50 FEATURERYA
Starting out
If you’re a first timer you only need willing and a small
amount of time. The RYA Start Windsurfing course
introduces you to the sport’s basics and requires no
prior experience or equipment. In just a few hours you
could be up and windsurfing. And you’ll be a confident
and competent windsurfer in lighter breezes in a
couple of days.
If you’re time poor, then many training centres can run
this in short sessions over a few weeks. One-to-one
sessions will get to you on the right footing faster. This
course will enable you to sail where you want, set up
your kit and launch and land safely. It will also provide
a good understanding of where to go next.
What kit do I need to continue?
The clothing: Don’t worry if you haven’t got any kit.
Wetsuits are available at RYA centres. However, if you
are looking to get your own suit, a good summer
wetsuit can cost less than £100 and is your ideal first
equipment purchase.
The board: As with wetsuits, the centre you choose to
learn from will provide all the equipment you need. Once
you have the basic skills there are a proliferation of
options available to help you progress your newly learnt
skills. Full boards and rigs can also be hired at your centre.
Moving up a level
For those that have been through the RYA Start
Windsurfing course, or have the basics of windsurfing,
then the Intermediate course would be next.
The RYA Intermediate course introduces skills such as
improved stance and harness technique. It looks at
fast tacking in stronger winds and getting the board
going. Once confident, the instructor will then build on
these skills introducing you to the foot straps, making
the most from windy conditions and upping the
exhilaration gear, enabling you to experience the thrill
of fully blasting across the water.
By building on your basic skills, a course will help you
improve by teaching you more advanced techniques.
It’s also the start of your journey as a truly independent
windsurfer. This course also starts to guide you in
analysing your own sailing techniques and skill
fundamentals.
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WIND
SURFING
As with the RYA Start Windsurfing course, the RYA
Intermediate course is accessible via a number of
different routes. You can sign up to a course spread
over a few days or a weekend, or you can book in lots
of short coaching sessions stretched over a longer
period of time, over evenings or mornings/afternoons.
This will give you the time to develop skills in a wider
variety of conditions.
If it’s one specific skill you are looking to master or
hone, there are often one on one sessions available at
RYA Intermediate windsurfing centres.