Windsurfing Cheat Sheet

The key takeaways for beginners – gear setup, uphauling without brute force and the steering logic from windward to leeward.

Equipment

Item	Priority	Tip
Board	High	Tilt-stable with a daggerboard; volume = body weight plus 60–120 litres.
Sail	High	Start small and light (3–5 m², Dacron) – saves strength when uphauling.
Wetsuit & vest	Medium	Wetsuit, shoes and impact vest against cold and knocks.

The 3 golden technique rules

Factor 1: Weight instead of arm power

Concept: Hauling the wet sail up with the arms alone exhausts you and injures the back. Tip: Straight back, body weight as the lever – and wait until the water has drained off the cloth.

Factor 2: Back hand = throttle

Concept: Without pressure control every gust rolls over you. Tip: Sheeting in slowly fills the sail, opening it (easing) neutralises instantly – your emergency off.

Factor 3: Long arms, eyes ahead

Concept: Pulling the sail towards your body costs strength and balance. Tip: Arms extended, lean your weight against the wind pressure, eyes in the direction of travel instead of on your feet.

Steering logic

Action	How it works
Heading up (into the wind)	Tilt the rig back towards the stern.
Bearing away (off the wind)	Tilt the rig forward towards the bow.
Tack	The bow turns through the wind – the foot of the sail at your shin signals the side change.

Start routine

Read the wind: Think from windward to leeward – and fix a landmark to monitor your drift.
90 degrees to the wind: Align the board exactly on a beam reach before starting – otherwise you drift off.
Rig into the water first: On land it catches full wind energy – in the water it lies calm as an anchor.

Safe & smart

Avoid offshore wind: Offshore drifts you out to open water – off-limits for beginners.
Carry in pairs: Beginner boards are heavy – carry together or by the daggerboard handle.
Ride with foresight: Give way to others, keep your distance – on the water consideration beats right of way.

Pro tip: Memorise the emergency off: open the back hand! No matter how wrong things look – an open sail is instantly powerless, and you regroup in peace.