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The equipment:

bulletthe board
bulletboard - the thing you stand on there are many types of board. The type depends on the type of sailing you want to do and your skill level - usually the longer & higher volume boards are for beginners and they often have a dagger-board to give extra control: The only reason that I have shown only one "make" of board is that by chance I have used all of the boards below and liked them.
bullettypical beginner board:

bullettypical race board:   

bullettypical Slalom board

bullettypical Free-ride board

bullettypical Wave board

 

bulletDagger-board
bulletretractable fin and near the middle of the board usually found on beginner boards

 

bulletFin
bulletnear the rear edge of the board - allows you to sail the board -> the different fins are used for different types of sailing. Typically the top fin us used for wave sailing, the middle fin for slalom and the bottom fin for formula race sailing.

 

bulletFoot-straps - need these to stay on the board when you are going fast. doing a loop,...

 

bulletBoom
bulletDevice used to control power, direction and other aspects of sailing. Various types and sizes depending what type of sailing you want to do. Latest technology carbon booms are very light but not cheap! - typical race-boom shown below:

bulletMast
bulletmast - used to put the sail on - many types and sizes (3.5 - 5.5m long) dependent on the type of sailing you want to do. The latest technology "carbon masts" are not cheap!
bullet
bulletmast base - used to connect the mast to the board
bullet
bulletmast extension - device to make the mast longer thus enabling you to use a wider range of sails.

bulletSail - or Rig
bulletthe sail is used to harness the power of the wind and channel it to the board - there are many types of sail dependent on the type of sailing you want to do. Sail sizes can vary typically between 3.5m2 to 12m2 a typical 10m2 race sail is shown below:

Parts of the "Rig":

     

bulletUp-haul line
bulletused to lift the sail out of the water one end is attached to the front of the boom and the other looped around the mast base.

bulletHarness & Harness lines
bulletBefore your hands drop off use a harness and harness lines - the harness is secured around your midriff or seat area, the harness lines one on each side of the boom, to which you hook or unhook your harness from!

      

Finally when all is done and your on the water, this is what it's like taking a gentle stroll