Windsurfing Glossary
Batten: Carbon or epoxy “stays” running across the sail giving it support.
Camber: A preformed V shaped design attaching battens to the mast, gives the sail more stable draft.
Clew: Outer corner of the sail.
Downhaul: Amount of pull (via line & pulley) down on a sail creating bend in the mast.
Epoxy board: Fiberglass over foam core using epoxy resin.
Foot: Bottom section of the sail
Glass (polyester) board: Fiberglass wrap over foam core using polyester resin.
High End: Ability of a sail to perform in high winds.
Head: Top section of the sail.
IMCS: Indexed flexibility rating for mast stiffness.
Jibe: Down wind turn. Tail of board passes through the eye of the wind.
Leach: Trailing (loose) edge of the sail
Length: Size of the board tip to tail
Low End: Ability of a sail to perform in low wind.
Luff Panel: Panel next to the luff sleeve – transition to monofilm
Luff Sleeve (sock): Sleeve the mast runs up.
MCS: Flexibility rating for mast stiffness.
Monofilm: Clear panels on sails, a type of plastic.
Outhaul: Amount of pull (via a line & pulley) outward toward the clew.
Plastic board: Shell over foam core. Polyester (glass) board: Fiberglass wrap over foam core using polyester resin.
RAF: Non-cambered rotating assymetrical foil.
Rail: Side of the board.
Rail tuck: Shape of the rail in relation to the bottom of the board.
Rig: Complete sail, mast, and boom.
Rocker line: Amount of lift from tail to tip.
Spin out: Fin slides to the side in the water, caused by too small of fin with too big of sail
Tack: Up wind turn passing through the eye of the wind.
Triax: A sandwich material – clear plastic with carbon stringers running between the layers.
Twist: Amount a sail can bend/flex (laterally) when under wind load.
Universal Joint: The piece that connects the rig & board.
Vinyl: Window material in wave sails
Volume: Amount of floatation
Width: How wide the board is, measured at the “beam” (mast track).