from most good news agents and windsurfing shops.

In this section Mark talks about factors you should consider when purchasing your first board.

Board design and materials have improved in leaps and bounds in the last few years. Buying that first board is a lot less fraught because the entry level production designs have been honed to perfection. your first board must be stable, easy to sail in all directions but with enough inbred performance to allow your windsurfing skills to develop. The same goes for the rig (sail, mast and boom) which should be easy to put together and light enough to handle (to start with you'll be pulling the sail out of the water and anything that makes it easy is always welcome). At the same time the mast and boom must be compatible with any extra sails that you buy in the future.

Remember that board stability is based on volume and your final choice will be dictated by your own weight. Board volume is measured in litres and a litre of water weighs 1 kilo (kg). For stability you need about 80 litres in reserve. The rig weighs about 7kg and if you weigh 70kg (the average male weight), your minimum board volume should be 80 litres (reserve) + 70 (your own weight) + 7 (the rig) - or 157 litres.

Board and rig technologies vary depending on the construction technology. Basically the heavier the board the cheaper it will be. The toughest boards are made in polyethylene, but they are also the heaviest.

ABS skinned boards are lighter but also more expensive. Does weight really matter? A lighter board will accelerate faster and will plane (skim across the water) in lighter winds than a heavier one but the top speed will be similar.

Combined rig and board packages are good value for money and are worth seeking out. For a little extra you can buy a rig made up of a boom, mast and sail that would cost over two hundred pounds if bought separately. Boards worth considering are the Bic Veloce 328, F2 Phoenix (especially suitable for heavier sailors), Fanatic Snake 335, Hifly 330PX and 320PX (the 310PX is for lightweight or young sailors only) which are excellent value for money, the Hifly Magnum 328 (187L) is another good value package, Mistral Malibu S (170L), Mistral Escape (190L) and the Mistral Competition (250L). the Tiga Aloha is very good value for money and, in addition, opens up a new avenue for young sailors as it's a racing class. Hifly and Tiga boards are made in polyethylene, the rest are ABS skinned.

All of these designs have centre boards which may be lowered for going up wind and for stability, all have footstrap fittings. At present footstraps are just another thing to trip up on. We recommend that you do not fit them to your board in the early learning stages. As you improve you'll discover that they are essential for fast comfortable windsurfing. You'll also find that most of these boards have discounted rig packages aimed at the first time buyer.

If you are offered a choice of sail sizes, choose one around 5 to 5.5 square metres. It's a good balance between power, speed and weight so it will propel the board along nicely and remain light to uphaul. The mast will be standard but make sure that you are able to alter its length to fit smaller and larger sails.

You should find that your local windsurfing dealer should have lots of knowledge about the products they sell and windsurfing itself. your local RYA teaching establishment should be able to recommend a retail outlet in the area. But remember allow yourself to be guided but don't be pressurised into buying something you don't want because he or she doesn't stock the item you have set your heart on.

Finally you're just about to make a substantial investment in a truly great sport. In the not too distant future, you will have improved to a stage where 'short board fever' takes over. But don't be tempted to sell your first board. Keep it for club racing which is fantastic fun and perfect for both light and strong winds. Your first board will also prove excellent for teaching friends and family or simply messing about on.

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Buying Second-hand - Sailing on a Shoe-string

 

As stated above windsurfing design and development has increased dramatically sine that first day someone decided to put a sail on a surf board. As a result there is now a thriving market in second-hand equipment. Some excellent bargains are to be had and some old bangers to be avoided. Below we have listed some of the factors one should take into account when purchasing second-hand kit.

Searching for a Second-hand Board.

The initial search for a second-hand board can seem somewhat daunting. With the above information you will have a basic idea of what you are looking for.

Consider the factors when purchasing a second-hand board.

• • Is the board suitable? i.e. volume, sail size.
  • Is the manufacturer still producing boards, i.e. is it easily possible to get spares?
  • Are all the parts in working order?
  • Does the board have any visible holes/cracks?
  • Does the board have any soft spots?
  • Does the board have grip on the deck? i.e. not slippery.
  • Is the board especially heavy?
  • Price - a good standard of beginner board can often be purchased for around £200.
  • Try to ensure that the vendor has proof of ownership or some form of identification.
  • Always be sure to take a name and address in case of future complications.

Where to look for Second-hand Boards.

• • Local Club - The benefits of joining a local club are numerous. One benefit not mentioned above is that you can often find bargains amongst club members. The club notice board may even have more second-hand equipment for sale than the local retailer! The added bonus is the fact that you can often have the opportunity to try the equipment before purchasing.
  • Local Paper/Free Ads - A quick look through the local paper or Free Ads can often produce a quality board at an extremely affordable price. the unwanted birthday present or garage sale can produce unexpected surprises.
  • Windsurfing Carboot Sales/Boat Jumbles - These events tend top be advertised in the specialist magazines available at most large news agents. Always interesting to see the variety of equipment available, although you may feel that you have stumbled into an edition of the Antiques Roadshow. Often good fun and always worth a haggle.
  • Local RYA Recognised Teaching Establishment - Many teaching establishments regularly replace equipment at the end of the season. It is worth keeping in contact with them.

 

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Suitable Clothing for Windsurfing

The following section is meant to give an idea of the type of clothing you should wear before venturing onto the water.

Footwear.

Some form of footwear is strongly recommended. Firstly, to keep your feet warm and secondly to stop you bashing or cutting your feet. The choice is yours. An old pair of trainers in the summer should suffice and a pair of wetsuit boots for the winter to keep those toes warm.

Hats.

Roughly one third of body heat is lost through the head, so a hat can also be a great advantage.

Wetsuits.

During your taster or level 1 course you will have been wearing a wetsuit. Apart from the fact you may have felt somewhat peculiar you will have noticed that the wetsuit kept you warm. Wetsuits are made from flexible, closed cell rubber. The idea is to keep the body dry and insulated. If water does penetrate, it is trapped, forms a thin layer between body and suit and is warmed up by body heat to provide insulation. For this to work the suit must be tight fitting over the main part of the body.

There are different models of wetsuit available. These range from:

• The winter steamer - a one piece suit covering body, arms and legs, typically 4 or 5mm thick. This type of suit tends to be used during the colder months.
• Dry steamer - as above but with a special dry zip and neck seal, it is designed to reduce all water penetration. Warm as toast but at a price.
• Convertible steamer - usually a 3mm one piece suit but with detachable arms. A good compromise for all seasons, except deepest winter.
• Shorty - a wetsuit with short arms and legs. designed for warm weather.

There are two fundamental choices in material. These are, double lined and single lined neoprene (which is sometimes known as smooth skin). Smooth skin is more flexible and allows the water to run straight off it, therefore reducing wind chill. This makes it particularly useful for windsurfing. On the downside it is more easily snagged and torn. Double lined neoprene has a nylon layer on the outside as well as on the inside. This limits its natural stretch and means that it does absorb water on the outside which increases its wind chill.

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Personal Buoyancy

A buoyancy aid looks like a padded waistcoat and should be made of closed cell foam with a simple, secure zip or buckle. Buoyancy aids are ideal for use in sheltered or inshore waters to provide a degree of buoyancy in a light weight garment. For small children, the buoyancy aid should be fitted with a crutch strap to stop it riding up.

A lifejacket has the advantage that, when fully inflated, it will turn an unconscious person to float upwards, with mouth and nose clear of the water. But as it will tend to float you on your back it also impedes swimming. There are several different types of life jacket. The disadvantage of a life jacket is that it can restrict your movements. When purchasing either type of jacket be sure that you are aware of how to fasten it securely and of its limitations.

Most high level windsurfers do not wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Why? In most situations when you fall off you emerge next to your board, which is a huge buoyancy aid in itself. A life jacket is very unpopular with windsurfers as it tends to be too bulky and restricts vision and movement.

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