Windsurfing Basics: These spare parts are essential to have with you

Repair Stick/Dr Ding

A careless move whilst unloading, a sudden gust of wind or a collision with rocks on the shore: if there’s a hole in the laminate, water will quickly seep into the board. To save your session, you’ll therefore need a repair stick (such as the one by M2) in your luggage. You can cut off a piece of it; kneading it will mix the hardener and filler together. All you then need to do is press the mixture onto the damaged area, and after it has set for a short while, you’re ready to get back out on the water!

A good addition to this are the Repair kits from Solarez. These cure well even at low temperatures; all you need is a bit of sunshine. Also available for neoprene!

Duct Tape

It can do it all and is always useful: whether for quickly patching small tears in a sail or wetsuit, for securing plasters and bandages, or for countless other uses: Duct Tape A must-have for every surfer’s car!

Spare ropes

The classic scenario: a loud snap whilst trimming the luff, and the old rope has snapped. For situations like this, you should always carry spare ropes of the right thickness. Ideally, of course, you shouldn’t wait until it’s too late to spot any frayed areas, but should replace the ropes beforehand. Regular checks are therefore essential, including for the ropes on the clew and the front section of the boom. After all, a broken rope whilst setting up is annoying, but a break whilst out on the water can lead to a long swim or, in the worst case, the need to call in the sea rescue services! For such situations, you should always carry a sufficiently long piece of rope with you on the water, for example attached to the trapeze hook.

Finned screw & US box washer

Small but essential: if you lose your fin screw, you can forget about your session – at least if you’re using the right kit. The same goes for the little plate that’s wedged into the box on US-box fins. Small parts like these can easily get lost in the grass or in the sand. You should therefore keep spares in your surf bag or in the car – and they usually fit other boards as well.

sandpaper

Trivial, but important: a little sandpaper (not too coarse-grained) is very useful for quickly sanding out minor nicks on the fin. Even if the board has a nick and you need to use Dr Ding, you can prepare the area with a bit of sandpaper.

RDM adapter

If you use RDM masts, you’ll need an adapter for the front section on most booms. With many manufacturers (e.g. GunSails), this can be clicked firmly into place. However, if you switch between RDM and SDM masts, or if the adapter isn’t securely attached to the front piece, it can get lost. A standard adapter (e.g. from Ascan), which fits all booms and ‘simulates’ an SDM mast, can save the day in such situations.

Screwdriver

Even if you’re not keen on DIY, a Screwdriver When it comes to windsurfing: You’ll need the right tools, at the very least to attach the fin. Adjusting the footstraps also requires a screwdriver, and you can use it to help with trimming as well. And when it comes to assembling a foil, many people even opt for a cordless version. Phillips-head screws are the most common, though some manufacturers also use Torx or Allen screws.

Trapeze ropes

Over time, the trapeze ropes can also wear through, or the fastenings on the yoke can gradually become frayed during assembly and dismantling. It is therefore a good idea to have a spare pair of ropes. Make sure they are the right length!

Adjustment ring for the extension

Many extension poles have a standard ring from which the safety pin hangs by a thin thread. When setting up or taking down the pole, the ring at the top can slip off and get lost in the sand or on the grass. If you have an extension pole like this, it’s a good idea to pack a spare ring, just to be on the safe side.

Seaweed fin

Not essential for everyone, but if you’re out and about on the Baltic Sea or in the south of France, a seagrass fin is a must. It’s therefore advisable to pack a suitable fin. Even if you have to make some compromises in terms of performance, you’ll still be faster than with tufts of seaweed stuck to your slalom fin. There are now also numerous seaweed fins available for multi-fin boards in the wave sector.

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