The idea of sailing a surf board must have been entertained for many years but prototypes only became a reality in the 1950's. The main problem at that time was how to anchor the mast to the board and yet allow it complete freedom of movement in all directions. A variety of universal joints were tried but it took several years before two Americans received the first patent. The Sailboard of the 1960's was heavy, 60 pounds or so but buoyant, up to 12 feet long, usually with a dagger board and skeg. They were usually over canvassed with a long wishbone boom, slow but could be sailed moderately close to the wind and tacked.

Now boards weigh between 15 and 40 pounds, many are less than 10 feet in length; most have a skeg but no centreboard. The lighter, shorter boards are often termed semi-submersibles as when stationary they tend to sink under the weight of the surfer and require forward motion to rise and plane. Unlike a longer board, they require a 'water start' i.e. the windsurfer must be pulled out of the water by the wind lifting the sail. The modern board is more sophisticated and easier to sail, is considerably faster (up to 20-30 knots) and is gybed rather than tacked. Those without centreboards are less able to sail close to the wind.

So why is windsurfing classified as a vulnerable, inshore activity? Ignorance of local conditions, tides and in particular, offshore and down-tide winds may find the inexperienced surfer way out to sea, exhausted and unable to sail back. A similar situation may occur if the wind drops as up-hauling the sail on semi-submersibles, although not impossible, can be difficult.The more experienced surfer will try jumps and somersaults, sometimes parting company with the board on lift-off only to meet violently on re-entry; sometimes the stresses involved will snap the mast or the skeg, perhaps even break the board. These manoeuvres require a high wind with moderate waves and can leave a windsurfer injured someway from land. Sometimes these events will go unseen but when reported we all know how difficult it is to spot someone in a dull wetsuit in a rough sea even from our eyries particularly as there is a trend to use 'see-through' sails Unfortunately, few windsurfers carry smoke flares, although they are available in a convenient, waterproof pack.. Wetsuits make hypothermia less common and with flotation vests, provide good buoyancy but not as efficiently as a proper lifejacket. Nowadays, many wind surfers will not venture out alone, will wear a harness and helmet and often sail in groups with a safety boat. Nevertheless, because windsurfing is so popular its followers will include the inexperienced and foolhardy. Just because a windsurfer can 'always sit on his board', it is no consolation when stranded a mile out, with a broken rig on a falling tide and rising sea. Ivan Williams