Aerial
Any short board manoeuvre that is performed in the air, but more usually taken to mean airtime gained during a wave-ride.
Air
Phrases like 'getting air', 'big air' and 'air time' are often heard after a good jumping or wave sailing session.
All-round
Used to describe a board or sail that is suitable for all-round use - meaning both light and strong winds or different sea conditions.
Apparent Wind
The wind flow actually felt by the windsurfer when on the water is a combination of the true wind, and the 'induced' wind created by the board's motion. (If sailing at 10mph, the induced wind will be 10mph onto the nose. The apparent wind is the wind actually experienced by the sailor (and rig!) and is a combination of the induced wind and the true wind. The faster you sail, the greater the induced wind, and thus the greater the apparent wind. The apparent wind also increases the closer you are sailing towards the true wind.
Aspect Ratio
A term borrowed from aerodynamics, and approximating to the length of the foil, wing or sail, divided by the width. A High Aspect Ratio sail, fin or daggerboard is tall and narrow - low aspect is short and squat.
Asymmetric
Some short boards designed especially for use with big waves have asymmetric tail shapes - short on one side and long on the other - which is a specialist application used in wave locations that have consistent conditions. Wave boards may also have asymmetric footstrap and fin configurations.
Backside
Wave sailing manoeuvre: sailing or riding the wave towards the wind, with your back to the wave.
Backward Loop
A 360 degree backwards rotation of board, sail and sailor executed in mid air.
Bale Out
Self explanatory term describing the best course of action if things go horribly wrong during a high jump or aerial manoeuvre.
Battens
Lengths of flexible glassfibre and/or carbon which support the shape of the sail. Usually tapered towards the mast so that they bend more in the thinner section, giving the sail more fullness ('belly') towards the front (leading edge).
Beach Start
Method of launching by carrying the board (with rig connected) into the water, filling the sail with wind, hopping on, and sailing off. The only practical way to start a short board.
Beach Break
A wavesailing beach, where the waves are created and/or affected by sand bars.
Bearing Away
Altering course so that the new course is pointing further away from the direction that the wind is blowing from.
Beating
Sailing upwind - as close as possible to the direction the wind is blowing from.
Beaufort Scale
The measurement of wind speed based on knots, divided into units from Force 1 (virtually no wind) to Force 12 (hurricane force!)
Bercy
Bery stadium in Paris is the home of indoor windsurfing, and the annual Bercy event used to be the high point of the indoor windsurfing tour, with 10,000 screaming fans packing the venue for two or three nights in a row. There are now also annual indoor events at many other locations around the world, and the French event has moved to Lyon, but Bercy will always be remembered as the biggest and best.
Blank
A foam blank is a roughly board shaped piece of foam which is transformed by a 'shaper' who sands and planes it into the exact shape of a board. It's then laminated with glassfibre and resin to become a custom board.
Blade Fin
A high aspect ratio fin with an elliptically shaped tip designed to produce maximum lift at speed with minimum drag. Most modern fins other than wave and some freestyle fins are of the blade variety.
Blasting
General term for sailing while powered up at high speed, in the footstraps and harness.
Blind Stitch
As used in wetsuit manufacture. The blind stitch joins the neoprene panels of a wetsuit without the needle piercing right through, making the wetsuit completely waterproof and therefore much warmer.
Blow Moulding
A manufacturing process used to produce relatively low cost boards with an extremely durable outer skin made of polyethylene and/or polypropylene, and then filled with a polyeurethane foam.
Body Drag
Hopping off a board at speed to drag your body on the water for a few seconds, and then (hopefully) hopping back on again.
Boom
The bit you hang on to! Aluminium or carbon tubing covered in a soft grip material. It connects to the mast with a clamp at its front end. The rear end features a pulley and cleat mechanism to tension the sail by means of an outhaul rope. All booms are adjustable in length to accommodate a range of different sail sizes.
Bottom Turn
Wave sailing manoeuvre involving bearing away at the bottom of a wave to ride up it again. Usually taken to refer to front-side wave riding.
Break
Surfing term for the area where a wave starts breaking.
Broad Reach
Sailing 'off the wind', between a beam reach and a run. The fastest point of sailing when planing.
Buoyancy
The buoyancy in a board is provided by a foam core. With the exception of advanced sailing in stronger winds, the heavier you are the more buoyancy your board needs to prevent it sinking under you. (See also 'Volume').
Buoyancy Aid
A flotation waistcoat that will keep you afloat in the water. Strongly recommended while learning. Also known as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
Camber
The amount of fullness, depth or 'belly' in a sail.
Camber Inducer
A plastic device at the end of the batten which cups against the mast. It helps to hold a rigid aerofoil shape in the sail, better for speed and stability, but at the cost of manouevrability and generally how light and easy to use the sail feels.
Camlock
Spring-locked buckle and strap tensioning system used by some manufacturers for tensioning the sail battens.
Carve
Carving a turn or carving a gybe is a way of altering course at high speed by banking the board into the turn like a ski.
Catapult
A spectacular means of wiping out, where the sailor is flung straight over the front of the board, usually because of a strong gust hitting the sail. Absolutely EVERYONE gets catapulted at some time or another!
Cavitation
A fin travelling at very high speed can experience this, leading to drastic spin-out and an inevitable crash!
Centre of Effort (CE)
The balance point in the sail where the wind's power appears to be concentrated.
Centre of Lateral Resistance (CLR)
The balance point of a board about which it turns. On a long board the CLR is around the daggerboard - on a short board the CLR is usually around the fin.
Chameleon
Generic term coined by the Boards test team in 1992 to describe the exciting new generation of short (265cm) boards, offering a hitherto unheard-of combination of speed and manoeuvrability. Their footstraps and fin configuration can be altered to change them from very fast slalom boards to very throwabout fun machines, hence the name. Since then, in the interests of international unity, these boards are more commonly known as Convertibles.
Cheese Roll
Tasty aerial manoeuvre invented by Italian sailor Cesare Cantagalli, involving spinning the board and sail sideways through 360 degrees in mid air. This was the first of the now wide range of forward loop manoeuvres.
Chill Factor
The wind makes it feel colder than it is! The more wind, the greater the chill factor.
Chop
Small wind-blown waves.
Chop hop
Getting the board airborne off small chop as opposed to proper waves
Chord
An imaginary straight line to indicate the shortest distance from the clew of the sail to the mast.
Cleat
A small toothed fitting used to secure a line. A self-jamming cleat is usually used to secure the outhaul and downhaul lines.
Clew
The outer or back corner of the sail, which attaches to the rear end of the boom.
Clew-first
Sailing along with the sail reversed and the clew pointing forward.
Close Hauled
Sailing upwind.
Close Out
A wave that breaks simultaneously along its full length, making it difficult (and often dangerous) to ride, and hazardous for sailors trying to get out through the break.
Combination Move
More than one manoeuvre in quick succession, usually referring to the latest breed of combination jumps such as the table top forward or double loops.
Composite
Composite construction is the more expensive method of board production. A lightweight pre-shaped foam core is heat-sealed with a composite skin made of glassfibre with reinforcement provided by 'exotic' materials like carbon and kevlar, all held together with epoxy resin, and sometimes a thin outer layer of plastic added too, for extra durability. It produces boards that are light, stiff and reasonably durable.
Concaves
Boards have all kinds of bottom shapes, and may incorporate single, double, triple or more concaves, which are wide and very shallow longitudinal grooves in the hull, to promote speed and early planing performance. Improvements in sail and fin design has now lessened the need for concaves and most short boards are fairly concave-free, although they are still often used on longer boards.
Constant Curve
A term used to describe masts that bend in a constant curve from base to tip.
Course Racing
Racing around a course in moderate to strong winds (8kts+), usually starting with an upwind leg, followed by a number of broad reaching legs back downwind.
Course Slalom
Course racing in planing conditions on sub 3m boards.
Cringle
The metal eyelet at the tack and clew of the sail, through which the downhaul and outhaul ropes are threaded.
Cross-Shore
A wind blowing from left to right or right to left across your launch point is best for windsurfing, giving you a beam reach out and back. Also called sideshore.
Custom
Hand made board - see also 'Blank'.
Cutaway Fin
Standard swept-back fin, but with a bite taken out of the back near the base. For various hydrodynamical reasons, this profile of fin is more forgiving and less prone to spin-out than the most simple 'dolphin fin' plan shape.
Cutaway Sail
The 'cutaway' was a large, angular concave cutout halfway down the leech of the sail, and the precursor to the modern floppy-leeched sail. In vogue in the mid-late eighties, but not used on any (serious!) sail designs since then.
Cutback
A wave sailing manoeuvre to head back down from the top of a wave.
Dacron
A woven polyester sailcloth.
Daggerboard
The large, pivoting and removable 'fin' in the middle of a long or mid-length board. You use your foot to lower or raise it, lowering it in light winds or when sailing upwind, to give greater stability and lateral resistance, but offwind when sailing at speed you pivot the daggerboard back so it retracts into the hull, as the extra lift it creates makes the board difficult to control at high speeds.
Deck Plate
The socket for the mastfoot, which is fixed to the mast-track in the deck of the board.
Dedicated Slalom Board (DSB)
Another phrase coined by the Boards test team, this time back in 1989. DSB is used to describe a generation of specialist slalom boards designed purely for maximum speed in a straight line, and consequently somewhat technical to turn. Characterised by low nose rocker, parallel sides and a narrow plan shape, the DSB has now given way to the new generation of 'Teardrop' and 'No Nose' boards, which are just as quick yet much easier to manoeuvre. However, the term 'Dedicated' persists, to describe boards that are very specifically targetted at some (usually competition-orientated) aspect of performance.
Depression
Period of unsettled weather which normally means wind, due to an area of low pressure (a 'low'). Depression can also set in when there is no wind!
DIN
German system to give a measure of mast stiffness. Superseded by first the MCS and then the IMCS system, but still found on some older masts or sails. A DIN value of 7.2-7.4 would indicate an average stiffness suitable for most sails, while much stiffer would only be suitable for more hi-tech racing sails.
Displacement Hull
Deep-hulled (usually rounded in section) boards are known as Displacement, or 'Division II' boards. While extremely wobbly underfoot, and a bit of a handful in windy conditions, they sail faster than anything else upwind in light-marginal conditions, and were thus the ultimate light-wind racing machine. However, due to being so difficult and wobbly to sail, they never really caught on other than for the committed racer, and have now largely disappeared from windsurfing. (Although a few top racers may still have one in the cupboard for races in extremely light winds!).
Donkey Kick
Kicking the board out sideways at the top of a jump.
Double Forward
An insane extension of the forward loop involving TWO complete 360 degree rotations of board, sail and sailor! If you think that's crazy, there are sailors out there trying for TRIPLE loops...
Drop In
A surfing term - you 'drop in' on a wave face. Dropping in on a wave that's being ridden by someone else is considered one of the most heinous crimes in surfing or windsurfing, in Hawaii often punishable by death.
Downhaul
Modern sails are tuned by downhaul tension, i.e., pulling down on the bottom of the sail using a rope attached to the pulley system of the mastbase or extension. The amount of pull required depends on the cut of the sail and the stiffness of the mast (racing/slalom sails are renowned for the large amount of downhaul tension they need), and you'll need a 4:1, 6:1 or even an 8:1 pulley purchase system to get enough tension.
Duck Gybe
Advanced form of gybing, passing the clew of the sail overhead instead of letting the sail swing around and the clew passing over the front of the board.
Duck Tack
Advanced manoeuvre that involve ducking under the sail whilst tacking onto a new course.
Dumped
If the sail suddenly fills with wind from the other side (which can happen for a number of reasons), then you find yourself being 'dumped to windward', usually very quickly and ignominiously!
Dumper
A wave that breaks fiercely on a steeply shelving shoreline, often with a dangerous undertow. Usually worse at high tide, and particularly bad in onshore winds. Dangerous and a potential equipment breaker. (See also 'Shorebreak').
Easi-rigg
Trade name for a handle with built in cleat, to make it easier (and kinder on the hands!) when pulling on the downhaul rope, which can be locked into the cleat on the handle. (See 'grunt'.)
Epoxy Resin
A two-part compound, liquid when first mixed together, which then dries hard, to form an incredibly strong and tough material. Used to wet out fibreglass, carbon and kevlar when creating the composite skin of a board. Also used as bonding agent when repairing dings or breaks. Used in both custom and production board construction.
EPS
Expanded polystyrene; the lighter weight foam used for the core of most composite production boards.
Expression Session
A wavesailing contest where all the competitors are on the water at the same time, for up to half an hour, and the most radical manoeuvre of the session wins.
External Cams
Camber inducers outside of the luff pocket, that are not permanently built into the sail and can be removed to make the sail feel more manoeuvrable and light in the hands (at the cost of stability and power). Popular in the late 1980s, but not now found on more modern designs, as the idea never really proved particularly effective nor popular.
Eye of the Wind
The precise direction the wind is blowing from.
Fin
The fin or skeg allows the board's tail to grip the water and keep it travelling straight. Fins are interchangeable, with many variations in size and shape for different disciplines and conditions. Most boards have a single fin, but some wave boards (known as 'Twinzers') have two fins, while a 'tri-fin' has a main central single fin with a smaller 'thruster' fin on each side, for extra grip on the wave.
Fin Boxes
This is where you put your fin! There are now 5 different types of fin box available, and which one you end up with depends on the make of board you buy. The two most common types are the Power Box (Mistral and F2 boards) and the Trim Box (Fanatic and Bic boards). Both of these are bolt-through systems, and allow you to change fins quickly and easily, either with a screwdriver or a quick-release bolt with turning handle. Tiga have their own bolt-through 'Conic' box system, which also comes with a quick release bolt, and some racers still like to use the two-bolt Tuttle box for maximum strength. The Tuttle system is found on a few of the largest course racing /marginal wind racing production boards, where use of the very biggest fins is required, and thus the extra strength of two bolts is of benefit. However, the one-bolt systems are found in all other ranges. All these systems are far superior to the old un-aptly named 'Classic' system, although this is still found on some wave boards, which don't have a tail thick enough to take a full bolt-through box. The Classic finbox system is also used on most short boards as a mast track.
Fin Bolt
Flat-topped bolt and large square nut used to fasten the fin into the classic style finbox. The nut slots into a groove in the bottom of the finbox.
Flare Gybe
Method of turning a long board with the daggerboard down, by standing on the tail and sinking the leeward rail, to pivot the board around the daggerboard.
Flex Top
Used to describe masts that have a relatively stiff base and middle section, but curve or flex more at the top. However, as nearly all sails are now designed for constant curve masts, flex-top masts are becoming a less common sight.
Floater
A board with enough buoyancy (volume) to float you while stationary. The opposite is a 'sinker', while in between is a 'marginal'. This terminology is not commonly used nowadays. (A 'Floater' is also a surfing term to describe when board and rider glide across the white water at the top of a breaking wave, to land back in front of it.)
Floppy Leech
Design attribute built into modern performance sails to make them more controllable and responsive to fluctuations in wind strength. When a gust hits such a sail, the leech (the trailing edge of the sail) twists open to spill excess wind. Sails designed specifically for light conditions will have a tight leech to make the most of the available wind.
Foot
The area from the clew to the tack along the bottom of the sail.
Footsteer
When the board is planing, you put weight on the side furthest away from you (leeward rail) or the side nearest you (windward rail) to make the board bear off or head up to wind. This is known as footsteering, and is usually done from within the footstraps.
Footstraps
Straps to put your feet in so that you stay connected to the board when powered up in stronger winds. There are normally a number of different footstrap position options on the board, so they can be fixed (by screws, bolts or special quick-release attachments) to the preference of the rider.
Forward Loop
Aerial manoeuvre involving a 360 degree forward rotation of board, sail and sailor in mid air. Also simply known as a 'forward'.
Free Ride
A relatively recent term, referring to short boards that offer good high speed performance in a straight line, but for their size are relatively throwabout and lively in feel too. Ideal for the reasonably competent short boarder wanting something for use in a wide range of conditions and wind strengths.
Freestyle
Involves performing fancy tricks and manoeuvres on a board. An example would be the railride - riding the board on its side.
Frontside
Wave sailing manoeuvre riding with your front to the wave, down the wave in a direction away from the wind.
Full
A sail is trimmed full or flat by means of the downhaul and outhaul. Full is when the sail has a lot of camber, or 'belly'.
Funboard
A generic and over-used term for a board with good performance in stronger winds. As virtually every board fits this description nowadays, the term has become somewhat irrelevant!
Funboarding
A slightly more relevant phrase, to mean any sailing in planing conditions.
G10
Tough and reasonably impact resistant material used for fin production.
Gate Start
A racing start occasionally used in long board racing fleets. One board sails across the fleet on port tack as the starting gun is fired, and all the other boards must sail behind its tail as they start on starboard tack.
Glassfibre
Glass mat is cured with epoxy resin to form the hard outer skin of a board. Also called GRPandfibreglass. Used also to make windsurfing masts.
Gnarly
Much-loved expression to describe difficult conditions.
Goiter
Outrageous wavesailing move where the sailor hits the lip clew first and throws themselves forward in a sort of corkscrewing spiral, ideally to land back on the wave face. Strictly for experts only!
Groundswell
Waves created by ocean depressions which travel many hundreds, even thousands of miles before peaking and breaking in shallow water.
Grunt
General slang for Easi-rigg, Rig Pulla or other device (rock, screwdriver, harness spreader bar,boom end, etc) to tie the downhaul around, making it easier to pull with both hands and get more tension.
Gu Screw
Advanced wave-sailing manoeuvre invented by Mark Angulo. The original Gu-screw went thus:hit the lip, get air, spin board and rig horizontally through 360 degrees and land behind the wave,facing in towards the beach. The definition is now a little less precise because of so many other almost identical manoeuvres in existence, all of which contain elements of the original GuScrew.
Gybing
Altering course through 180 degrees so the tail of the board passes through the eye of the wind.
Hamsterize
The technique of puffing one's cheeks out violently during a stressful move such as a jump or fast gybe.
Harness
The windsurfer's best friend! It's used to hook into a harness line fixed in a loop on either side of the boom, taking the strain off your arms. Only attempt to use one when you can sail proficiently in both light and moderate winds. There are three basic styles: seat (sometimes called 'nappy'),waist and chest harnesses, all of which end up positioning the hook somewhere between navel and crotch height.
Harness Line
The loop fixed on either side of the boom that the windsurfer hooks their harness into. Usually plastic coated to prevent chafe. Available in different fixed lengths, or sometimes with an adjustment option.
Hawaii
Usually considered the Mecca of windsurfing, though almost exclusively dedicated to short board sailing. Famed for its huge waves and consistent Trade Winds, Hawaii's main windsurfing islands are Maui and Oahu.
Head
The top of the sail.
Head Up
Alter course towards the wind, achieved in light winds by inclining the rig towards the tail, and in stronger winds by footsteering.
Helicopter
Freestyle trick involving turning the sail through 360 degrees.
Ho'okipa
The famed beach park on Maui, Hawaii, mecca of all wave-sailors thanks to its huge surf, constant trade winds and arena-lie surroundings; the perfect setting for all the major wavesailing competitions.
Hull
The basic board, excluding the rig.
Hypothermia
Losing so much body heat due to exposure that your core temperature starts to drop. A very dangerous condition.
IMCS
Indexed Mast Check System. An internationally recognised method of calibrating the stiffness and curve characteristics of windsurfing masts, based around the standard length 465cm mast. Sail manufacturers will provide a recommended IMCS number which lets you know exactly what stiffness and curve of mast best suits a particular sail.
Indoor Windsurfing
Indoor windsurfing competition started in the Bercy Stadium, Paris in 1989, and now happens annually at a number of major European cities. A large arena is flooded and the wind provided by a row of huge electric fans. Slalom and speed trials are held, and jumping competitions also made possible with a purpose built ramp. The whole show is choreographed, with rock music, fireworks and all sorts of other madness to make it an excellent evening out.
Induced Wind
The wind caused by the board moving through the air. A board moving at 10kts is creating a 10kt induced wind onto the nose.
Inside
Usually in the context 'inside the break' , and can either refer to sailing on the calmer flat water inside a reef break, or the far less desirable context of being 'caught inside' and in the path of a large set about to break on you.
Intermediate
An intermediate sailor is someone who is in the transitional stage between beginner and expert. In the RYA learning scheme, this refers to a 'Level 3' sailor who is just starting to get to grips with footstraps, harness and stronger winds.
Internal Cams
Camber inducers which are built into (or positioned inside) the luff tube of the sail, and thus hidden from view.
IYRU
The International Yacht Racing Union is primarily responsible for the Olympic Class of windsurfing, and the style of racing carried out by the UKBSA here in Britain.
Jaws
An infamous, huge and deadly wave location off the north east coast of Maui, Hawaii, site of the biggest waves ever windsurfed.
Jumping
Any board that's going fast enough will jump out of the water when it hits a suitable ramp (like a wave). It's an easy technique to learn, but is best suited to shorter boards and more experienced sailors. The world's best can jump a board 40-50 ft in the air, and the basic jump has now evolved into an incredible array of aerial manoeuvres. (See Forward and Backward Loop, Cheeseroll, Donkey Kick, Double Forward, Table Top, Table Top Forward, etc, etc!)
Kevlar
A trade name for an aramid reinforcing material used in the construction of certain high-tech boards and sails.
Knots
A unit of speed, referring to nautical miles per hour. A nautical mile is 2,020 yards (1.65km) rather than the statute mile of 1,760 yards.
Lamination
Sticking materials together in layers. In custom construction layers of fibreglass mat are laminated together with resin to make the outer skin of a board.
Laydown
A style of high-speed racing gybe, where the rig is laid down flat into the turn for a few seconds, decreasing wind resistance and allowing the sailor to really lean into the turn.
Leash
A leash connecting the rig to the board in case the mastfoot comes undone is a wise precaution. Surfers use a leash to connect the board to their ankle.
Lee/Leeward/Leeway
Leeward is the side the wind is blowing to - the lee side. A lee shore has an onshore wind. Leeway is the amount a board slips sideways.
Leech.
The back or trailing edge of the sail between the head and the clew.
Left Break
The wave breaks to the left of the sailor or surfer as he or she is riding it (NOT as it looks from the shore!). A right break breaks to the right.
Lifejacket
A lifejacket will help float you face up, and prevent you from drowning if you are knocked out. Most lifejackets are too bulky for windsurfing, and the buoyancy aid is a better bet, although bear in mind that it probably won't float you face first.
Lip
The lip of a wave is the crest where it's breaking.
Lipslide
Advanced wave sailing manoeuvre where the sailor slides the board along the breaking lip of the wave.
Logo-High
An oft-used term in wave-sailing. Usually taken to mean that the waves were between 2/3 and 3/4 of the height of the mast, which is where the logo of the sail brand used to be positioned. (However, as nowadays the logo is usually near the foot of the sail, the term isn't quite so applicable or impressive!).
Loft
A sail loft is anywhere used for building sails, which often really is the loft, simply due to the large area of floor space necessary to lay the sail out and work on it!
Lollipop
Jumping while riding down a wave face.
Long Board
Generally taken to mean boards of over 320cm, or simply boards with daggerboards.
Loop
360' aerial rotation; forward, backwards or sideways. (See 'Cheese Roll', 'Backward Loop'and 'Forward Loop').
Loop-loop-go
Originally a product on Gaastra sails, now taken as a generic term for a pulley device at the tack and/or clew of a sail, used instead of a cringle. The outhaul rope is looped over plastic lugs.
Low
Low atmospheric pressure, usually bringing windy and unsettled weather.
Luff
The 'front' edge of the sail from the head to the tack. The luff tube connects the sail to the mast. Luffing is sailing up towards the wind, and the sail luffing refers to when the front section of the sail is starting to flap because the wind is hitting it from the other side.


M Course
Oft-used race course plan, looking from above like an M on its side. The race starts with an upwind leg, and then has 3 or even 5 reaches back downwind, following the course of the 'M'.
Marginal
'Marginal conditions' is an expression used by windsurfers when there isn't quite enough wind to get planing all of the time. A 'marginal' board is halfway between a floater and a sinker. A 'Marginal Wind Racer' is a high volume short board designed to be used with very big sails and fins to plane as early as possible, often in as little as 8kts of wind.
Mast
All masts were originally constructed from glassfibre (epoxy) or aluminium. Although epoxy and aluminium masts still exist, most models on the market now feature a certain percentage of carbon for light weight and improved flex characteristics. The more carbon content (which can be as much as 60, 80 or even 100 percent) the more high performance and expensive the mast. The standard length of mast is 465cm, although they come in sizes ranging from 420-500cm. A mast can be extended for use with larger sails by the addition of an adjustable mast extension at the base. (See also 'IMCS').
Mast Extension
Made of aluminium or carbon tubing, most extensions offer a range of different settings enabling a mast to be extended to accommodate larger sails.
Mastfoot
Connects the rig to the board/deckplate via a Universal Joint (UJ) which allows 360 degree rotation of the rig.
Mast Protector
A padded buffer round the mastfoot and base to protect the board's deck from damage.
Mast Track
There are two types of mast track. A fixed mast track is the slot in the deck to which the deck plate is fastened (usually by a couple of finbolts). The position of the deck plate can be only adjusted while on the beach, and this system is generally found on short boards. Most long and mid-length boards have a sliding mast track, with a cup or 'car' into which the mast foot is fixed. The cup can then be moved backwards and forwards along the track by depressing a foot-pedal, allowing the rig to be repositioned for different conditions or points of sailing whilst on the water. However, sliding mast track represents an unnecessary complication for beginners, who would be best advised to leave the foot in the central position of the track while learning.
Maxed
Extremely well powered up.
Monofilm
A see-through sailcloth which now features on the majority of modern sails. Extremely stable, but has to be treated with care as it can easily be punctured by sharp objects.
Munched
As in "I got munched by a wave". This tends to happen to everyone - even a one-foot wave in the shorebreak can be unpleasantly powerful. Also variously referred to as 'Mullered', 'trashed', 'destroyed', etc.
Mush
Small, closely spaced breaking waves with a lot of white water. Typically associated with strong onshore winds, and difficult to sail through.
Mylar
A polyester film material used in the manufacture of sailcloth.
Neoprene
Rubber-based material used for the manufacture of wetsuits, boots and gloves. Can be double or single lined with Lycra to give a colourful and hard wearing outer skin.
No Nose
Generic term describing boards with thin, lower volume noses. (Not to be confused with 'low nose', which means that there is less nose rocker in the board!)
Non-slip
Rough surface coating on the deck of the board to help your feet grip. This does tend to wear smooth with time, but can be replaced to some extent with an aerosol can of 'Intersurf' or similar product.
Offshore Wind
A wind blowing away from the shore. If you get into difficulties in an offshore wind and can't sail back to the beach, you will be blown out to sea, so watch out!
Off the Lip
An advanced wave sailing manoeuvre off the breaking lip of a wave. If the sailor becomes airborne, it's called an aerial off the lip.
Olympic Board
The official Olympic board is the Mistral One Design, which replaced the old hollow hull Lechner A390 in 1992.
Olympic Triangle
The traditional IYRU race course for yachts and dinghies, now replaced in windsurfing by a variety of other options. The triangle course has three legs with corners in an equilateral triangle. The first leg is straight upwind. For most windsurfing the more modern 'M' shape or rectangular 'box' course is preferred.
One Design
A few boards race as identical one-designs to remove any equipment advantage, making it totally a test of the sailor's skill. The Mistral One-Design is a prime example, now used as the Olympic class board.
One-foot-off
Not a freestyle manoeuvre! The 'one-foot-off' measurement refers to the width of the board measured one foot in from the tail. (Usually the measurement is expressed in centimetres: "The one-foot-off is 34cm..."). Nowadays this is now normally referred to simply as the tail width.
One-handed-jump
Not a freestyle manoeuvre! The 'one-foot-off' measurement refers to the width of the board measured one foot in from the tail. (Usually the measurement is expressed in centimetres: "The one-foot-off is 34cm..."). Nowadays this is now normally referred to simply as the tail width.
Onshore Wind
A wind that's blowing onto the shore, which is a safe direction as even if you do come to grief you will usually be pushed back to the shore. Strong onshore winds can make the waves very big and 'dumpy', and as each wave creates a shadow from the wind, sailing conditions can be difficult!
Outhaul
Line to pull the clew of the sail tight to the rear end of the boom.
Outside
Outside the break.
Over the Falls
Being thrown over the lip of a breaking wave. The bigger the wave, the longer you get held down, and really gnarly waves can take you over the falls more than once (known as 'going through the rinse cycle').
Overpowered
Sailing where the wind is too strong to be completely comfortable for the sail size you are using, and it would be possible to use a smaller sail if desired. However, many folk prefer to sail this way anyway, and racers will almost always sail extremely overpowered, so that if the wind lulls they still have power to spare.
Peeling
A wave peels when it breaks gradually along its length, making it ideal to ride.
Phasers/Phazers
Concave dents built into the bottom of some specialist wave board, to facilitate manoeuvring.
Pintail
Somewhat old-fashioned term for board with a tapered tail designed to give better control in strong winds.
Plane/Planing
Skimming across the top of the water, rather than sailing through it ('displacing') as a ship or yacht does.
Planing Surface
The section of the underside that the board is riding on when planing. Also known as 'wetted surface'. The width of this section is known as the planing width.
Point Break
A wave sailing location where the waves are breaking along the side of a point (of sand, rock, a headland, etc), creating perfect peeling wave conditions.
Pointing
The angle of the board to the wind, measured up or down. A board sailing upwind is pointing higher than a board sailing across the wind
Polyester
Polyester resin is still occasionally used in custom board construction in conjunction with polyurethane foam. It makes a cheaper, but somewhat heavier product than if epoxy resin and EPS foam is used.
Polypropylene
Durable plastic skin material used to mass produce blow-moulded boards.
Polyethylene
Another durable plastic skin material, as per polypropylene. Most manufacturers using blow-moulded construction will utilise a mix of these two materials, for best effect.
Polyurethane (PU)
A denser, heavier foam than EPS foam, used for board manufacture with polyester resin (which will melt EPS foam!).
Port
Left. Indicated by the colour red in nautical circles. Sailing on port tack means that the wind is blowing over the left side of the board (and your left hand is forward). If a location (or sailing session) is referred to as 'port tack', it means the wind was blowing from the left, when looking out to sea.
Position of Maximum Width
The point where the board is widest (the 'wide point'), usually measured from the tail. The closer to the tail the wide point is, the more teardrop the board.
Power Box
Commonly used bolt through fin box system.
Powered Up
Enough wind to generate a good pull in the sail that you are using. Usually refers to planing conditions.
Pulleyhook
A small hook for the tack cringle (downhaul fixing point) with 2/3/4 pulley wheels attached. Allows you to keep the downhaul permanently threaded through the pulleyhook, giving 4:1/6:1/8:1 purchase.
Pumping
Pumping the rig back and forth creates wind in the sail and gets a board going faster in lighter airs, or gives extra acceleration to get a board onto the plane in stronger conditions.
Quiver
Collective term used to describe a line up of boards, sails or fins. A full 'quiver' of sails will consist of a number of different sizes to cater for a range of conditions.
Radical
An enthusiastic windsurfing term for impressive manoeuvres, gnarly conditions or an exceptionally high performance orientated piece of equipment (a 'radical wave board' would be for the most extreme wave conditions).
Rail
Strange name for the sides of the board - just think of riding on rails. Rail shape is an important factor in how a board performs. Hard rails indicate a steep-sided board with a fairly angular corner at the bottom, while soft rails are more rounded, with less of a well-defined release edge, or corner. 'Tucked-under' rails have the release edge further round towards the bottom of the board.
Railing
Sailing fast with the daggerboard down, the extra lift created will tend to heel the board over onto its edge. This 'railing' can make life difficult for the inexperienced sailor (the simple answer is to raise the daggerboard!) but the technique is regularly used by long board racers, to sail much faster upwind as there is less of the board in contact with the water, it cuts much easier through chop and swell, and drag is heavily reduced.
Rail Ride
Freestyle manoeuvre in which the sailor rides the board on its rail.
Reaching
The most common direction taken when windsurfing! Sailing with the wind blowing onto the side of the board. If you're sailing perpendicular to the wind it's a beam reach; with the wind coming slightly behind you it's a broad reach. In planing conditions broad reaching is the fastest point of sailing.
Reduced Diameter Mast (RDM)
A development that hit the world of masts the mid-eighties, but never really caught on. Narrower masts ("skinnies") claim aerodynamic and strength advantages over standard diameter masts. The narrowest-diameter masts were known as 'skinnies' or 'needle masts', and while they did indeed offer some advantages, suffered the big drawback that their lack of volume made them sink, making it difficult to pull the rig up or waterstart. However, the Skinny never went away completely, remaining in favour with sailors in the US and Hawaii, and has more recently started to make a come back. Watch this space...
Reef Break
When a swell finds its path impeded by a shallow underwater reef, it jacks up to form a wave. If the reef is at a slightly different angle to the swell, the wave will peel, creating perfect conditions for wave-riding. However, a reef-break can be the most dangerous wave to ride as the water is often extremely shallow at the bottom of the wave, and a mistake can mean that the wave pummels you into the reef. If it's a coral reef, it can cut you up badly. All the world's most famous waves are reef breaks: Pipeline, Sunset, Ho'okipa, Waimea, Ma'alaea, etc.
Regatta
A competition meeting with a series of races and events.
Release Edge
The corner at the bottom of the rail, usually angular in the tail and mid-section of the board, but on less race-orientated boards the release edge will be 'soft' towards the nose, and the difference between the underside and rail less well-defined.
Rig
The mast, mastfoot, sail and boom all combined.
Rinse Cycle
Getting tumbled around inside a wave, and in its worst form, going over the falls a few times!
Rip
A fast flowing current is called a rip. Rips can be very dangerous, and when a rip flows against the tide it produces a confused and difficult sea state. When waves are breaking on a beach there will usually be a rip current produced where the water flows back out to sea.
Roach
The area of the leech outside a straight line drawn from head to clew.
Rocker
The line taken by the underside of the board, as it lifts towards the nose (and sometimes lifts slightly in the tail). Rocker is necessary to lift the board up and over chop - a flat board with no rocker would submarine into every tiny wave. Too much rocker however (a 'banana board') makes a board slow and difficult to get going.
Rollercoaster
Sailing rapidly up and down a wave. Great fun!
Rotational
Rotational sails employ full length battens to push the sail round to the leeward side of the mast whichever tack you are on. thus always creating a more efficient aerofoil. Generally the more full length rotational battens a sail has the more stable (but less manoeuvrable) it will be in strong winds - sails with 6 battens or more, but no camber inducers are sometimes termed 'hard rotationals'.
Running
Running downwind is sailing with the wind directly behind you, and is generally not popular with windsurfers, since it a slow and wobbly way to sail! However, 'the run' is a very tactical leg on a race course, since you will actually get downwind quicker on a windsurfer if you sail on fast broad reaches, rather than slow direct runs. So the sailors will spread out all over the course looking for maximum speed.
Sandwich Construction
A high-tech composite construction method, utilising a thin 'sandwich' layer of high density foam between the low-density foam core and the outer skin, either in specific locations or all over the board as a monocoque shell.
Scoop
Another name for nose rocker.
Set (waves)
Waves will normally occur in 'sets' of between three and eight, with the biggest being referred to as the 'set wave'.
Set (sail)
The appearance of a sail when rigged. A well set sail should be smooth (no wrinkles or creases) with an aerodynamic profile. If a sail is 'set full' it has more belly than a sail set flat.
Shaper
The person who actually creates the shape of a board. A custom shaper shapes a foam blank which will then be laminated to become a board.
Shorebreak
Used to describe waves that break close in or directly onto the shore, usually occurring worst at high tide. A ferocious 'dumping' shore break can make it difficult to get out from the beach, while coming back in also has to be timed just right. Mistakes will mean your equipment (and you!) being pounded against the beach by the waves, which can be expensive.
Shoulder
The unbroken part of a breaking wave.
Shoulders
Occasionally-used term for the section of rail just behind the nose of a board. This part of the board is in intermittent contact with the water as the board is sailing, and the height of the shoulders gives some indication of whether a board is going to catch or 'trip' when sailing at high speed through chop.
Sideshore
The same as cross-shore, referring to wind direction.
Simulator
A shore based board mounted on a turntable, and used by windsurfing schools to teach basic techniques.
Sinker
A board with low volume that sinks beneath you when stationary. Most short boards are to some extent sinkers - even if they don't sink, they're unstable when not planing.
Skeg
Another word for a fin.
Skippers Meeting
At a windsurfing competition each day of racing or new style of racing will start with a skippers' meeting to explain the rules.
Slalom
Racing around a reaching/broad reaching course, usually on short boards, and in heats of 8-10 sailors. Each race only lasts a couple of minutes, but is usually extremely hectic! The most exciting form of windsurfing competition. Surf Slalom consists of racing in and out through breaking waves.
Slalom Boards
Loose generic term used by manufacturers to describe any short board that has aspirations towards speed. The most popular short board category.
Slot
The 'slot' is the gap between the foot of the sail and the deck of the board. Closing the slot by raking the sail back makes the board go faster.
Slot Fin
Fin with a small slot or 'window', usually positioned near the base and towards the fin's leading edge. The slot goes a long way to preventing spin-out for various technical reasons, but increases drag and therefore makes the board rather slower. Modern, accurately foiled fins spin out much less than the older designs anyway, so slot fins are nowadays rare except for specialist wave use.
Slot Flusher
A slot flusher or gasket is two strips of plastic at the bottom of the daggerboard case, to seal the gap and prevent water gushing up through the daggerboard slot.
Soft Sail
General term for a sail that has some or all of its main body unsupported by full length battens. Main advantages are light weight and manoeuvrability in light winds. Soft sails become unstable in stronger winds.
Speed Trial
Speed sailing events are held over 100, 250 and 500 metre courses at selected venues. The two main requirements are flat water and LOTS of wind. The trialists are timed as they sail the course, using extremely small boards for maximum speed.
Spin Out
When travelling very fast upwind or on a beam reach a lot of pressure is placed on the fin. If this pressure exceeds a certain point the fin will suddenly lose its grip causing the tail to slide or 'spin out'. It generally afflicts short boards travelling at speed through chop.
Spock
Short board freestyle move - a derivative of the 'Vulcan', hence its name. Start with a normal vulcan, but then land the board on the tail and by pushing on the sail, spin the board round back on to the original tack, all the time staying in the straps.
Squashtail
A board tail shape that is more squared off than a pintail, but still has rounded corners.
Spreader Bar
An aluminium or stainless steel bar attached to the harness which spreads the load taken by the hook.
Starboard
Right when looking forward. Indicated by the colour green in nautical circles. Sailing on starboard tack means that the wind is blowing over the right side of the board, and your right hand is forward (nearest the mast on the boom). If a location (or sailing session) is referred to as 'starboard tack', it means the wind was blowing from the right, when looking out to sea.
Steamer
Originally a particular model of wetsuit from Gul, but now generally accepted as a generic term for the one-piece wetsuit, (usually with a zip up or across the back) now worn by just about all windsurfers.
Stringers
Longitudinal reinforcement strips to add strength and stiffness to a board, in the form of strips of wood, carbon and/or kevlar.
2cm Point / 2mm Point
Referring to the points on the rocker profile of the board where the nose rocker has raised the board (from the flat profile usually found beneath the footstraps) by 2mm, and 2cm, as measured from the tail. Comparing the position of these points between boards gives a useful measure of how differently they will perform. Boards with their 2cm quite far forward will work better with bigger sails, and offer greater upwind performance, while boards with the 2mm and 2cm points further back and offer easier nose clearance through chop and will turn easier generally, particularly in the wave sailing environment.
Table Top
An aerial manoeuvre in which the board is kicked up above the sailor at the apex of the jump.
Table Top Forward
A combination jump consisting of a table top, followed immediately by a full forward loop while the sailor is on the way down.
Tack
The corner of the sail at the bottom of the mast.
Tacking
Altering course so that the nose of the board passes through the eye of the wind.
Tandem
A board made for two, with two rigs. Very fast in light winds, and great fun whatever the conditions. F2 produce a tandem, and others are custom made for racing. There have also been a few tridems made over the years, primarily for speed events.
Teardrop
A board with a teardrop planshape, features a thin, drawn out nose, the widest point closer to the tail than the nose, and the majority of volume distributed in the middle and rear sections. Using this design concept it is possible to produce boards that are exceptionally fast but still manoeuvrable enough to gybe easily. (With less nose area, the board cuts through chop more efficiently and doesn't stick in the turn as much as conventional boards with wide noses). Nevertheless, extreme examples of Teardrop boards can be extremely skittish and twitchy to sail, and require competent sailing technique to get the best out of.
Tide
Coastal movement of the sea induced by the pull of the sun and moon. Tide should always be an important consideration when windsurfing, as at some places the tide flows very fast, in others it can make launching difficult or even dangerous at certain states of tide. And the tidal range at some beaches can be very large, resulting in a very long walk back at low tide! If sailing at a coastal location is new to you, always ask a local sailor about the tide conditions.
Three-Sixty
Carving a short board through a full 360 degrees without stopping.
Thrusters
Small fins either side of the main fin used on some twinser and/or tri-fin wave boards for extra grip on the wave face.
Top Turn
As for Cut Back.
Transition
Generic term for all the different methods of changing from one tack to another.
Trim Box
Bolt through fin box system that allows a small degree of fin positioning adjustment.
Towing Eye
A useful thing to have in the nose of the board.
True Wind
The wind you feel when standing still. (See also 'Apparent Wind').
Tube
When a big wave breaks on rapidly shelving ground it creates a tube as the top curls over. Due to the height of the mast, windsurfers find it harder to experience 'getting tubed' than surfers, although a few have managed it!
Tuttle Box
A bolt through fin box system often used on race-orientated products because it uses two bolts to secure the fin and is thus more rigid and robust than power box or trim box systems.
Tweaked
An oft-used phrase in wavesailing, referring to any aerial manoeuvre where the board is pushed or extended that bit further, to make the move even more radical.
Twist
The trailing edge of a modern sail (and many modern fins) is designed to 'twist' and release power in the gusts.
Underpowered
Sailing where the wind is too light to be completely comfortable for the sail size you are using, and it would be possible to use a bigger sail if desired. Usually very frustrating conditions, especially on a short board where the likely consequences of being underpowered are that you will be spending time off the plane.
Universal Joint (UJ)
The UJ is a rubber or mechanical coupling on the mastfoot, which allows the rig to be swung where you want.
Uphaul
A thick knotted rope or length of slightly elasticated webbing used to pull up or 'uphaul' the rig.
Vee
The central ridge running along the bottom of most boards, either just in the tail, or right through to the nose. Vee gives the board more grip and directionality, and makes it less reliant on the fin. However, it reduces early planing and can have an adverse effect on top speed. Too much vee can make a board feel rolly and tippy.
Ventilation
Air gets caught round the fin and causes it to lose its grip when travelling fast, leading to the dreaded spin out.
Volume
The volume of the board determines its buoyancy and weight carrying ability. In non-planing conditions it is very important to have a board with sufficient volume.
Vulcan
Short board freestyle move; a mid air gybe, with the feet staying in the straps, and the sailor reaching round the boom to sheet in on the new tack whilst in the air.
Waterstart
A stronger wind technique used to get back on board easily and quickly after a fall. While in the water, the sailor lifts the rig enough to fill it with wind, and then gets lifted up and out of the water back onto the board, with the rig in the sailing position perfectly set to sail away. The alternative is uphauling, which is extremely difficult if not impossible on a small board, particularly in heavy seas. Waterstarting can be a frustrating manoeuvre to learn, but once learnt, rapidly becomes second nature and opens the door to the world of short boards and strong winds.
Wave Board
Specialist short board used for wave sailing. Generally very short (265cm or less) and well rockered to turn easily and prevent nose diving.
Wave Performance
A wave sailing competition in which two or more sailors show off their skills in riding, jumping and turning, scored by a panel of judges who watch from the beach or from a raised platform anchored to the sea bed.
Wetted Area
The area of the board's bottom which is in contact with the water. The less wetted area, the faster the board will go.
Wide Point
The widest part of a board, from nose to tail. Generally to be found at or less than halfway from the tail on teardrop boards.
Willy Skipper
Short board freestyle move where the board is spun round 180 degrees in mid air, to land tail first but still planing.
Window Fin
Same as a slot fin.
Windshift
A shift in the wind's direction, meaning that people on one tack will suddenly find they have been 'headed' and are sailing closer to the wind than before, while others will find that they have been 'lifted' and are sailing broader than before. When racing on an upwind leg, competitors will use the windshifts to try and gain advantage, always looking for lifts so that they can sail a higher course than before.
Windsurfer
Windsurfer with a capital W refers to the original Windsurfer board, built by Hoyle Schweitzer. All the rest are windsurfers, and we all go windsurfing.
Windward
The side of the board the wind is blowing onto.
Wipe Out
Taking an almighty fall.
Wishbone
An old fashioned name for the boom.
World Cup
The international racing circuit run by the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA), often referred to as the World Tour, with big prize money events for slalom, course racing and wave performance.