Cyprus is a great place to windsurf and sail, giving constant steady winds in the summer months with flat waters and good bumps and jumps further round the coast.
Windsurfers are a fun and affordable way to experience the thrill of sailing. It is a fun sport that is not too hard to learn. Once you have mastered it, you can do it just about anywhere. Windsurfers are ‘boards’, much like a surfboard. They come in various sizes and widths, which help determine the level of skill needed to ride each one.
Many people have the false impression that windsurfing requires huge upper and lower body strength to do it. To the pleasure of those who wish to learn windsurfing, this sport has practically very little to do with strength. The sport focuses on balance and working with the wind. Many beginners in their enthusiasm try to force the equipment to go one way or another and find it very difficult especially when they try to work against the wind.
If you are ready to start windsurfing, you need to know the basics of how to put your equipment together and what everything is used for. Once you have the general idea of windsurfing and what to do in dangerous situations you should be ready to go out on your own.
When you are just starting out a nice light breeze should be good enough. You do not want the wind to be too strong or you may have difficulty balancing and it could be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. You should also check to see if there are other windsurfers in the area. If there other surfers then you know the conditions are probably good.
Basic steps for windsurfing gear
- Decide which category of board you’ll want (longboard, short board).
- Taking into account your height and body weight, decide on the specifications of the board.
- Figure out which, if any, special features you want on your board (a foot-adjustable mast track, etc).
- Choose a board material (fiberglass, poly).
- Decide on a sail type (light wind, wave, etc.).
- Figure out which sail size will be appropriate for your size and the conditions under which you’ll normally be sailing.
- Choose a sail material (mylar, monofilm, etc.).
- Find a mast (carbon, aluminum, or fiberglass) that fits your sail).
- Pick out a universal joint and/or mast extender that matches your rig and board (if necessary).
- Finally, choose a boom that suits your needs (carbon, aluminum, etc.).