WinWind
Chapter 2 · Wind & direction
Wind Direction for Windsurfing: Points of Sail and the No-Go Zone
Windward, leeward, points of sail, no-go zone
Wind & direction — step by step
True wind
True wind is the wind you feel standing still. The blue arrow shows where it comes from.
Here it blows from the north.
Windward & leeward
The side the wind comes from is windward; the other side is leeward.
You stand on the windward side; the sail is on the leeward side.
- Windward side ✓ Answer
- Leeward side
Beam reach
Turn the board with the helm slider. Wind from the side (about 90°) is a beam reach — the easiest and fastest.
This is "training wheels" mode: the board just turns.
Running
Wind from directly behind is running. The wind just pushes the sail.
The nose points downwind.
Close-hauled
Sailing as close to the wind as you can is close-hauled — about 45° is the limit.
It is the only way to go upwind.
No-go zone
Within about 45° either side of the wind, the sail makes no power. That is the no-go zone (red wedge).
To go upwind, zigzag.
- Point straight into the wind
- Zigzag, close-hauled on each side ✓ Answer
- You can never go upwind