Windsurfing Is Back in Annapolis June 25-26
The Chesapeake sailing scene is as diverse as it gets anywhere. We sail all types of boats, and we sail them just about anywhere there’s enough water for them to float, including our creeks and rivers. This is true for more “alternative” craft, too. While there’s been a windsurfing presence on the bay since the 1970s, it has waxed and waned with the times and has been relegated as a more fringe sect of the sailing community. However, some developments in the past two years simultaneously seek to bring the sport back to its original roots and push the bounds of modern sailing technology. This is a story of polar opposites in windsurfing working together to achieve a common goal of revitalizing a sport that has seen declining numbers for decades.
The original “Windsurfer” was the board that ignited a revolution on the water. It was simple, accessible, and fun. Everyone who called themselves a sailor back in the 70s and 80s had a go on one (or something similar), and the most hearty pushed through those frequent swims to finally master the basics. For them, the act of literally holding the wind in your hands was the ultimate expression of sailing freedom. It was a sport perfectly suited to the times, and its popularity seemed to explode overnight.
As a kid back then, I had witnessed a very obscure original Windsurfer fitted with a hydrofoil contraption marketed by Harken. A local engineer at my home beach on Long Island had one and would bomb around in the harbor when the wind was up. It was sketchy at best, but this melding of technology would, in time, start a new sailing revolution.
Fast forward 40 years and, simultaneously, there’s a new Windsurfer (the Windsurfer LT) on the market at the same time foiling technology has become accessible to the masses. The appeal of each is readily apparent. Those looking for some old-school fun or to simply learn the sport can not do much better than the LT (LT stands for “Light”). Others looking for a more high-tech approach and possessing a bit more experience are opting for foiling boards. Both options are perfectly suited for the Chesapeake Bay.
There’s a stealth but stalwart band of foilers down at Mayo Beach Park now, having built numbers steadily for the past two years. Stop down there on any breezy day, and literally at any time of the year, and you will invariably find some of them. The “Chesapeake Windfoilers,” as they are known in their Facebook group, is a multinational band of foilers from novice to expert dedicated (some would call it possessed) with plying the trade.
Locally, about 90 percent of windsurfers have made the switch and become “loyal to the foil.” Why? There are several reasons: 1) the efficiency of the foil is incredible and race foils can sail angles and at speeds previously unattainable; 2) there’s far less stress on the body with the foil; 3) the fun can start at around 10 knots of wind; and 4) you stay above the chop!
Old tech meets new this year during the Annapolis Windsurfing Festival (AWF) June 26-27 at Severn Sailing Association, where the Windsurfer LT fleet and the foiling fleet will have racing classes. The two fleets will be the largest at the AWF, demonstrating the diversity and versatility of the sport.
Beyond the racing, the event will have gear displays at the club, some discussions led by industry and sailing experts, and even a spectator boat for those wanting to witness the action. You can register for the event as a racing sailor at severnsailing.org or walk into the club during the event to check out the scene. The schedule may vary with the conditions so be advised that onshore activities can happen at any time.
~By Jesse Falsone
