86 COACHING FUNDAMENTALS
GETTING UP TO SPEED
As a windsurf board moves forwards more elements come into play. At low speed a board displaces
water, pushing it out of the way and creating plenty of drag at the same time.
A factor that is significant in reducing drag is the forcing downwards of the oncoming water as it meets the
underside of the board. The way the board presents itself to the oncoming water is described as its positive angle of
attack. Too steep an angle means that the oncoming water will hit the underside of the board more head-on and
prevent it reaching (or maintaining) greater speeds.
A board with a perfect shallow angle, however, will deflect the oncoming water downwards effectively, resulting in a
(reactionary) vertical force upwards on the board.
As it moves along, a board sits in a wave of its own creation with a crest near the front and a crest just behind it.
With too much weight on the back the board has a mountain to climb and will have low forward speed and high
drag. A perfectly trimmed board, however, with plenty of power from the sail will allow the board to move forwards
effectively and – as the speed increases and the drag decreases – the board will lift upwards out of the water
enabling it to sit in front of its forward crest – often referred to as having ‘overtaken its own bow wave’. Now the
board is planing, literally skimming across the water unfettered by the drag it previously experienced when in
displacement mode
uk
WIND
SURFING