Windsurfing is a thrilling hybrid of sailing and surfing, where riders use a sail mounted on a board to harness wind power and skim across the water. For many windsurfers, speed is one of the ultimate goals—a marker of skill, efficiency, and adrenaline-fueled fun. But unlike powered watercraft, increasing speed in windsurfing depends entirely on your technique, equipment, and environmental awareness.
Whether you’re a weekend enthusiast or a competitive racer, improving your windsurfing speed requires mastering several key elements—from sail tuning and board choice to body positioning and wind reading. It’s a sport where physics and finesse go hand in hand.
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about going faster in windsurfing. We’ll explore gear optimization, stance adjustments, wind angles, and advanced techniques that allow experienced windsurfers to reach thrilling speeds of over 30 knots. Ready to leave your wake behind? Let’s dive in.
1. Choose the Right Equipment for Speed
Board Selection Matters
Speed begins with the board. A narrow, long board with a flatter rocker is typically best for speed, especially in flat water conditions.
Slalom boards are designed specifically for racing and high speeds. They offer less drag and more efficient planing.
Freeride boards, while more forgiving and user-friendly, can also reach high speeds when optimized correctly.
Avoid overly wide or heavily rockered boards for speed-focused sessions, as they create more drag.
Sails: Size and Shape
Sail size dramatically affects speed:
Larger sails (7.5m² to 9.5m²) are ideal for light to moderate winds.
Cambered sails provide more stable and powerful airflow, holding their shape under pressure, which is essential for efficient speed.
No-cam sails are lighter and easier to handle but offer less raw power.
The key is balance—choose the sail that maximizes power without overpowering your control.
Fin Configuration
Your fin helps channel water efficiently, especially at high speeds. The wrong fin can create excessive drag and limit control.
Use longer, narrower fins for flat water and higher speeds.
Ensure the fin is matched to your board and sail size—too small, and you’ll lose upwind drive; too large, and drag will slow you down.
2. Master Your Stance and Body Positioning
Get into the Harness Early
The harness is not just a comfort tool—it’s essential for speed. Getting hooked in allows your body to counteract sail force more efficiently, helping you channel that power into forward motion.
Hook in as early as possible once planing.
Use your body to balance and steer instead of pulling with your arms.
Lower Your Center of Gravity
A low, compact stance increases control and reduces drag. Think of your body like a racing car—tight to the board, streamlined, and balanced.
Bend your knees.
Keep your back straight and lean out.
Drop your hips slightly below boom level.
This creates leverage against the sail while maintaining responsiveness.
Use Your Legs, Not Your Arms
Speed comes from efficiency. Don’t rely on arm strength to control the sail. Instead:
Let your back leg act like a suspension system—absorbing chop and stabilizing the board.
Use your front leg to push the board downwind, aiding in acceleration and stability.
3. Understand the Wind: Use the Wind Window
Sailing on a Broad Reach
To go fast, you must sail at the right angle to the wind. The fastest point of sail is typically a broad reach—approximately 90 to 130 degrees off the wind.
Going too far upwind (close-hauled) increases resistance.
Going directly downwind makes it hard to generate lift.
The broad reach allows the sail to act more like a wing, maximizing lift and minimizing drag.
Keep the Sail Powered
You need constant power delivery to maintain speed. This means keeping the sail sheeted in properly and reacting quickly to gusts.
In gusts: Keep the sail trimmed and maintain a stable stance.
In lulls: Pump the sail or shift weight to maintain planing.
4. Planing: The Secret to Speed
Planing is when your board skims on top of the water, rather than plowing through it. This reduces drag and increases speed dramatically.
Tips for Early Planing
Pump the sail: Quick, rhythmic pulls on the sail generate forward momentum.
Keep board flat: Don’t tilt the board back or lift the nose.
Shift weight forward: This helps break surface tension and gets you on plane faster.
Once you’re planing, everything changes—resistance drops, and you can tap into the sail’s full power.
5. Tune Your Rigging for Speed
Downhaul and Outhaul Adjustments
Proper sail trim is essential:
More downhaul increases sail twist, which helps in strong winds.
More outhaul flattens the sail, reducing power but improving control and top-end speed.
You can also use adjustable outhaul systems to tweak sail shape while riding, optimizing performance in real time.
Boom Height
Boom height influences control and leverage:
Lower boom: More control, better in high winds.
Higher boom: More leverage and speed potential, but harder to manage.
Find the sweet spot that gives you both control and acceleration.
6. Sail in the Right Conditions
Flat Water Is Your Friend
Choppy or wavy water slows you down through increased drag and reduced stability. For speed-focused sessions:
Choose flatwater spots like lagoons or offshore wind areas with clean water.
Speed strips—sheltered, narrow water passages—are ideal.
Wind Consistency Is Key
Gusty or shifting wind makes it hard to maintain control. Look for locations known for stable, steady winds, especially side-shore or side-offshore directions.
7. Practice Advanced Speed Techniques
The “Lock and Load” Method
This technique involves locking your body into a powerful, static stance that channels all sail energy into forward motion.
Keep hips forward and low.
Pull boom toward you with your back hand.
Push with your front leg.
Keep your eyes looking downwind—not at the sail.
Optimize Your Jibes
Every second counts. Smooth, high-speed jibes help maintain momentum and reduce down-time:
Enter with speed and lean into the turn.
Flatten the board mid-turn and exit with power.
Time your rig flip for minimal drag.
8. Track and Analyze Your Progress
Use GPS Devices
Modern windsurfers use GPS to measure:
- Top speed
- Average speed
- Acceleration and distance covered
This allows you to tweak technique and gear based on real data. Apps like Doppler GPS, WindsportTracker, or GT31 GPS units are popular tools.
Film Your Sessions
A waterproof action camera can help identify issues in stance, sail trim, or jibe technique. Visual feedback is an invaluable tool in refining speed skills.
9. Common Mistakes That Kill Speed
Over-sheeting the sail: Choking airflow reduces lift and speed.
Leaning too far back: This lifts the nose and creates drag.
Poor fin selection: Mismatched fins result in spin-out or sluggish control.
Not adjusting for wind conditions: Sticking with one sail trim throughout the session is inefficient.
Conclusion
Windsurfing fast is about far more than just leaning back and hanging on. It’s a blend of precision, understanding, technique, and gear tuning. From the instant you hook into the harness to the final jibe, every detail matters. The faster you want to go, the more refined your setup and technique must be.
Mastering speed in windsurfing means constantly pushing boundaries—tweaking your stance, experimenting with gear, and reading the water and wind like a seasoned sailor. When it all clicks, and you feel the board lift and fly over the surface, you’ll understand why speed is such a sought-after element in this sport.