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Windsurf Mast

A windsurf mast is the center of a windsurfing rig. It attaches to the leading edge of a sail and provides structural rigidity to the sail assembly. The mast is at the heart of what separates windsurfing from regular surfing. But what exactly is it?

The mast is a pole that is made from high strength composites that emphasize both light weight and strength- both tensile and shear. The first windsurf masts were little more than poles that set into an indentation in the center of a modified surf board. They had much less capacity to harness wind power than the current incarnation does.

This increase in capacity is primarily due to the inclusion of the universal joint, or U-joint, into the mast’s design. The U-joint allows the mast to be permanently affixed to the board, yet have a full range of motion. This means that a windsurfer doesn’t have to exert energy to keep the mast on the board, instead, they can focus on angling and positioning of the mast, to ensure that they’re taking full advantage of the wind’s energy.

 

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