Introduction to Windsurfing Course
This course introduces you to windsurfing with the essential knowledge to get started safely and confidently. You will learn the parts of the board and rig and how to choose them for your weight and level, how to rig the sail and prepare yourself before entering the water, how to uphaul the sail, find your balance and start moving, how to read the wind, steer and hold a course, how to make your first tacks and gybes in light winds and how to fall safely, recover the board and return to shore.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Introduction to Windsurfing Course?
This short course is designed for beginners who want a safe, enjoyable introduction to windsurfing, water sports enthusiasts who want to add a new skill, travelers who want to learn a sport on holiday, families looking for an outdoor activity to share and people of any age and fitness level who want a fun way to stay active. You will study the disciplines of windsurfing and how it differs from traditional sailing, the components of the board and rig, wind and sea conditions and the main risks, choosing and rigging the equipment, personal preparation, stance and sail control, starting, steering and the basic points of sail.
What sets this course apart: it follows a clear, progressive learning path, from carrying the kit to the water to your first maneuvers; it puts safety at the center, with the buddy system, permitted zones, signals, cancellation criteria and basic self-rescue; and it ends with an applied project in which you plan a complete beginner session, from the briefing to the progression plan.
Program highlights
- Windsurfing explained: recreational, freeride, slalom, wave and freestyle compared with traditional sailing.
- The kit: board, sail, mast, boom, mast foot, uphaul, fin, harness and safety items.
- Getting started: rigging the sail, entering the water, uphauling and finding your balance.
- Sailing basics: stance, boom grip, weight distribution, bearing away, heading up and holding a course.
- First maneuvers: a basic tack and an introductory gybe in light wind.
- Safety first: safe falls, recovering the board, staying with it, self-rescue and returning to shore.
Syllabus of the Introduction to Windsurfing Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of windsurfing, water safety and adapting to the wind and sea environment
- 1.1. The concept of windsurfing and the differences between recreational windsurfing, freeride, slalom, wave, freestyle and traditional sailing
- 1.2. Main components: board, sail, mast, boom, mast foot, uphaul, fin, harness and safety items
- 1.3. Environmental conditions: wind, gusts, waves, current, temperature, depth, obstacles and sailing areas
- 1.4. Main risks: falling, drifting, fatigue, hypothermia, sunstroke, being hit by the kit, loss of control and moving away from the shore
- 1.5. Basic safety rules, the buddy system, permitted zones, signals, communication and criteria for canceling a session
Equipment, personal preparation, rigging and initial control of the kit
- 2.1. Choosing the board and sail according to weight, level, wind, stability, volume, sail area and learning goal
- 2.2. Rigging the sail, mast, boom, mast foot, uphaul, battens and outhaul tension and safety check of the rig
- 2.3. Personal preparation: buoyancy aid, wetsuit, footwear, sun protection, hydration, warming up and checking the weather
- 2.4. Carrying the kit, entering the water, initial position on the board and recovering the rig with the uphaul
- 2.5. Basic balance, initial stance, sail orientation and board control in light conditions
Basic sailing techniques, course control and sail handling
- 3.1. Basic principles of wind: windward, leeward, true wind, apparent wind and orientation in relation to the sail
- 3.2. Body position, boom grip, weight distribution, looking ahead, bending the knees and controlling the center of gravity
- 3.3. Starting from standstill, sail orientation, initial movement and keeping a controlled speed
- 3.4. Course control: bearing away, heading up, holding a line, stopping and returning to a safe position
- 3.5. Sailing on a beam reach, first close-hauled course and a basic broad reach according to wind direction and the windsurfer's level
First maneuvers, falls, recovery and returning safely to shore
- 4.1. Basic tack, changing direction, moving the sail to the other side and repositioning the body on the board
- 4.2. Introductory gybe in light conditions and controlling the sail during the turn
- 4.3. Safe falls, separating from the kit, recovering the board and returning to the sailing position
- 4.4. Basic self-rescue: staying with the board, reducing exposure, calling for help and heading the kit towards a safe area
- 4.5. Managing drift, tiredness, loss of wind, a sudden increase in wind or difficulty getting back
Applied project in introductory windsurfing
- 5.1. Defining the case: beginner session, sailing school practice, recreational outing, beginner group or coastal learning day
- 5.2. Diagnosing the environment, group level, equipment needed, wind forecast, risks and sailing conditions
- 5.3. Designing the session plan with rigging, briefing, progressive exercises, practice areas, breaks and cancellation criteria
- 5.4. Drawing up the safety plan with communication, self-rescue, assistance, group control and incident response
- 5.5. Proposal for technical progression, equipment maintenance, environmental good practice and recommendations for future sessions
Duration and format of the Introduction to Windsurfing Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Introduction to Windsurfing Course
Career opportunities after the Introduction to Windsurfing Course
Questions about the Introduction to Windsurfing Course
The board with its fin and the rig, made up of the sail, mast, boom, mast foot and uphaul. A harness and safety items such as a buoyancy aid and a wetsuit complete the equipment.
The wind. The sail turns the force of the wind into forward motion, and the windsurfer controls speed and direction by tilting and trimming the sail and shifting their weight on the board.
No. The course starts from the basics, with the kit, rigging and balance, and progresses step by step to steering and the first maneuvers in light winds.
Yes. It covers safety rules, permitted zones, the buddy system, signals, safe falls, staying with the board, self-rescue and clear criteria for canceling a session.
Once you can rig the kit, hold a course and make basic tacks and gybes, the next step is to practice regularly and continue with intermediate and advanced techniques such as harness use and planing.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with video lessons, step-by-step guides, practical exercises and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of 60 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at beginners, water sports enthusiasts, travelers, families and people of any age who want to start windsurfing; no previous sailing or water sports experience is required, although basic fitness and the ability to swim are recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer, tablet or smartphone with a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.