Windsurfing equipment has gone through incredible changes just in the past decade. It is now much lighter, easier to use, more reliable, and for the advanced sailor, faster, and more fun. People who tried windsurfing long ago and found it difficult will notice just how much easier the sport now is with the new equipment.
Just as the sport is divided into light-wind and high-wind windsurfing, the equipment is also divided. A beginner need only concern himself or herself with light-wind equipment because it is the easiest to learn on, and you can keep it throughout your windsurfing career for general light-wind sailing. Windsurfing equipment for any wind conditions is comprised of five primary pieces: board, sail, mast, boom and mast base. When a sail, mast, boom and base are put together, we call it a rig. The rig attaches to the board with the mast base.


Boards


Boards range in size from 12'6" long with 250 liters of volume, all the way, down to little high-performance boards under 8' long and with a mere 70 liters of volume. All boards have a fin on the underside near the tail, and a place for the mast called a mast track. Most boards have footstraps for keeping yourself on the board at high speeds or during jumps but footstraps are for experts. Longboards, as boards better suited for light-wind sailing are called, are distinguished not only by their length (usually over 10 feet or 290 cm) but primarily by their use of a centerboard, which gives the board stability and upwind ability. Shortboards are under 10 feet long and do not have a centerboard.


Sails


Sails are described in two ways: by their function, and by their size. Examples of function types could be race sails, slalom sails and wave sails. Sizes, almost always spoken in square meters or fractions thereof, range from 10 square meters to 3.5 square meters. Bigger sails are used in lighter wind, and smaller sails are needed for when the wind is so strong, the only way a sailor could hang onto it is if he uses a sail with less area. However, a beginner should not mess with sails larger than 6.0 square meters for starters. The most common sizes are between 7.5 and 5.0. A beginner should start with a very small sail for his first session, something in the 4.0 range, and will probably want a midsize slalom sail like a 6.0 for his first purchase.


Sails are rigged up on masts, and the type of mast is determined by the type of sail you buy. Masts can become a confusing subject becasue they are defined in terms of length and bend type with numbers such as 460-25. Don't concern yourself so much with the second number, as that is the bend stiffness prescribed by your sail maker. The first number is merely the length of the mast in centimeters. The main thing to remember is a lightweight carbon mast is the most desirable mast for beginners and experts alike.
The boom is simply what you hold onto. Beginners should merely look for a boom that is easy to attach to the mast (make sure it has a clamp-on front end), and it should adjust to fit the length of your sails. All the mast base has to do is fit into your mast, and be compatible with your board.


A Good First Package for Beginners


A beginner should not get bogged down with overly advanced equipment. A simple, functional setup which will allow the sailor to both learn and progress is the ideal situation. Keep in mind that the board and sail on which you spend your first couple hours is probably not the setup you want to buy as a beginner. Once you get over that first initial "hump" of the basic learning steps, you should be most concerned with getting equipment you will enjoy sailing for the rest of your career.
Most beginners, except perhaps the very heavy (over 200 pounds) should start on a board between 11' and 12'6" with at least 200 liters of volume. Heavier sailors will want a higher-volume board. The beginner's board will have a centerboard and a fin, but need not have footstraps. Of course, if the board comes with footstraps, you can simply remove them until you are ready for them. Many first packages also come with a complete rig - sail, mast, boom and mast base. Ideally the sail should be a light, simple design, with four or more battens, and perhaps one or two cambers (devices in the sail which keep the battens pressed against the mast). Something between 6.5 and 5.5 is a good starting size. Your mast and booms will fit the sail properly if these components are bought as a package. All you have to do is learn to rig and you are ready to go.


Special Gear


Soon after you purchase your board, you may find the need for a few speciality items. A functional windsurfing wetsuit is a good idea regardless of the water temperature. Not only will it keep the chill off, but it will protect your body from the sun and from abrasions as you climb on your board. Make sure you get a windsurfing wetsuit - one with plenty of room in the forearms and shoulder area. Windsurfing wetsuits should not be as tight as, say, surfing wetsuits. Along with your wetsuit, you may find a set of booties helpful. Some learning areas have rocky or reefy bottoms and booties protect your feet. But even with booties you can still get your feet wet.