Can you learn to surf on a windsurfing board without a sail?

Answer 1

No, not to my knowledge. It is necissary to have a sail to learn how to windsurf properly. The sail IS windsurfing.

You can SURF in breaking waves on a sailboard with no sail. Several companies are making windsurfing long-boards that let you do this. Some windsurfing short-boards are designed directly after Surfing short-boards. Many windsurfers actively sail in surf and literally surf on the wave face, and hence is called waveriding. A surfboard should have a surf rocker that matches the angle/gradient of the wave face. Most windsurf boards are designed for sailing and have a rocker designed for performance and efficientcy with sail power. Windsurfers are typically "planing" when sailing, not "surfing". Both are a condition that occurs when the board reaches a certain velocity and lifts out of the water to travel, but "surfing" is done mainly with the aid of gravity on the wave face.