Formula
YNZ Briefings: RS:X and Techno reports
2008 Olympic Gold medallist Tom Ashley (pictured left) convincingly won the 2010 New Zealand Men’s RS:X National Championships at Manly Sailing Club. This secures the double for Ashley who also won the Men’s RS:X at Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland.
Formula Nationals results, Luke Watson retains title.
The Formula Nationals got under way with the briefing and registration on the Thursday (unfortunately there were only 5 entries), but not enough wind for any racing.
2010 Oceanic & Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships results
Kiwi Ray Smith placed 13th overall and first Grand Master in the event. http://www.fw-australia.com/
Australian windsurfing titles off Jimmys Beach - kiwis competing
The eyes of the windsurfing world are now on Hawks Nest as Jimmy's Beach hosts the Formula Windsurfing Oceanic and Australian championships.
Valuable ranking points and five spots at the March world championships in Agentina are on the line, with 50 sailors from Brazil, Greece, New Zealand and Australia competing.
International RS:X and Formula Championships
Manly Sailing Club - Whangaparoa
Thu 18 Feb 2010 - Sun 21 Feb 2010
Manly Sailing Club, Laurence Street, Manly, Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Auckland, New Zealand The Organising Authority is the Manly Sailing Club, PO Box 803, Whangaparaoa.
IMPORTANT: Update to Notice of Race
- Competitors must be Resident in NZ (instead of NZ Citizen) to take the National Title.
- Competitors must be members of WNZ (instead of financial members of a national club).
Formula racing
Early planing boards and big sails...
During the late 90's a whole new concept of boards and sails became available on the market. These early planing boards and big sails made it possible to have "funboard-type" competition in a wider range of windspeeds, with planing races from 7knots.
The concept of Formula Windsurfing was born in France, who successfully pioneered Formula competition in 1998.
Windsurfing options - there are more than you think!
- Techno 293 - the 'junior' Olympic class, the ideal entry for young sailors. The skills learned here will set kids up for any kind of windsurfing, and of course there's always the possibility of yet another Olympic medal
- RS:X Olympic - the current Olympic class board on which Tom Ashley won the Beijing Olympic Gold in 2008
Olympics 2012: RS:X or Formula?
At this weeks ISAF meeting amongst the agenda items is a proposal to switch windsurfing boards for the 2012 London Olympic Games from the existing Neil Pryde RS:X to a new Starboard built Formula board. While a lighter planing board would be welcomed by many athletes, it seems there are a lot of factors to consider.
Olympic windsurfing OD board - the debate continues
Selection for 2012: An open letter to Starboard
Whilst I admire Svein’s zeal for promoting Olympic windsurfing, I have 16 years of experience in managing both IMCO and now the RS:X classes. This has lead me to the following conclusions
