There are three ways to get started in windsurfing: you can either start from land (Beach-Start), start in the water by standing on the board an pulling up the sail (up-halul), or you can start while laying in the water (Water-Start).
There are two types of Beach-Starts. The Beach Startwhere the water is more or less not moving and the the Advanced-Beach-Start where the water is rushing in and out in the form of a rip current, also known as shore break. This requires a very specific technique and I will add this to my tutorial at some future date.
In the beginning you probably learned to start from the water by standing on the board and uphauling the sail. A physical demanding technique indeed, requiring good balance, a strong back, and friendly winds! But eventually you will need to learn the Standard Water Start and use the sail to pull you out of the water. After this technique has been learned then the Light Wind Water Start is a helpful technique so you can water start in almost any condition.
Going beyond the purely functional techniques are a few creative methods to play with while you are hanging out at the beach. The Clew 1st Water Start, Fin 1st Water Start, Fin & Clew Forward, Switch, Switch & Clew Forward.
Beach Start: | Starting to sail from the beach by stepping on your board and taking off without the sail touching the water. |
Standard Water Start: | Your standard water start on a short board. |
Light Wind Water Start: | Water starting with very little wind so you have to use the sail as a counterbalance to get out of the water. |
Clew 1st Water Start: | Water starting clew first. In other words, the clew is facing forward. |
Fin 1st Water Start: | Water starting fin first. In other words, the board is backwards so you are stepping onto the nose of the board. |
Clew 1st, Fin 1st Water Start: | Water starting fin first and clew first. In other words, the board is backwards so you are stepping onto the nose of the board in the clew first position. |
Switch Stance Water Start: | You are already in the straps switch stance and floating the sail. |
Water Start: Switch, Clew-1st: | Switch stance, Clew first and floating the sail. |