Ok, i have NO idea why this has posted twice!!!

Personally I think the Wilkepedia entry is fab - its really interesting and I'm sure anyone with any common sense will appreciate that you can't really learn to do something by simply reading about it. I'm just returning to windsurfing having given it up 15 years ago after too much falling in and struggling to lift heavy rigs! Although this new "Formula" is useful its not really much different to the original it just puts fancy terms to what we already do and makes it sound like there's a method to our madness. ie, Vision? Balance? etc... Practice is the only way to learn and an online encyclopedia can't give you that - it can give you something good to read though! I enjoyed reading it.

You guys are right about the physical learning but that's not the whole story - I also was qualified as an RYA windsurfing instructor to level 3 as well as sailing etc. and on the level 2 weekends etc we had to cover a certain amount of theory and background information.
I think any site of this type should state foremost that recognised/certified instruction is the best way of learnng our sport.
However there is a HUGE amount of technical information that getting on a huge hifly with a beginners rig for a weekend doesn't teach you.
I have been learning in this sport for the last 20 years - I have a degreee in Chemical Engineering and studied fluid dynamics but still would struggle to explain why a curved swept back fin gives better manouverability and a straight one
is better for upwind performance.
Once past the basics (say after your 'start windsurf' course ) most people strike out on their own and that's when all the knowledge we have is most valuable and they could read up on the different disciplines, types of sail, board, fin etc and what all the different design features might mean.

Imagine a basic diagram/picture of a windsurfer - you click on the board and get a more detailed picture with a basic introduction. click on any part and you go deeper and deeper into the detail.

This is the basis behind most 'wiki's' or encyclopedias - a background and technical explanation of the subject (possibly even a bit of history? )

you're right I jumped on George_b's post about writing instructions on how to windsurf - my idea is more a case of let's all contribute to a site that explains everything we know about windsurfing ?

PS I deleted your extra post - I've no idea either....

I've been learning to windsurf for about 12 months now and think anything that provides more information is useful - whether that be books, articles, user reviews, instructors, other windurfers, learning from your own mistakes!, etc. and I think having a forum to share this information in whatever form that may be would be a good idea.