International Formula Windsurfing Class Rules
Changes 2000 (effective 1st March 2001)
© International Board Sailing Association 29.12.2000
1. General
1.1 The Formula Windsurfing Class (F.W.C.) shall be a single-handed sailboard development class.
1.2 The international authority for the Formula Windsurfing Class shall be the International Board Sailing Association (IBSA).
1.3 Interpretations of these rules shall be made by the International Board Sailing Association (IBSA).
1.4 No liability or legal responsibility in respect of these rules can be accepted by the IBSA or its delegated representatives.
2. Administration
2.1 Language
2.1.1 The official language of the Class is English and in the event of a dispute over interpretation the English text shall prevail.
2.1.2 The word "shall" is mandatory and the word "may" is permissive.
2.2 National Authority: In countries where there is no National Authority (NA) or in which the NA does not wish to undertake the administration of the F.W.C. its functions as stated in these rules shall be carried out by a "National Board Sailing Association" which is recognised by the IBSA.
2.3 Eligibility to Race
2.3.1 No sailboard shall race in the F.W.C. unless it complies with the current Class Rules.
2.3.2 It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that his equipment complies with the rules at all times and that alterations or replacements to the sailboard do not contravene the rules.
2.3.3 No sailboard shall sail in Formula Windsurfing International Events unless it is a "Series Production Board" registered with ISAF .To be eligible for Formula Windsurfing World
CONTINENTAL OR QUALIFYING championships a board shall have completed registration with the ISAF AND BEEN ADDED TO THE "F.W. INTERNATIONAL BOARDS LIST BY 1ST MARCH IN THE YEAR OF THE COMPETITION.
(For the Year 2001,for practical reasons, the 2000 limitation of not less than 60 days prior to the start of the World Championship event, and not less than 30 days for Continental Championships shall remain effective for the application of this rule.) Registration is deemed complete only when the part 3 registration form has been received and approved by ISAF.
2.3.4. National Event Organisers may accept production boards not meeting the requirements of 2.3.3
2.4 Measurement
2.4.1 The primary method of determining compliance with measurement rules shall be by measuring boards and equipment of high finishing competitors after race completion. This procedure shall be followed in World or Continental events or when the notice of race so prescribes.
2.4.2 Only a measurer officially recognised by the IBSA, the National Authority or the National Board Sailing Association of the country in which the measurement is undertaken shall measure a sailboard, its mast, sail and equipment.
2.4.3 The measurer shall report to the IBSA and the NA anything which he may consider to depart from the intended Spirit of Formula Windsurfing or to be against the interests of the sport and in this event notwithstanding anything in these rules, the IBSA or NA may refuse to let a sailboard race. Major underside refairing or deliberate removal of the finishing coat(s) are not permitted. Normal damage repairs, to the original fairlines , are permitted.
2.4.4 All sailboards shall be liable to measurement checks by a recognised measurer at the discretion of the IBSA, the NA or the race committee at any time.
2.5 ISAF Measurement instructions
2.5.1 Except where other methods of measurement are specifically indicated, all measurements shall be carried out in accordance with the current ISAF Measurement Instructions.
2.5.2 All measurements shall be in metric units.
2.6 Identification Marks
2.6.1 The sail shall carry the National Letters, National number and the sailboard insignia, if it has one, in accordance with the Appendix H of the Funboard Racing Rules (See diagram). The minimum size of sail letters and numbers shall be:
Height 230mm. Minimum Space 45mm
National letters and sail numbers shall be of a single colour and when applied to a transparent sail be either black or red or blue
2.6.2 All insignia, letters and numbers shall be of a durable material, of a colour contrasting with the sail, and shall be securely attached.
2.6.3. If the racing is divided into groups, A woman's group shall carry an equilateral diamond on both sides of the sail in the proximity of the head. The minimum length of each side shall be 150mm.
3. Construction and Measurement Rules
3.1 Boards
3.1.1. Only one Skeg may be fitted, the size and construction of the Skeg is optional.
A MAXIMUM OF THREE SKEGS MAY BE REGISTERED FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP, SKEGS SHALL NOT PROJECT MORE THAN 700MM BELOW THE HULL, MEASURED AT 90 DEGREES TO THE FAIRLINE OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HULL
3.1.2.The size,construction and materials of the Hull are free
(NOTE .. The maximum beam is limited to 1005 m.m. by the "ISAF production board rules")
3.2.1 A centreboard or daggerboard is prohibited.
3.3 Mast
3.3.1 The size and construction of the mast is optional
3.3.2 The construction of the joint and downhaul fitting between the mast and board is optional but it shall be possible to incline the mast to an angle of at least 90° to the vertical in every direction unless the sheer of the deck prevents this. 3.3.3 The mast shall be capable of quick release from the board, without the use of tools.
3.4 .1 Boom ...The size and construction of the boom is optional.
3.4.2 Harness attachments may be fitted to the boom and may be adjustable.
4. Sail
4.1 The size and construction of the sail shall be optional
4.2 The sail shall carry the identification marks required by rule 2.6. Sailmakers marks shall not exceed 300mm in diameter.
5. Crew
The crew shall be one person.
6. Limitation of Equipment
6.1 During a series of races not more than One board and three sails AND THREE SKEGS shall be used. Only one board and one sail AND ONE SKEG shall be used during a race. All sails shall carry Class identification tags securely fixed at the clew cringle , all boards shall have EITHER a permenant unique serial number applied by the manufacturer, OR shall carry a Class identification tag securely fixed through a towing eye. REGISTERED SKEGS SHALL CARRY A UNIQUE IDENTITY NUMBER ON THE HEAD STOCK, THIS MAY BE APPLIED BY THE MEASURERS DURING REGISTRATION FOR AN EVENT.
The limited equipment shall not be altered in any way during the regatta without the permission of the Jury. The Jury may only permit substitution of irreparably damaged limited equipment on a 'like for like' basis. Other equipment is interchangeable provided it complies with these rules.
6.2 A harness is permitted.
6.3 Wind indicators and tell tales are permitted. .
6.4 A weight jacket is prohibited. The total weight of clothing and equipment worn or carried by a competitor shall not be capable of exceeding 9kg when soaked with water and weighed as provided in Appendix J of the Racing Rules of Sailing
ADD 6.5
The minimum weight of the board, complete with footstraps and fin, without deckplate or mastbase, shall be 8500 grams. The weight shall be checked in a clean wet state.
7. Racing Rules
Competition shall be in Male and Female groups.
Fixed time limits for finishing SHALL be defined in the event sailing instructions, FRR 35.1 and FRR 35.2 shall not apply to Formula Windsurfing races.
8. Buoyancy
If personal buoyancy is prescribed, every competitor shall wear, above the waist, a jacket, harness or vest with a minimum buoyancy of 4kg uninflated, in fresh water. The buoyancy shall be tested with a metal weight of 4kg, which shall remain supported for a minimum of 5 minutes.
9. Advertising
Advertising is allowed in accordance with ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing. In World and Continental events, a competitor may be required or induced to display advertising on the board, the sail, the clothing or the equipment.
FORMULA WINDSURFING (YOUTH EQUIPMENT)
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS TO APPLY TO YOUTH WORLD,
YOUTH CONTINENTAL AND QUALIFYING YOUTH COMPETITIONS
1...BOARDS> only boards registered and listed as FW YOUTH BOARDS by 1st.March in the year of competition shall be permitted to compete.
The minimum weight of an FW Youth board, complete with fin and footstraps, without deckplate or mastbase, shall be…xxxxxxxx. (the FW technical Committee will decide the minimum weight based on data collected from suitable and registered boards)
The weight shall be checked in a clean wet state.
NOTE!! This will NOT apply, for practical reasons, for the 2001 Youth World Championships
2...SAILS. Youth competitors shall be permitted to register only TWO sails for a competition.The size and construction is optional
Note!! This WILL apply for 2001 Youth World championships
3...SKEGS. Youth Competitors shall be permitted to register only TWO Skegs for a competition. the maximum permitted projection, 700mm
Note!! This WILL apply for the 2001 Youth World Championships
4..Windspeed. In Youth Events, starts shall not be made when the windspeed over the start vessel, measured by the Class Approved "Standard Method" exceeds 35 Knots
Note!! This WILL apply for the 2001 Youth World Championships