aft:  Toward the stern.

apparent wind:  The wind to which the sail is trimmed. It’s formed by the convergence of the true wind and the created wind.

arch:  The location on the sole of your foot that’s halfway between your toes and heel.

aspect ratio:  The mathematical ratio between the length of the mast and the boom. A tall mast and a short boom produce a high aspect ratio.

back:  Toward the stern.

back foot:  The foot closest to the stern.

back hand:  The hand closest to the back of the boom: the clew hand.

back straps:  Footstrap(s) that are parallel to the centerline and closest to the stern.

backward:  A direction toward the stern.

back-winded:  To have the wind change to the leeward side of the sail.

balance point:  An imaginary location on the boom, where, if you held the boom with only one hand, the rig feels balanced. It corresponds to the sail’s center of effort and is approximately one-third of the way back from the mast

batten:  A long, thin slat inserted into the sail to add rigidity and shape.

batten cap:  A small, plastic cup that fits onto the end of a batten.

batten pocket:  A sleeve in the sail into which a batten slides.

beachstart:  A technique for getting underway in knee-deep water without uphauling.

beam reach:  A course sailed toward 3 or 9 o’clock.

bear-off:  To turn downwind. A synonym for head-off.

bear-up:  To turn upwind. A synonym for head-up.

beat:  A course sailed as close to the true wind as efficiently possible: 1:30 or 10:30.

beating:  To sail a series of beats. A zigzag, upwind course.

beating straps:  Footstraps that are parallel to the centerline and located around the centerboard.

Beaufort Scale:  A method of categorizing wind strength. Force 0 through force 3 is sub-planing-speed; force 4 and above are planing- and lifting-speeds.

Black Wedge:  The area of the clock in which the board cannot sail: the wedge from 10:30 through 1:30.

bloviate:  (1) To expel hot air in the form of exaggerated, irrelevant, or erroneous words. (2) The true wind seems to be stronger on shore than it actually is on the water.

blowhard:  (1) High-wind. (2) See bloviate.

board:  A block of plastic or fiberglass covered foam that you stand on while sailing.

boardsailing:  A synonym for windsurfing.

boardsailor:  Someone who windsurfs.

boom:  An elliptical spar that supports the sail and which the sailor holds while sailing.

boom bra:  A foam protective device attached to the boom-head. It prevents dents when the boom-head impacts the board during a fall.

boomhead:  The front of the boom where the mast attaches.

booties:  Low-cut, windsurfing shoes that provide protection and traction.

bow:  The very front of the board: the nose, the pointy end.

broad reach:  A sailing course of 7:30 or 4:30.

buoyancy:  An upward force that floats the board.

camber-induced sail:  A sail that has internal or external camber-inducers.

camber-inducer:  A plastic yoke-shaped device that connects a batten and the mast, and provides aerodynamic shape to the sail.

carpal tunnel syndrome:  An injury to the nerve fibers of the wrists. One of its many causes is prolonged windsurfing with harness-lines that are too long.

carved gybe:  A high-wind turn with the centerboard up and the leeward rail sunk.

cat’s paw:  A name for the shape of a gust.

centerboard:  A wing shaped device in the hull that provides stability in light-wind and enables an upwind sailing course. It uses a hinge-like device to retract into the hull.

centerboard plane:  The centerboard rises to the surface, which tips the hull on its side because the board is sailing on-a-plane.

centerline:  An imaginary line running from bow to stern through the center of the board.

center of balance (COB):  An imaginary point between your navel and the base of your spine that counterbalances the pull of the sail.

center of effort (CE):  An imaginary point on the sail where all the aerodynamic forces concentrate. It’s above the boom at the deepest pocket.

center of gravity (CG):  A synonym for center of balance.

center of lateral resistance (CLR):  An imaginary point on the bottom of the board where all the hydrodynamic forces concentrate. It’s located at the centerboard when it is down, or approximately at the skeg when the centerboard is up.

centimeter (cm):  A unit of length that is one one-hundredth of a meter. To convert centimeters to inches, multiply by .394.

centrifugal force:  The pull created by a high speed turn that pushes your body toward the outside of the turn, so you must lean toward the inside of the turn.

chop:  A series of small, wind-created waves.

cleat:  A metal or plastic device with teeth that’s riveted to the mast-foot or boom-end to prevent a line from slipping.

clew:  The part of the sail at the end of the boom where the outhaul ties.

clew hand:  The hand closest to the clew.

clock:  A method for describing wind direction and the various courses on which a board sails.  The wind blows directly from 12 o'clock.

close hauled:  To sail as close as possible to the true wind: 1:30 or 10:30.

close reach:  A sailing direction of 2:30 or 9:30.

close to the wind:  To sail as near to the true wind as efficiently possible: 1:30 or 10:30.

closing the gap:  To sail in high-wind with the foot of the sail almost touching the deck of the board.

convertible sail:  An external camber-induced sail. The camber-inducer can be left in the sail or taken out.

counterbalance:  To counteract the pull of the sail with your body-weight.

created wind:  The wind generated by the board’s forward movement.

cross-over technique:  An antiquated, difficult method of setting-sail.

Dacron:  A sail cloth used in older sails.

daggerboard:  A centerboard that is retracted vertically instead of by a hinge.

dagger fin:  A skeg that is relatively long and shaped like a short sword.

dead-downwind:  A sailing course toward 6 o’clock.

deck:  The top surface of the sailboard where you stand.

delaminate:  To have the outer covering (skin) of a sail or a hull separate from the next layer.

dis-gusted:  To be knocked off the board by a gust.

displacement:  A measure of the buoyancy of a particular sailboard hull. Technically, it is the weight of the water that overflows when a hull is submerged.

downhaul:  The line that attaches the mast-base to the grommet in the foot of the sail.

downwind:  All of the area and sailing courses to leeward of the centerline. A synonym for leeward.

draft:  The amount and location of the deepest curve in the sail.

drysuit:  A thick, neoprene suit that provides warmth and theoretically keeps the sailor dry.

epoxy:  (1) The material used in skin of most production sailboard hulls. (2) A two-part chemical that is applied to fiberglass. When the two parts are combined, the fiberglass hardens to form the outer surface of a board during manufacture or repair.

external camber-inducer:  A camber-inducer that fits in an opening in the mast-sleeve.

eye-of-the-wind:  The exact direction of the true wind: 12 o’clock.

fan:  The shape of a gust as seen from above.

fast tack:  A light- to moderate-wind technique for turning the bow through 12 o’clock.

feet-first carved gybe:  A high-wind gybe in which your feet change before the sail flips.

feet-last carved gybe:  A high-wind gybe in which your feet change after the sail flips.

fin:  A plastic or fiberglass triangular protrusion from the underside of the board at the stern. Named for the dorsal fin of a fish. A synonym for skeg.

fin box:  A plastic or metal slot on the underside of the board at the stern into which the skeg fits. A synonym for skeg box.

flare gybe:  A light- to moderate-wind technique for turning the bow through 6 o’clock.

flip sail:  To rotate the rig during a gybe so the opposite side of the sail fills with wind.

flotation:  A measurement of buoyancy. The number of liters that a board displaces when submerged. The larger the number of liters, the more flotation.

foot:  (1) The bottom, horizontal section of the sail. (2) A unit of length that is 12 inches. To convert feet to meters, multiply by .305.

footstrap:  A nylon strap that attaches to the board into which your feet are placed during high-wind sailing.

forward:  Toward the bow.

front:  Toward the bow.

front foot:  The foot closest to the bow.

front hand:  The hand closest to the mast: mast hand.

gap:  The open space between the foot of the sail and the deck of the board.

grommet:  A metal ring set in the sail through which the outhaul or downhaul runs.

gust:  A temporary increase in wind strength.

gybe:  (basic, carved, duck, feet-first, feet-last, flare, ski, step)  To turn the bow through 6 o’clock.

half-batten sail:  A sail in which the battens run halfway from the leech to the mast.

half-hitch:  A knot that secures the end of a line to the boom or mast-base.

harness:  A nylon, girdle-like contraption around your hips that helps to counterbalance the pull of the sail.

harness-line:  A system consisting of a rope, a tube, and webbed straps that attaches to the boom, and the harness hooks into.

head:  (1) The section of sail at the top of the mast. (2) The part of the body from which most trouble originates.

header:  A change in wind direction that shifts 12 o’clock toward the bow. Turn downwind to maintain your same relative sailing direction.

head-off:  To turn downwind from your original sailing course.

head-up:  To turn upwind from your original sailing course.

helmet:  A plastic and foam cover for your head.

high-wind:  Air that moves at a speed of 18 mph (29 kph) or faster.

HLOW, Hazen’s Laws Of Windsurfing:  Be assertive Use technique, not strength Be limber Stand straight Sheet-in Keep front arm straight Keep front hand higher than back hand, and Smile.

hull:  A synonym for the board. What you stand on while windsurfing.

hypothermia:  A decrease in body temperature due to exposure to cold water or cold air.

inch:  A unit of length that is one twelfth of a foot. To convert inches to centimeters, multiply by 2.54.

inhaul:  A line inside the boomhead that enables the boom to clamp onto the mast.

in-irons:  To have the bow pointing directly toward 12 o’clock, which prevents forward movement.

instep:  The top of your foot, where the footstrap touches.

jibe:  An alternative spelling of gybe.

kilometers per hour (kph):  A measurement of speed. 1 kph is equivalent to .62 mph.

knots:  A measurement of wind or board speed that’s equal to one nautical mile per hour. 10 knots is equivalent to 11.5 mph and 18 kph.

laydown gybe:  A carved gybe in which the sail is placed (laid-down) close to the surface of the water during step 3.

leading edge:  An imaginary vertical panel in a sail that contains 10% of the total sail area and is located beside the mast.

lee:  An abbreviation of leeward. All of the area, or objects, downwind of the centerline of the board.

leech:  A section of the sail that runs from the mast-tip to the clew.

leech-line:  A thin rope (string) running inside the leech of the sail to add tension.

leeward:  All of the area, or objects, downwind of the centerline of the board.

leeward rail:  The edge of the board that’s farthest away from the wind: the side of the board closest to 6 o’clock.

leg straps:  The lowest straps on a harness that encircle your thighs and prevent the spreader bar from ridding up too high.

lift:  (1) A change in wind direction that shifts 12 o’clock toward the stern. Turn upwind to maintain your same relative sailing direction. (2) The force generated by the centerboard or fin that allows the board to sail upwind.

lifting-speed:  The speed at which the centerboard or fin generates lift.

lifting-stance:  Your body position for sailing in both footstraps at lifting-speed.

light-wind:  Air that moves at 12 mph (19 kph) or less.

line:  A section of rope.

long-board:  A sailboard hull that’s more than 11 feet (336 cm) long.

luff:  (1) To rotate the sail parallel to the windline as occurs in the neutral position. (2) The section of sail that runs from the mast-tip to the mast-base.

luff-sleeve:  A tubular section of the sail that the mast slides into. A synonym for mast-sleeve.

lull:  A temporary decrease in wind speed.

lulled:  To sag back into the water because of a decrease in wind speed.

mast  A fiberglass, carbon-fiber, or aluminum pole that supports the sail.

mast-base:  A metal or plastic hinged device that contains the downhaul and universal joint, and connects the mast to the board.

mast-extension:  An aluminum or fiberglass tube that fits into the mast and the mast-base that lengthens the mast.

mast-foot:  A synonym for mast-base.

mast-hand:  The hand closest to the mast.

mast-hold technique:  The easiest method of setting-sail.

mast-protector:  A fiberglass or aluminum sleeve that reinforces a carbon-fiber mast at the point where the boom attaches.

mast-sleeve:  A tubular section of the sail into which the mast slides. A synonym for luff-sleeve.

mast-step:  A synonym for mast-base.

mast-tip:  The top of the mast.

mast-track:  A metal slot set in the deck that connects the mast-base and the board.

meter:  A unit of length that is 100 centimeters. To convert meters to feet, multiply by 3.28.

miles per hour (mph):  A measurement of speed; 10 mph is equivalent to 16 kph and 9 knots.

moderate-wind:  Air that moves at a speed between 13 and 17 mph (21–27 kph).

monofilm:  A clear sail cloth that is used in most modern sails.

Mylar:  A clear, shiny film that covers a Dacron sail.

nautical mile:  A measurement of distance that’s equal to 6,080 feet.

neoprene:  A rubber-like substance used in wetsuits.

neutral position:  The sail is parallel to the windline and the mast leans to windward.

nose:  The front of the board. A synonym for the bow.

offshore:  A wind direction that blows from the land onto the water and is perpendicular to the shore line. It is dangerous for windsurfers.

off-the-wind:  A synonym for downwind.

on-a-plane:  The board sails fast enough that the front two-thirds is out of the water, and the back one-third sails on top of the water.

one-design:  A sailboard designed specifically for triangle racing in a fleet in which all equipment is identical.

one-legged turning:  An aspect of step 3 of all windsurfing turns in which your body-weight is supported by one leg.

onshore:  A wind direction that blows from the water onto the land and is perpendicular to the shore line.

open class:  A sailboard race that has no restrictions on equipment or wind speed.

outhaul:  The line that attaches the clew of the sail to the back of the boom.

overpowered:  To use a sail that is too large for the wind strength.

PFD:  Personal flotation device.

pinch:  To sail too close to 12 o’clock.

pivot gybe:  A gybe in which the stern is sunk to act as a pivot point. A short-board flare gybe.

plane:  The board sails on top of the water instead of plowing through it: see on-a-plane.

planing:  To sail on-a-plane.

planing speed:  The speed at which a particular board must sail to make the transition from plowing through the water to sailing on top of it.

point:  (1) To sail high into the wind. (2) A navigational term for one thirty-second of a circle.

point of sail:  The specific course that your board is sailing.

pointer fin:  A skeg shaped like a centerboard: long, narrow, and pointed.

points of sail:  The directions your board can sail: 10:30, 9 o’clock, 7:30, etc.

poly-board:  A board with an outer, plastic-like cover of polyethylene or polypropylene. It’s usually a heavy, durable beginner board.

polyester:  The chemical hardener for fiberglass that’s used in the outer shell of most custom-made sailboard hulls.

polystyrene and polyurethane:  Materials used in the foam core of most sailboard hulls.

port:  The left side of the board as viewed from the stern.

port tack:  Any sailing course in which your left hand is your front hand. The course is anywhere from 1:30 to 6 o’clock.

power gybe:  A generic term for all gybes except the beginner’s.

prevailing wind:  The normal wind direction for a specific area and season.

puff:  A small gust of wind.

pumping:  To rapidly and repeatedly sheet-in and sheet-out to increase the board’s speed.

RAF:  Rotating asymmetrical foil. A full battened sail in which the battens run from the leech to the mast.

race sail:  A sail with up to seven internal camber inducers that is designed for slalom and triangle races.

rail:  (1) The edge of the board. (2) To sink one of the rails.

rake:  To lean the rig in a certain direction.

reach:  All sailing points between close hauled and a broad reach.

reaching:  To sail back and forth generally between 3 and 9 o’clock.

reaching straps:  Two sets of footstraps: the front reaching straps are behind the centerboard at a 45-degree angle to the centerline, and the back reaching strap(s) are on the centerline near the stern.

regatta:  A series of sailing races.

ride the fin:  To raise the windward rail in high-wind while sailing in the lifting-stance.

rig:  (1) The sail, mast, and boom. (2) To assemble the sail, mast, boom, and mast-base.

right-of-way:  The right of one sailor to maintain course while another sailor turns away.

rocker:  The amount of upward curve of the board at the stern.

round-up:  To turn too far into the wind.

run:  A sailing course directly downwind. Sailing toward 6 o’clock.

sail:  (1) To move forward on a windsurfer. (2) A Dacron or monofilm sheet that fills with wind and propels the board.

sailboard:  A complete board and rig. A synonym for windsurfer.

sail-flip:  The act of rotating the rig during a gybe so the opposite side of the sail fills with wind.

sailing position:  Your sailing stance and rig position while sailing.

sailing stance:  Your body position while sailing.

scoop:  The amount of upward curve of the board at the bow.

setting-sail:  The procedure for filling the sail with wind to get underway.

sheet-down:  To pull your back hand and the clew down toward the board while sheeting-in.

sheet-in:  To horizontally pull your back hand and the clew toward the stern.

sheet-out:  To push your back hand out and, therefore, the clew toward 6 o’clock.

shift:  (1) To change the position of your body or rig. (2) A change in wind direction: a wind shift.

short-board:  A hull that is shorter than 10 feet (305 cm).

shortie:  A single-piece wetsuit that ends mid-thigh.

side-offshore:  A wind direction that blows at a 45 degree angle off the land onto the water. It is the second most dangerous wind direction.

side-onshore:  A wind direction that blows at a 45 degree angle off the water onto the land. It is the most desirable wind direction for all-around windsurfing.

side-shore:  A wind direction that blows parallel to the shore line. It is the most desirable wind direction for high-wind sailing.

sinker:  A hull that does not support your body-weight when sailing slowly.

skeg:  A plastic or fiberglass triangularly shaped protrusion from the bottom of the board at the stern. A synonym for fin.

skeg box:  A plastic or metal slot in the underside of the board at the stern in which the skeg fits. A synonym for a fin box.

ski gybe:  A carved gybe in which you lead with your inside foot.

slalom:  A high-wind race that consists of a series of primarily downwind courses.

slalom sail:  A sail with two internal camber inducers that is designed for flat water conditions.

slog:  To sail slowly. It generally refers to sailing a short-board in light-wind.

slogging-speed:  The speed achieved by a short-board that’s too slow to sail in either footstrap.

slogging-stance:  Your body position for sailing on a short-board in neither footstrap.

slug-slogging-stance:  Your body position in light-wind on a short-board. Both feet are forward of the footstraps.

snail-slogging-stance:  Your body position in moderate-wind on a short-board. Your front foot is forward of the footstraps, and your back foot is between the footstraps.

soft sail:  A Dacron or Mylar sail that has half-battens or no battens.

spinout:  To have the board suddenly sail sideways in high-wind. Air bubbles form along the skeg, which causes it to lose contact with the water.

spreader bar:  A plastic or metal rod with a hook in the center that attaches to the harness.

s-turns:  Repeatedly turning upwind and downwind while sailing in the same general direction.

stance:  The position your body assumes when sailing in various wind strengths.

starboard:  The right side of the board as viewed from the stern.

starboard tack:  Any sailing course in which your right hand is your front hand. The course is anywhere from 10:30 to 6 o’clock.

steamer:  A thick, one-piece wetsuit.

steer:  To turn upwind or downwind.

stern:  The very back of the board: the tail, the blunt end.

swell:  Long drawn out waves created by the prevailing wind or a distant weather pattern.

tack, basic, fast:  (1) To turn in the opposite direction by steering the bow through 12 o’clock. (2) The bottom corner of the sail nearest the mast-base.

tail:  The stern (back) of the board.

transition-board:  A sailboard between 10 and 11 feet (305–335 cm) that has a centerboard.

triangle race:  A race course shaped like a triangle.

trim:  To adjust the angle of the sail to the wind while sailing.

true wind:  Moving air that you feel while stationary.

tune:  To make minor adjustments in the outhaul, downhaul, and batten tension to maximize a sail’s performance.

turn:  To tack or gybe.

u-joint:  A synonym for universal-joint.

under-way:  To begin moving forward on a sailboard.

universal-joint:  The rubber or plastic part of the mast-base that is shaped like an hour glass.

uphaul:  (1) To pull the rig out of the water using the uphaul. (2) The rope attached to the boom-head.

upwind:  All of the area and sailing courses that are windward of the centerline.

waterstart:  A technique for getting underway in high-wind in deep water without uphauling.

wave board:  A short-board that is designed for sailing in the surf.

wave fin:  A skeg that angles toward the stern and is shaped like the dorsal fin of a dolphin.

wave sail:  An RAF sail that is designed with a high foot for surf sailing conditions.

WDDA (Wind Direction Deficiency Disorder):  A temporary malady frequently experienced by beginning windsurfers. The symptom is an inability to determine wind direction, and the cure is a haircut, which allows the sufferer to feel the wind on his ears.

weather:  A synonym for windward.

weather helm:  The tendency of a board to continually turn upwind.

weed fin: A skeg that angles toward the stern to avoid snagging seaweed.

wetsuit:  A snugly fitting body suit made of neoprene that provides warmth.

wetted surface:  The area of the bottom of the board that touches the water while sailing.

whitecap:  A small wind generated wave with white froth at the peak.

wind:  Moving air that is created by atmospheric conditions.

windline:  An imaginary line connecting 12 and 6 o’clock.

wind’s eye:  The direction of the true wind: 12 o’clock

wind shift:  A change in the direction of the true wind.

wind-snob:  Someone who refuses to windsurf unless the wind speed is sufficiently high.

Windsurfer (R):  The brand name of the original sailboard. Invented (1968) by Hoyle Schweitzer and Jim Drake, and manufactured by Windsurfing International, Torrence, California.

windsurfer:  Someone who windsurfs.

windsurfing:  To sail a sailboard.

windward:  All of the area, or objects, upwind of the centerline of the board.

windward rail:  The edge of the board closest to 12 o’clock.

wind-whiner:  A wind-snob who makes high-pitched, derogatory comments about the existing wind speed.