Do you like windsurfing?

What about introducing students to coordinate systems and curves, and eventually possible equations through windsurfing sail design?

Here's a work sheet that leads them in. Note there are no abstract equations to start with, they can come to that later.
 I like the title "curve control skill set".
Note that through hands on plotting, and connecting points in a relevant context, the student get ger a "feel" for how curves move and change.