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News & Articles:
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Miami Herald Makes a Big Splash in Windsurfing
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Miami Herald writer, Pete Freedman, successfully learned to windsurf after a 11 year hiatus. He gives a detailed description of his experience and how our two hour guarantee proved valid. Read the article below or click here. |
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US Windsurfing Special Offer
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US Windsurfing has a special offer to new members. First time members shall receive a free instructional CD “Learn to Windsurf” consisting of 14 chapters of illustrated lesson sheets and video and audio clips. For more information, visit their website at www.uswindsurfing.org |
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windguru.com -- A Windsurfer's Crystal Ball
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Wondering how windy it’s going to be next week? Check out www.windguru.cz. This site has wind forecasts worldwide, including Miami. Press Miami Beach for local forecasts. |
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Seat vs Waist Harness; Harness Line Length & Placement
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The purpose of a harness/harness lines is to use your body weight as leverage over the pull of the sail. With a seat harness, most of the pull is through your gluteus muscles hence they are gentler on your back. As well, they allow for more leverage over larger sails. Racers prefer seat harnesses. Waist harnesses are less supportive, however, they allow you to hook-in and unhook with greater ease. Wave sailors, who tend to be out of the harness lines more often, prefer waist harnesses.
Each sail has a center of effort/draft area. This spot, which is individual to each sail, is determined by the amount of down-haul and out-haul. To find the center of effort on the sail, hold the boom with one hand and then shift your hand along the boom until you find the point at which the sail feels balanced and your mast is almost vertical. Your lines will then be placed on either side of your hand.
Most novice harness users will require longer harness lines since they are easier for hooking-in and unhooking. As you progress, shorten your lines thus improving your speed by forcing you to stand more upright. An upwind stance requires shorter lines than a downwind stance because as you go upwind you sheet in harder; as you go downwind, you open the sail more.
It is advisable to have adjustable lines until you find what best suits your sailing style. |
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New Times Best of Miami -- Best Place to Kayak
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Miami New Times has rated Virginia Key Marine Sanctuary as the Best Place to Kayak in 2005. While we agree that this is a beautiful destination, it is not for the novice as it requires 3-4 hours of paddling in open water. Before you endeavor on this trip, we recommend you develop your endurance with shorter, local trips. Click on the map at www.windsurfingmiami.com/kayaking.php in order to view a variety of kayaking trips.
Once you have experience on the water, you can consider a tour of Virginia Key. You can either take-away and launch closer to Virginia Key (call first to make arrangements) or, if you are willing to battle the elements, you can launch from our site. In order to allow your kayak to track with less effort, pick a calm wind day. Bring water and/or sports drinks in order to stay hydrated; wear a hat and sunglasses. Plan to make yourself visible to the bigger boats as you cross the channel under Powell Bridge and be prepared to deal with boat wake by pointing the front of your kayak directly into the wake (otherwise you might roll). Exercise caution as if you were driving on I-95!
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