WORLD ISAF SAILING GAMES MARSEILLE  2002. FORMULA ONE DESIGN

STUDY CONDUCTED BY DIDIER FLAMME ( NATIONAL TECHNICAL ADVISOR )

ISAF Sailing Games regatta for windsurfing which occured this year in Marseille took place on a One Design Formula Windsurfing , equipment different from the one used for the Olympic Games. This choice from the International and National authorities allowed the organization of an event at high level based on a new technological concept.

Based on such facts and in order to have the most possible objective snapshot  on the feasibility of such an event also knowing the sectarian quarrels between Olympic Windsurfing   and Formula Windsurfing  , The French Sailing Federation decided the creation of a Search and Reflection team on this event.

Having worked on this event since the taken decision  till the realisation, I hereby communicate the results of my thoughts and investigations. I will not comment the weather conditions nor measures taken since already being analysed and being part of this document.

EQUIPMENT

Its choice was dictated by the following necessity:

All equipment to be provided

• To be "one design"
• Had to be used by all competitors regardless of morphotipy and under weather condition range from 4 to 30 knots of wind.
• It had to be economical.

Problems encountered are of two different order.

1. To create a Formula Windsurfing Event with a One Design equipment was against Formula Windsurfing usual spirit and measurement rules since a competitor may use one board and three rigs.
2. What sails surface to propose for men and women knowing that maximum surfaces used on the Formula Windsurfing circuit are quite big ( 12.5m2 for men and 11 m2 for women ) and that the regatta should be performed within low wind speed conditions ( 4 to 7 knots )

Therefore the following equipment was chosen based on a one design board and two rigs per competitor.

REPORT

The used board has a great polyvalence with very good sailing qualities however some work is to be done to improve the fin and fin gasket fixing.

Competitors were proposed the use of two different fin dimensions; the majority of competitors made use of the longest one either with the big or small rig. This increasing the boards qualities and sails size/fin size compromise. But one has to consider that a bigger difference between the rigs size and therefore an increased utilisation range , there would have been a different use of proposed fin size.

As regard to the rigs either for women or men, if the largest ones have met competitors expectations the lack of tuning possibilities during sailing (   pulling gear  and very important tension tuning ) and the low difference between the two rigs surface, did not permit a better utilisation range    to match the encountered wind conditions.  Between 18 and 25 knots the large surface rig was too big for some competitors and the small one not enough. At this level there must be some search work to be done with sails makers and masts manufacturers to increase the utilisation range and include a pulling gear and making use of more flexible masts. Since within low wind speed conditions one must be able to race within fairness conditions. For this purpose one must be able to make an optimum use of rigs in a steady and homogeneous wind. If the is no need to demonstrate that Formula windsurfing reaches planning condition at 6/7 knots, it is also true that during fleet racing it is today’s needed a minimum of 9/10 knots for a fair competition.

EVENT

During the World Games, competitors ( 15 women, 22 men for 17 nations ) have been able to measure each others over 9 races under wind conditions varying from 7 to