Windfoiling is an extension of windsurfing whereby the fin is replaced by a foil and the board is morphed into a design more suitable to hydrofoiling. As the evolution of windfoiling unfolds, we are now seeing designs in all components more coducive to flying a board on a foil that is connected to a sail and boom. I have compiled a lexicon, a glossary of terms if you will, to bring your into the fold of the tribe.
Windfoiling and the many terms are a cumulation and fusions of two capsules of the language: The history and language of windsurfing with all the gear, disciplines, and histiry ; and the aeronitcal terms from flying with. I guess if you are a pilot and a windsurfer then you are a perfect spokesperson for the sport.
- Breach
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Yikes! This is when the hydrofoil escapes the water, unintentionally, and goes from some measure of lift to zero. Usually resulting in a violent crash.
- Broad Reach
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A Sailing term, basically heading off the wind. Downwind! A broad reach is not a precise point of sail and can be any angle to the wind from a beam reach to running downwind.
- Flight
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As the term implies, this is when the windfoil is flying with the board out of the water and the hyrdofoil propelling the board across the water like a plane in flight.
- Go Big or Go Home
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A fun term used often in action sports. A joking term animating maneuvers with big jumps, extreme skill, etc.. More often than not, this term often vibrates from adrenline junkies and huckers who are often proud of their BIG reputation. I occassionaly try to live this term but am mostly embarrassed with the results and laughter from the beach.
- Jibing
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Also called Gybing, a word often used for any person navigating a wind craft on the water (wingdinger, windsurfer, sailor, windfoiler) because we all need to turn around and this is often the easiest. With respect to windfoiling, we almost always jibe because tacking (turning into the wind and keeping the board above the water) is very difficult and rarely seen.
- Mast
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In windfoiling we have two masts: The sail mast and the hydrofoil mast. Basically it is the vertical piece of the equipment and tallish.
- Switch
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Short for flying/sailing in the switch stance position. Also call toe side. This is when your toes are facing the wind instead of your heels. Cool, Huh! Look mom, I am riding switch like a skateboarder on water.
- Windsurf Foil
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Another name for windfoiling. A clarifying term because there are soo many wind plus foil toys on the water that sometimes we need more resolution.
