Whe can I find technical information?

raulm · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 15

Hi dear, this site is greate and I useally read other posts to learn more about the sport. But some time I feel like I need a better technical background. Do you have any book where I can find technical information about shape, and design of sails, fins and boards. Since I started in this sport I have found windsurfing have many things to learn, so if you can give me a book, video or web site with good techincal information or gear information I will be glad.

Thanks!

gemoore · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 494

Unless you REALLY want to spend time, I dont know that Id advise getting too technical. In college, I took engineering courses in mechanics, fluid mechanics, and yacht design, but duplicating that would be really too much unless you happen to be an engineer. And I dont think it would help your sailing that much.

If you want to study a little on foils and hydro/aero-dynamics, I suppose that might help you a little....but only in understanding why/how sails and fins work. In my college course on (20 years ago), we used a book by C.A. Marchaj, that I believe was called Elements of Yacht Design (or something similar). I think its still around. Go to your local library and see what theyve got!

GEM

spyder · Joined: 24 Sep 1996 Posts: 2790 Location: oahu

I think what you are really after is practical experience with different types of boards, fins, and sails.

This comes with sailing in different conditions, and trying gear. As you probably know, there are different equipment setups for wave, bump n jump and slalom.

Going out and trying different stuff will help you understand the intrinsics of it all.

Windlover · Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Posts: 623

Most of us long time sailors have been reading Windsurfing (formerly Windrider) magazine for years. There is always information to be found in their articles. The other source I would recommend would be your local library. Some of the books & pictures may be outdated but the basics of sailing, sail & board design, and how they all work have stayed the same over the years. It is only the technology that has improved. The quality of our equipment makes it eaiser to learn & sail, but the mechanics of sailing have not changed.

Windlover