New Olympic events.

Originally posted by mozzy ]In fact, we have a load of windsurfs at HISC, but other than the round the island race none of them course race, despite the club having all the infrastructure to do so.

Have you given them a yardstick to race with?

The problem both sports have, windsurfing and kitesurfing as far as competition goes, they have no 'class' representing their interests within the RYA. The UKBSA, UK whatever it is these days, long since fell out with the RYA and the entire sailing club structure and set off to do it's own thing, as far as I know they still run events as I believe do other regional organisations like the lbsa and there have been some recent resurgences of the old Division 2, but without the missing element enjoyed in days gone past, Sponsorship, news of the events is few and far between given the lack of a PR company spinning the series.

The Olympic pathway as you all well know, has nothing really to do with grassroots organisation they scrabble around local series looking for young talent which is then whisked away parents included with the golden carrot being dangled and no one sees them again.

WE did have a spirited attempt to get board yardsticks going, but off course there are no mechanics by which to submit results beyond our system so it fizzled out. Our club still has board racing on a tuesday evening indeed this was the first year since 1977 that I haven't competed, not wishing to have injury I get windsurfing these days get in the way of my Farr adventures, but the races still do go on.

Kiting and Kite foiling did have a flurry of activity but there were never enough of them to form a fleet and two of the three regulars were never disposed toward racing anyway coming from the shortboard performance side of windsurfing. The thing you probably don't realise, is other than perhaps exciting craft like my little Farr and maybe I guess the foiling end of the game, sailing dinghies just for the sensation doesn't really do it these days in favour of other free ride activities like wind and kite surfing. So they don't need the additional dimension of the cut and thrust of the race course, plus many don't want to be defined by a back of the fleet result, ego's in that arena are pretty fragile.

Never the less there are competing types out there, but without venues and arenas in which to compete it really isn't going to happen for them, I've noticed even the Sea Sweepers have taken to seeing who can sweep the sea faster and further, even they organised a Sup race this season down here, but it was a commercial entity with self promotion at the root that promoted it and kite schools have enough issues simply getting their neophytes up and running they simply don't have the will or the man power to organise further.

Get a kite operation up and running on Grafham Water, facilitate entry into club events, then see if you get kite competitors or not. Run an open to all event at Hayling, obviously not round the island they'd have problems getting kites under the bridge at Northey but a cross bay dash could work, boat v board. If you want them they have to be included to start with rather than just milked by your governing body for TV rights.

Edited by iGRF - 09 Nov 18 at 9:54am

Originally posted by iGRF Originally posted by mozzy ]In fact, we have a load of windsurfs at HISC, but other than the round the island race none of them course race, despite the club having all the infrastructure to do so.  Have you given them a yardstick to race with?

There was a time I accepted the 'pumping' argument, but energy wise it's no different than the kinetic requirements to rock, ooch and hike a laser or any other top level sailing single hander Finn included, it's just a question of technique if it's making you out of breath you're doing it wrong. Same as i was doing it wrong in my first couple of years in a single handed dinghy. I can still do both and what makes me more shattered? Wiring that bloody Farr, why? Because I'm doing it wrong.

As for the windsurfers have you considered they may not even know what the yardstick is?

I'm sure if you set a yardstick up and offered them the option to race with the dinghies, some might give it a go, depending on wether you have any long boarders resident which is unlikely since there hasn't been anything necessarily organised for them in a while other than the round island.

There is only one Raceboard supplier seriously active in the UK which stifles growth. The other boards that race are either the Bic Techno which is for kids and the RSX which is a horrible board to sail, it's rig is too heavy and like most compromise hybrids it does nothing well, but it can at least function in all wind speeds. There are a couple of homebuilders but they are not permitted due to the old homologation IYRU rules. Clearly what's required is a new class based on the old 7.5 race board class with the option for self build in fact that could also apply to dinghies the way prices are escalating.

Originally posted by iGRF Originally posted by mozzy ]In fact, we have a load of windsurfs at HISC, but other than the round the island race none of them course race, despite the club having all the infrastructure to do so.  Have you given them a yardstick to race with?

Edited by turnturtle - 09 Nov 18 at 12:00pm