New Olympic events.

And I bet I’d still count as a youngster in most club fleets.

Edited by Cirrus - 09 Nov 18 at 11:36pm

Originally posted by Chris Pumping is illegal under RRS but so are trapezes (Rule 49, I think) so if people can sail Fireballs in club races why can't windsurfers pump? Both just need a dispensation under the SIs. It does give the boards an enormous advantage in glassy calms when they can move when everyone else is stopped, but then again in light winds it evens out their performance profile. Alternatively, we used to ban pumping on Raceboards in twilight racing and no one cheated so it can be done!

Trapeze are allowed in their class rules. Its effectively the class rules which is handicapped.

Free pumping is allowed in the SIs (through declaring it a windsurf race or through pumping flags).

If the club racing don't have a change to the illegal propulsion rule then its cheating, no matter which class.

RS SIs for opens allow touching of marks and 360 turns instead of 720... doesn't mean we can do that in races not held under those SIs.

But for the purpose of a bit of fun I guess it's okay if no one objects. It's only handicap racing after all.

IMO the decline in windsurf racing in the UK has followed a general decline in the sport as a whole as people go on to try the 'latest new thing', combined with the introduction of classes like Formula Windsurfing with it's 12m sails and the introduction of larger Raceboard sail sizes replacing the 7.5m rig. The effect of these changes made racing more physical and left some sailors unable/unwilling to achieve the fitness levels required.

Na the rules at RRS, Class Rules and SIs. If a class rule specifically changes a RRS then its changed for that class unless the SIs contradict and specifically say it isn't.

The RRS that can be changed by class rules are more restricted than can be changed by the SI. However, rule 42 can be changed by class rules. So in theory a class could making pumping legal all the time whatever the race. But in practice class rules usually amend the 42 to allow pumping with a flag, or they leave it to the SIs for class events. I don't know any class that removes 42 completely?

I haven't looked, but I doubt the windsurf class rules would remove 42 when the windsurf racing rules change that for them.

All trapeze boats should have a class rule changing 49 to allow trapeze.it doesn't have to be resrated in the SIs. Same with class rule changes yo sail numbers and clothing weight which are the other frequent changes to the RRS by class rules.

Interesting the RS800 class rules don't change rule 49. So technically its not allowed to trapeze in the class. From what I can tell no one cares!

Edited by mozzy - 10 Nov 18 at 9:21am