Racing
Page Being updated for 2010
An event programme that aims to cater for the needs of many – from International level competitors to Team 15ers eager to gain experience- but above all is attractive to our national level members.
Events in the racing programme are “open” that is, events are open to entry from competitors from outside the UK (i.e. members of a National Windsurfing Association other than the UKWA).
COURSE RACING: fleet racing, for Raceboards (boards with centreboards, including the RSX and other hybrids) and Formula boards, on courses including upwind and downwind legs; race duration generally 20-30 minutes.
SLALOM: racing in heats over shorter courses, across the wind or downwind; each heat generally 3-10 minutes.
National Championships
New for 2008.
The National Champions in Racing and Slalom will be determined by a sailor’s final position in the National Championships, stand alone events at the seasons end. Should the conditions not deliver a valid championship the National Titles will be decided by the result of the Cup Series (racing) of JP/Pryde Slalom Series.
UKWA Cup Series
Five major course racing events at some of the best UK-wide (primarily)coastal windsurfing locations. The 2008 events are : the Welsh Cup ; the British Open; the Northern Cup ; the Southern Cup; and the Midlands Cup.
JP/Pryde Slalom Series
A series of 2 day coastal events sponsored by PRYDE UK and major retail outlets around the country, each hosting an event.
UKWA Inland Series
A series of five 2-day events, held at some of the best inland racing locations. Participating regions are: North, Midlands, and London. In addition to the usual racing fleets, a separate course is run for juniors (Under 15) to provide a stepping stone between Team15 local activities and the Cup/Open circuit.
Regional Series
Elsewhere on the website you will find details of the various series organised by each of the UKWA regions. These are vital for the development of grass-roots racing, and the UKWA encourages every sailor to support their local region alongside their other commitments. Other than the 2-day event that forms part of the Inland Series, each regional series is generally of 1 day events, also at inland locations.
British Open Championships
These Championships are 3 day events with a range of class and age categories.
The British Open Racing Championship titles are competed in four classes- Techno 293, RS:X, Raceboard and Formula. and (for FW competitors) is a Formula Windsurfing World Ranking event
The British Open Slalom Championship is a new event, and for 20o8 headlines the UKWA contribution towards the opening of National Windsurfing Week.
COURSE RACING INFORMATION – FLEETS, CLASSES and CLASS DIVISIONS
The UKWA provides course racing for all ISAF International Classes plus a range of UKWA national classes and divisions.
There is further information on the relevant class websites, which can be accessed via the links page on this website.
FLEETS
Racing is managed in the UK by establishing fleets, usually with separate starts. Overall results are published by fleet, within which sailor’s class and age categories are identified. The fleets established for 2008 are:
- Techno 293
- Raceboard
- RS:X
- Formula.
Within fleets with large entries and a wide range of speeds, competitors may be allocated to Gold and Silver divisions, which may be set different length courses.
ISAF INTERNATIONAL CLASSES
The International Classes are ISAF (International Sailing Federation) approved bodies that represent the interests of their windsurfing members ; establish and maintain class equipment rules and Championship Rules; and provide international competition to a high standard. They are granted the right to hold World and Continental Championships -and manage a qualification system where appropriate.
INTERNATIONAL RACEBOARD CLASS (IRC)
The class was revitalised in 2006 by amending its class rules to allow “hybrid” boards (a cross between a raceboard and a Formula board). All production boards with centreboards are permitted, and the maximum sail size was increased to 9.5 sq.m. for men and 8.5 sq.m. for women and youths. There are divisions for the longboards , and for hybrids.
Within the youth division ( under 20) internationally, sailors are limited to the use of hybrids, but this restriction does not apply in UKWA competition.
Competitors are limited to using 1 board, 2 sails, 2 centreboards and 2 fins.
raceboard.org.
Raceboard@internationalwindsurfing.com.
INTERNATIONAL MISTRAL CLASS ORGANISATION (IMCO)
The MOD is a one-design raceboard with a maximum sail size of 7.4 sq.m., and in the UK races in the Raceboard fleet.
imco.org.
imco@internationalwindsurfing.com.
RS:X
At the November 2004 ISAF conference, new equipment was chosen for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Games – the RS:X. A one design ‘hybrid’ board – a cross between raceboard and formula – powered by one-design rigs with maximum sail sizes of 9.5 sq.m. for men and 8.5 sq.m. for women & youths (under 19 ).
The RS:X (with 8.5 sail and 60cm fin) has been selected as the windsurfing equipment for the ISAF Youth Worlds.
TECHNO 293D ONE-DESIGN
The international Junior (under 15 & under 17) windsurfing class, although competitors over this age may race the Techno both in the UK and internationally.
The Techno is now approved by ISAF as the ‘junior pathway’ equipment – with two age divisions and maximum sail sizes of 6.8 sq.m (u15) and 7.8sq.m (u17). Internationally (except Worlds), sailors are able to choose their rigs from an approved list, although limited to just two rigs and one board /fin.
At the 2008 World Championships, to be held in Sopot Poland, competitors will be limited to the use of the Bic Techno One Design Rig .
An “open” 7.8 division has also been created for sailors 17 and over .
www.techno293.org.
t293@internationalwindsurfing.com.
INTERNATIONAL FORMULA WINDSURFING CLASS (IFWC)
Each competitor is restricted to registering one board, 3 sails and 3 fins.
Youth competitors (under 20) are restricted to using a max sail of 11 sq.m. and juniors (under 17) to a max. sail of 10 sq.m.
formulawindsurfing.org.
fw@internationalwindsurfing.com.
Also www.women.formulawindsurfing.org and www.youth.formulawindsurfing.org.
NATIONAL CLASS DIVISIONS
These class divisions were established to suit the needs of the UKWA – to satisfy the aspirations of the recreational enthusiast and the newcomer to racing – by making adaptations to the standard class rules.
Techno RYA National
The Techno 293 One Design board but powered with either the Tushingham rig of the new Bic Tecno One Design rig.
RS:X national 7.8
Youth racers not limited to the RS:X One Design 8.5 rig, but also able to use a 7.8 rig. A stepping stone from Techno 293 toRS:X.
Raceboard Unlimited
No equipment restrictions other than that the boards must conform to the rules of one of the other classes listed in this document). Sailors race in the Raceboard fleet.
Kona National
Racing in the Raceboard fleet with the new Exocet Kona One Design board , with choice of rig depending upon sailors weight (5.8; 7.4 ; or 9.0). Sailors can also choose Kona Unlimited (free choice of rig )
Formula National 11.0
Racing within the Formula fleet with a maximum sail size of 11 sq.m, for those who have no wish to use sails up to the 12.5 sq.m that are allowed by the international class rules. Women and youths (who are limited to 11m in any case) must choose which title they are competing for – the national 11m division or the overall Women or Youth titles.
Formula Experience
Limited equipment racing within the national 11m division of the Formula fleet. Sailors are restricted to using the FE class approved equipment .listed on the class website.
formula-experience.org
FORMULA freerace
No restriction racing -any board without a centreboard; plus any rig ; any number of boards and rigscan be used a an event
SOME INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
RACEBOARD
The JYM (Junior, Youth and Masters) World Championship is a combined event for Techno 293 (u15 and u17), , Raceboard Youth (Hybrid u20), and Raceboard Masters (over 35 men / over 30 women, with divisions for hybrid and longboard).
The 2008 event will be held in Sopot, Poland, from August 9th > 16th.
FORMULA WINDSURFING
The FORMULA WORLD (JYM) FESTIVAL, will in 2008 be held in Paracas,Peru from 29th December >3rd January. The Festival includes racing for Junior and FE , in addition to the Formula Youth Formula Master and Formula Women World Championship Titles.
A new event has been introduced -a European Festival in Bandol, France, from 26th to 31st August.
INTERNATIONAL WINDURFING ASSOCIATION
The IWA was established to unify the sport and to serve and assist” the Windsurfing Classes. It provides an ideal focal point for information and links to the Classes; as the administrative body for ALL classes it is where all entries for Class Championships are handled.
Information can also be found about other disciplines and classes – wave , freestyle , slalom and speed.
ifca.internationalwindsurfing.com/
email : IFCA@internationalwindsurfing.com.