How to add Windsurfing to your Sailing Program

The best way to add windsurfing to your existing program is to give all your sailing classes windsurfing exposure on a rotating schedule.  That way no one misses out on the fun!

The schedule shouldn’t be rock solid, but flexible depending on weather conditions, and which classes are desperate for a change of pace.  So in a given week, one morning might be the Advanced Opti class, followed by the Introductory 420 class, followed by the Intermediate Optis, etc.    You wouldn’t send the Beginner Opti class out on a super windy day, and the Race Team wouldn’t get to windsurf if they were off to a big 420 regatta.   If you have 4-6 different classes in your program, the idea is that every class gets to windsurf on average once a week.

In the second year, the demand has been such, that some programs have added additional windsurfing specific classes for adults (all women classes are popular) and for kids who just want windsurfing.  (Note: Because the equipment/maintenance costs are relatively low, this can be the best revenue-generator in the program.)

Instruction

Teaching windsurfing is not rocket science.  All Level 1 sailing instruction skills apply, and all you need is the basic knowledge of how windsurfing is different.  Many programs have hired a U.S. Sailing Certified Windsurfing Instructor Trainer to come to their program and teach their sailing staff the basic windsurfing skills in a two-day course.  Britt Viehman is one USSCWIT who has taught several of these courses.  (britt@nbwindsurfing.com).   Alternatively, you can hire certified windsurfing specific instructors, but this not necessary, particularly in the first season.   The demand was so strong at Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, however, that they sent one of their sailing instructors to get fully certified in Florida over spring break. 

Windsurfing is a very hands-on sailing skill.  As such, juniors actually need remarkably little verbal instruction.  With very basic guidance, and largely by trial and error, they quickly learn to steer and to balance Center of Effort over Center of Lateral Resistance for most efficiency.  You will be amazed how quickly most kids with some sailing experience pick up windsurfing.

As with most things, attitude is everything.  Your best sailing instructors with great attitude can teach windsurfing even if they have little windsurfing experience themselves.