IWA Newsletter

Another busy and successful year for IWA and its member classes comes to a close.

The IWA Executive Committee would like to take this opportunity to affirm the IWA's strong support for the International Olympic Committee Code of Ethics. We as others believe that sailors of all member nations are entitled to equal opportunity to compete. The IWA remains committed to ensuring equal treatment of every sailor competing in sanctioned events and stands against discrimination against any participant on the basis of race, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, philosophical or political opinion, marital status or other grounds. It remains our responsibility to ensure that these conditions are met at all IWA sanctioned international competitions.

Outgoing 2015 IWA President, Francesco Zarbo, commented: “we remind everybody that we are an organisation - to Unite, to Assist, and to Serve – with clear objectives that include ‘To protect and represent the interests of windsurfers worldwide’. Discrimination is not one of our goals or duties.”

Ezio Ferin, Techno 293 President, (pictured) takes over from Francesco as 2016 IWA President – “on behalf of my fellow executive committee members I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. Let us ensure that the kindred spirit and friendly rivalry that exists at our techno championships pervades all our events during 2016 and beyond.”

Renewal invoices will be circulated by e-mail very soon so please make sure we have your up-to-date national association contact details. It is a requirement, as specified in each Notice of Race for IWA Sanctioned Events: "Competitors shall be members of a National Class Association which is a paid up member of the relevant international class association."

     * Each affiliated NCA one vote at the Class AGM, plus one vote (per class) at the IWA AGM
     * Listing on the IWA website with a webpage
     * National Championship Events, open to foreign competitors, added to the relevant Class and IWA calendars
     * and more . . .

The number of National Class Associations joining the IWA continues to grow. Thank you for your continued support of the IWA and its member classes, Help us to grow the sport by ensuring your national association joins the IWA.

The Annual General Meeting of the Techno 293 Class held in Cagliari on Thursday 29 October 2015 unanimously approved the Class Rules and Championship Rules for T293+. An application to become an ISAF Class will be made in November 2016. Meanwhile a full calendar of events is planned for the new class in 2016. The inaugural European Championships will take place in Sopot, Poland, from 17th to 22nd July 2016.

(Click event title for Notices of Race and other information)

2015 COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS

2015 blew gales in Luderitz, Namibia and the speed sailors, kiters and windsurfers, had the time of their lives! Last Monday showed the full potential of the LUDERITZ SPEED CANAL - A combination of the fast channel, strong winds and riders' top skills (plus huge courage) have produced TOP level performances with World & National Records well beaten. In 40-50 kts of wind, these extreme athletes have sailed in truly extreme conditions and have managed to once again engrave their names and the event in the history of Speed Sailing thus pushing the seemingly impossible limits, even further.......( more )

The RS:One Class, in partnership with the PWA, the Philippines Sport Commission and the Philippines Olympic Committee, held the 2015 Club Balai Isabel RS:One World Championships from the 7th to 12th December on Taal Lake, Philippines. The championship, opened to all, allowed international racers to compete through innovative race formats such as the Pulsar (compact slalom, America's Cup style).......( more )

13 races in all for the championships. In the men's RS:X fleet, Daniel Flores (VEN-1) is the undisputed champion, 9 points clear of second placed Brenno Francioli (BRA-70). The battle for third place was won by Eduardo Herman (CHI-1). Maria Bazo (PER-50) took first place position in the women's RS:X, one point clear of Bruna Mello (BRA-49) in second.

In the Raceboard Fleet, Fernando Consorte (ARG-355) was undisputed champion, a good 14 points clear of Udo Schenker (BRA-172) who took second place on the podium. Third placed was Fernando Olmos (ARG-351).

Jim Van Someren (NED-600) had a comfortable Techno 293 championship win, 6 points clear of Geronimo Nores (USA-108) who settled for second. However, neither were eligible to claim the title of 2015 Techno Youth Boys South American Champion which went to Martin Nores (ARG-407). First Techno 293 Youth Girl, Larissa Schenker (BRA-774) came 6th overall in the fleet, closely followed by Manuel Nores (USA-737) 1st Junior Boy in 7th overall. 1st Junior Girl was Lucia Llerena (PER-80). ......( more )

336 winners in one event! Impossible task? Well BIC Techno 293 One design class did it again. Yes there were only 18 places on the podium at the end of the Championships in Cagliari, Sardinia but, after week of racing with the best youth windsurfers from all around the world, all participants are winners. Even superstar of America's Cup Sailing Max Sirena thinks it was "pretty cool".

The horn of the first heat of the double elimination here at the European Freestyle Expression in Six Fours les Plages went off around 12.00am. The forecasted wind filled in even faster than the day before and delivered suitable conditions for excellent competition on the last day of the European Freestyle Expression in the South of France.......( more )

The RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Mussanah, Oman, concluded in spectacular style today with the Medal Races producing nail-biting competition and two extremely worthy world champions. Peina Chen, the 26 year-old super-fit Chinese sailor confirmed her overall win of the Women's World Championship, while an eighth place for Frenchman Pierre Le Coq in the Medal Race was enough for him to retain his leading position and secure the Men's title.......( more )

Olympic venue for 2020 Olympics is warming up. In upcoming years Enoshima waters will host more and more events as preparation for the Olympic games in Tokyo 2020. One of the first major was Asian championships in youth and senior - Olympic windsurfing class Bic Techno 293 One Design and Neil Pryde RS:X windsurfers had chance to test all conditions at this venue in only one week. Even a Typhoon extreme . . .

This year's Raceboard European Championships were hosted by the Andalucian Sailing Federation Centre, Puerto Sherry, in the beautiful Spanish city of El Puerto de Santa Maria. The 41 sailors from 10 countries could enjoy some of the best sailing conditions the place has to offer,......( more )

The WATERZ 2015 IFCA JUNIOR & YOUTH FREESTYLE/WAVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP has come to an end. Congratulations to Amado Vrieswijk (NB-20), 2015 IFCA Youth Freestyle World Champion, to Mats Moyson the 2015 IFCA Junior Freestyle Champion and also to all the other competitors who took part with such enthusiasm.......( more )

As the competitors arrived at the race site Aeolus greeted us with solid 22 knots gusting to 25, from the NNE. Already tired after the previous day of racing, the mood in the rigging area was one of quiet concentration, as the forecast was for serious wind all day. ......( more )

European championship in BIC Techno 293 One design class in LATVIA is over. All will remember wind, waves, fun, friends,windsurfing song and much more. Liepaja the city where the wind is born delivered challenging conditions which tested the skills of all participants.......( more )

Volvo Surf Cup thrills 120,000 spectators on Sylt. After five days the Volvo Surf Cup on Sylt (Germany) came to an end. A total of over 120,000 spectators experienced spectacular races at the IFCA Slalom World Championship 2015. With over 90 competitors from 17 different nations a new participation record was set.......( more )

The ISWC European Speed Championships took place on the Island of Fuerteventura last week. A hard fought competition with 15 countries taking part and European titles for Men's, Women's, Master, Youth and Junior titles up for grabs there was a lot to play for. ......( more )

70 men and 10 women from 13 countries over three continents have enjoyed some fantastic racing on the home waters of the Sopocki Klub Zeglarski (SKZ), Sopot, Poland. The warm welcome and hospitality has been second to none and huge thanks to everyone involved both on shore and on the water for staging yet another really great event. Only two races on the final day but 2 bullets apiece for the overnight leaders confirmed Max Wojcik, Poland, and Ilona Grinberga, Latvia, as the 2015 "Ergo Hestia" Raceboard World Champions. ......( more )

The Final Day at the 2015 IFCA JUNIOR, YOUTH & MASTERS SLALOM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS here in Hyeres, Almanarre Plage ended with 5 full eliminations in the women, juniors, youths and masters divisions completed for the championship titles.......( more )

Four races on the final day of the event saw the completion of a 12 race series for this year's world title. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel from Argentina ended the day on the perfect score of 9 points from 12 races - 9 race wins secured him victory and his first Formula Windsurfing World title. ......( more )

In the spring of 2012 the article published below appeared in Volume 22, Issue 2, of "Masters Matters", the journal of the Canadian Masters Windsurfing Association (CMWA). A small group of enthusiasts came together to restart the windsurfing class they had loved, and they found out they were not alone . . .......( more )

The Italian windsurfer is the most successful female Olympic sailor in history, with a total medal count of one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Throughout her career, Alessandra competed in three different windsurfing classes: Lechner A-390, Mistral and RS:X.......( more)

After an incredible 3-month journey Jono Dunnett finally completed his Windsurf Round Britain mission. Jono was joined by brother Gregg and friend Clyde Waite for the final stretch of the journey that took him back into his starting spot of Clacton. Crowds of family, friends and supporters gathered on Clacton pier to welcome Jono back to shore. It was only a brief stop on land though, as the guys headed back out and round to the final, final stop and then we think a few beers will be in order to celebrate tonight!......( more )

The future seems upon us and after ourselves in San Diego witnessing first hand the power of foiling technology in the kite arena, it was only a matter of time before Foiling windsurfing made a true debut to the market. ......( more )

FOR MORE NEWS, REPORTS ETC GO TO NEWS ARCHIVE ON IWA