1/Dec/2008 to 28/Feb/2009
Starboard are the proud sponsors of this competition. You can sail anywhere + anytime throughout Summer in South Australia and post your track to either GPSSS.com or GTC or email them to me, and I will collate all the tracks and information over the Summer and provide a result at the end of the season. Highest numbers across the board win…….but it’s not about winning, it’s about getting out there and having fun.

Divisions of 2 sec, 5×10sec, NM, 1Hr, Alpha 500 + Distance. Highest results per category are then totalled for each competitor to provide a ‘point’ score for the season. These will then form a ranking at the end of the season.

You must be a current financial member of Windsurfing SA or affiliate
www.windsurfing.org/files/SA_MSHIP.pdf

Trackpoint only as some sailors have GPS units that are not doppler enabled.

So get out there, and get your speed up and your distance.

Chris Dimond - 0419 035 031 chris@dimond.com.au

Stage #1 of the AUS sail number list cull has been completed
see http://www.windsurfing.org/sailnumbers.htm 
all numbers belonging to sailors who have been unfinancial for a few years, have been removed from the list. Removed numbers may be available for reallocation.

Stage #2 is the retirement of all non AUS numbers
- KA numbers
- Other non AUS numbers

Are you for/against Stage 2 going ahead. Please leave a comment (mentioning your number too).

How much diversity is there really in Formula Windsurfing?
How many of you are sailing the same board?
What is the break-up of fleets?
Do we have a pseudo one design already?

Can’t see the forest for the trees!!

It’s very hard to change the status quo. So, despite the intense lobbying of the Formula Windsurfing Org (and IWA) for the Formula One Design, the RSX will be sailed at the 2012 Olympics.

It’s not a time for the RSX fraternity to gloat, but to put more effort into growing the class. Does it exist only because it is the “Olympic Windsurfer”?

The FOD/FWOD is not dead-in-the-water, but needs the momentum of numbers, ISAF international class status and a strong following to be built ready for the next round of decision making.

The final decision for the 2016 Olympics is likely to be made in 2012, but FOD will need to have a noticable presence by late 2010 to be considered a serious contender. To be a serious contender, formula fleets should be mostly “One Design” (FOD) - state and national windsurfing bodies should encourage that scenario.

Or is a longboard still the best option??

Last minute lobbying with comments (Nov 2008):
Why FOD is right for 2012 (Ceri Williams)
Fact not Fiction (Allison Shreeve)

The longboard view:
The Longboard Windsurfing Journal

Says Neil Pryde.

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.

Read more:
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Not-time-to-change-Olympic-windsurfer-says-Pryde/50457 

[21/10/2008]
Please be aware that the Nov 2008 Slalom National Championship have been relocated to Ramsgate Beach, Sydney, 8-9 Nov 2008.

Poster 165kb PDF
Notice of Race 45kb PDF

Unfortunately the Sandy Point venue became untenable for a number of reasons, and whilst we had fought to keep that event/venue happening, the general consensus was to relocate.

50 knots broken again, new outright speedsailing record
Alexandre Caizergues (FRA) is the fastest sailor on earth now, with a blistering 50.57 knots run today, accompanied by several more 50s and high 49s. Several more national outright records have been broken today in Luderitz, full results, pictures and interviews at www.luderitz-speed.com

Speed:World:Cup
Subject to WSSRC ratification, Sebastien Cattelan (FRA) has finally broken the magical 50 knots barrier, the holy grail of speed sailing. Accompanied by several high 49 knots runs from himself, Alexandre Caizergues and Jerome Bila (all France) he was the only sailor finally getting to 50.26 knots.

Full details, pictures and reports can be found at
www.luderitz-speed.com

My tour into the history starts with a new Movie from veteran photographer Jonathan Weston. It’s called Wind Legends and stars the top names in windsurfing telling the story of the sport.
More about the movie can be seen at windflicks.com

Wind Legends - The Movie

The site includes a few film trailers - It’s worth viewing them all.

Part 2:
Following a link on Jonathans site lead me to a wealth of historical footage @ stableroad.com     Pay particular attention to the Windsurfing page. Heres pics of some of the videos on the site.

The Windsurfing Tapes

More Windsurfing Tapes

Whilst I (Rory Ramsden) 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.

See more @ http://windsurfingnz.org/node/1796

Previous Posts on this subject:
2008/09/15: Press release: Formula OD
2008/06/05: 2012 Olympic board - RSX or FWOD