Eli5 , How do windsurfers get back to where they started if the wind is only blowing one way?

Question

The only way I can think that this would be possible is if the wind was blowing directly onshore?

Edit: thanks for all the well thought out replies. I think I’ve got it figured out know, I’ve always Been a bit confused about ships tacking into to wind and I think the key thing I was missing was the sail being using like as an airfoil creating pull, used in tandem with with the fins/keel .

In: 341

Answer 1

Mostly windsurfers sail across the wind, not down-wind (or up-wind). Going across the wind you can still head fairly high to windward to overcome the wind pushing you downwind.