Windsurfing

The history of the development of sailing-equipped crafts has several millennia. In particular, the prototypes of modern sailing boards from time immemorial have been used by the inhabitants of Polynesia .

In accordance with the judgment, the British was recognized as the inventor of the sailboard, who in 1958 at the age of 12 created a prototype of a modern windsurf .

The invention of modern windsurfing is also associated with other names.

American credited with the idea of ​​securing a sail on a floating platform, which was planned to be produced on an industrial scale. Darby's drawing was published in 1965 in the August issue of Popular Science . Already in 1954, he was organized by a company called Darby Industries, which was supposed to produce the first prototypes of boards. However, at that time, Darby was unable to give commercial success to his enterprise.

In 1970, California aircraft engineer and his friend registered the first patent for a sailing board . Drake created the design of the first board with a triangular sail. Schweizer popularized this sport. The boards invented by Drake and Hoyle were called “Baja Boards,” but a Seattle trader who started selling new equipment suggested the name “Windsurfer,” which later became a trademark. In 1973, Schweizer completely bought the rights to patent the sailing board from Drake and took up the sole development of the business.

For some time, Hoyle was unable to find a partner in the United States interested in mass production of windsurfing equipment, and his search moved to Europe , where he entered into an agreement with textile company Koninklijke Ten Cate NV . In 1973, Schweizer organized the production of boards in Holland . He continued to technically improve the equipment and sought to reduce the cost of production of boards, sails and other equipment as much as possible. Fiberglass as a material for the production of boards has been replaced by a more durable and durable material - polyethylene .

The commercial success of the production of windsurfing equipment has attracted other European companies in this area. In 1983, Hoyle tried to defend his patent rights through a Swiss court, but the court was defeated in favor of the Mistral equipment manufacturer, which provided Darby’s board drawing, created long before the patent was filed as a proof of good faith in the manufacture of boards. Schweizer.

The 1970s were marked by patent litigation in both Europe and the United States. The basis for litigation was the difference in terminology used by equipment manufacturers. Schweizer's board had its own name Windsurfer, while competitors used the more general term “sailboard” for similar products, which, along with other arguments, made it possible to talk about the controversial claims of Hoyle .

Windsurfing Formula competitions were first held in France on March 24, 1998 . For 4 days of competition, ten races were held. Wind speed ranged from 6 to 12 knots (4-7 m / s). The competition was won by Eric Thimet on a 2.75 m long board and a 10 sq. Sail. m

In the 1970s and 1980s, windsurfing was divided into divisions. At that time, all the boards were large enough, and usually with a daggerboard . Boards with a flat bottom belonged to the I division (Windsurfer, Windglider). Boards with a displacement hull, like boats or yachts belonged to the II division (Lechner). And finally, tandem boards with two or more sails belonged to the III division. Short boards without a dagger were designated simply as "boards for pleasure" (Funboard). Today, the classification of boards has changed a lot and now the division is carried out by type:

• The Olympic class is a monotype adopted by the Olympic Committee to participate in the Olympic Games . The first Olympic class was Windglider, followed by Lechner, then Mistral One design. Today it is RS: X - a universal board with a dagger and a large number of settings. During the race, the athlete moves the mast on the shoulder strap on the board, finishes and poisons the sail along the boom and on the mast and adjusts the tilt of the sailboard. The Olympic board is designed for racing in any conditions and is suitable both for the displacement regime and for the planing one. In Olympic races, pumping (sailing) is permitted and widely used.
• Formula (Formula Windsurfing) - wide boards (about 1 meter), with a volume of mostly 130 liters or more. Designed for use in a wide wind range (from 3-4 to 15-17 m / s) in combination with large sails (up to 12.5 sq. M.). A long fin (65-70 cm) allows you to go pretty steeply to the wind. Of the boardless boards, Formula maneuvers best.
• Wave (Wave) - boards for riding on the waves. They differ in small size (length 230-260 cm, width 50-60 cm) and volume (65-90 liters). They are adapted for performing wave jumps and specific turns on the wave, many of which are borrowed from classical surfing.
• Freestyle - Boards for tricks. Wider than a wave, these boards are adapted to perform on acrylic water such acrobatic stunts as Vulcan, Spock, Flaka and other elements that usually combine jump, revolutions, somersaults and their various combinations.
• Slalom (Slalom) - boards for racing under the wind. Lightweight boards adapted to achieve maximum speed at full courses.
• Speed (Speed) - boards designed to set speed records, usually narrow and long.
• Boards for free skating (Freeride) - universal boards for lovers. The most common type of board, designed for an average level of training. Depending on the experience and weight of the athlete, the displacement varies from 100 liters to 170 liters. May have a daggerboard.
• Boards for beginners (Beginers, Rookie) - large-volume boards (up to 240 liters), equipped with a daggerboard .
• Children's boards (Kids) - boards for children. Lightweight boards with a light mast, designed for small stature and weight of the athlete.

In addition, there are boards designed to set speed records.

A windsurf sail is a vertical wing . The driving force arises due to the lifting force of the wing.

Sails are made of polyester film, polyester fabric ( nylon , lavsan , dacron ) or mylar . For amplification, a Kevlar mesh can be used.

A windsurf sail is generally triangular in shape. The edge of the sail is called a hook (side of the triangle). The sail has a mast-pocket along the front scaffold, into which the mast is threaded. Plate - hard plates running perpendicular to the mast - serve to increase the rigidity of the sail and give it shape. In the lower corner of the sail (tack angle), an anchorage is provided. This is either a wired ring, or a grommet , or a block of rollers. If there is only a ring or a grommet on the sail, then a hook with rollers is also necessary to fill (pull) the sail along the mast. Another roller system is located on a glass at the base of the mast. The rope (guy line) passed through these rollers forms a chain hoist , which makes it possible to exert considerable effort for stuffing the sail. The rear corner (farthest from the mast) is called clew. The boom is attached at one end to the mast, at the other end (knock) with the help of a rope (guy line), the clew angle of the sail is attached. A boom covering the sail on both sides is called Wishbone. The edge of the sail from the clew to the tack angle is called the lower filler. The top corner of the sail is called the top. Usually the top has an emphasis for the top of the mast. Sometimes on sails up to 6 m² in size they use a custom top (variop) with a belt and a stopper. For large and racing sails, a bearing is integrated in the top, so that the sail is easier to spin on the mast.

Fundamentally, sails are divided into stubborn (chamber) and simple. In chamber sails, from one to five plastic stops (camber) are installed on the armor, which serve to maintain their shape. Chamber sails give better traction, but harder and harder than usual. Usually, cambers are placed on sails of a large area used for racing.

The main characteristic of a sail is its area. The sail area varies from 1 m² (children's sails) to 13 m².

• Trapezoidal lines - loops fixed on a boom , for which they hook onto a trapezoid hook
• A trapeze is a wide belt, vest, etc., equipped with a special hook. It serves to reduce the load on the hands while riding. Trapezes are of several types: sedentary, waist, upper.
• Wetsuit - a neoprene suit to maintain heat when in the water.
• Life vest - a vest to increase the buoyancy of the athlete.

• Olympic Class - RS: X
• Formula
• Slalom
• Freestyle
• Super X (Super X, Supercross)
• Wave (wave)
• DNA 5.0
• TEHNO 293 (5.8,6.8,7.8,8.5)

RS Olympic Class: X

Windsurfing has been part of the Summer Olympic Games since 1984 (female windsurfing was included in 1992). In the Olympic races monotypes are used - all athletes race on the same sets of the same manufacturer. In connection with the peculiarity of the Olympic Games, it was necessary to create equipment providing a wide range of use. Many technological solutions were taken from the Formula class (for example, a nose shape that provides early gliding) . In 2008, the Olympic Committee adopted the monotype Neil Pryde RS: X. The equipment includes a dowel board and sail of a certain size (9.5 m² for men and 8.5 m² for women). The board has a width of 93 cm and a length of 286 cm, and unlike the boards of the Formula class, it is quite heavy - about 15.5 kg ^[1] . The Olympic sail was based on the RS IV formula sail. Races are held both in the displacement mode and in the planing mode (from about 5-7 m / s). The distance is set in the course-flight format - until the first sign the boards go to the maneuver against the wind.

Previous monotypes were: (1984), (1988), (1992) and (1996-2004).

In 1999, attempts were made to approve the Formula Windsurfing class as Olympic, but the application was rejected. However, Formula has become a major international racing class ^[2] .

Windsurfing Formula

A prerequisite for the emergence of the was the appearance in the 90s of a special type of equipment - a fanboard (from the English funboard - “board for pleasure”), involving large sails and boards without a dagger, which provided early gliding . The concept of the Formula originated in France , where in 1998 the first competitions in the Formula Windsurfing class were held in Brest . In 1999, 4 regattas were held in this class, including the World Cup in Belgium , the winner of which was from Poland . Also this year, attempts were made to approve the Formula Windsurfing class as Olympic, but the application was rejected. In 2001, Formula Windsurfing was approved as the international class ISAF ^[2] . Now Formula is a major international non-Olympic racing class. Many competitions of various levels are held annually.

The formula is a box-class - the equipment of athletes is not the same for everyone, but it must fit into a certain framework outlined by the rules of the class. The board must be certified as “Formula”, with a width of not more than 1005 mm and a weight of at least 8.5 kg, fin length - up to 70 cm, sail area depends on the division: up to 12.5 m² for men, up to 11 m² for young men (up to 20 years) and women and up to 10 m² for juniors (up to 17 years) ^[3] . Otherwise, athletes can choose equipment at their discretion.

Races, as in RS: X, are held in the course-flight format, but only in the planing mode (in the formula it starts at 4-6 m / s).

Slalom

Windsurfing slalom - racing the fastest courses (gulfwind and buckstag). Boards for these competitions are made with speed in mind. Competitions in slalom are held with a wind of 14 knots (about 7 m / s).

The distance of slalom races is usually a “snake”: start, from 3 to 5 buoys and finish. Sometimes they use the “eight” scheme: starting from the shore, 2 buoys that need to be circled 2-5 times with one side and the finish line. Serious competitions in the “eight” distance do not pass, since there is a chance of a clash of riders in oncoming courses.

Modern windsurfing slalom is governed by the Slalom-63 rules (Slalom 63). The number means that each participant can apply for the race 6 sails and 3 boards for different conditions. Formula 42 was previously used. Other restrictions include: the limit of the width of the board is not more than 85 cm and the size of the sail is not more than 10 m². There is one more restriction in the PWA World Cup: you can only use sails and boards that are affiliated (registered and authorized) by the professional windsurfing association .

Freestyle

Unlike racing disciplines, freestyle is an exponential discipline. For a certain time, the athlete must show the maximum number of acrobatic stunts. Judges evaluate both the quantity and the complexity of the elements completed. Each element can be performed on different tacks, and in this case it is estimated as two different tricks.

Super X

Supercross is a racing discipline where, when driving a distance, you must jump over obstacles and do the tricks indicated in the racing instructions. The distance is set in the wind, as in slalom. The beauty of tricks is not appreciated. The winner is the one who has traveled the entire distance, completed all the indicated acrobatic stunts and came first.

Wave

Competitions are similar to freestyle, but elements are performed on breaking waves. In addition, the ability to ride on the waves is evaluated.

DNA 5.0

Children's International Class. An initial racing class in front of the Techno class, for younger children.

Techno 293

International class (usually after dna 5.0 (approx. Academy of Sailing)) Includes more disciplines, for example 5.8 (U13) - up to 13 years (inclusive), etc. .

Until 1995, windsurfing owned an absolute record for speed on water under the influence of wind, since 2010 this record passed to kitesurfing .

On April 10, 2005, Irish Finian Maynard reached a speed of 90.2 km / h (25.05 m / s) at a distance of 500 meters ( Saintes Maries de la Mer ) (France)

The previous record of 86.71 km / h (24.08 m / s), set in November 13, 2004, was achieved by the same athlete . This returned windsurfing a record that had been holding the Yellow Pages Endeavor trimaran for 11 years.

In 2007 in Namibia, in the town of Luderitz, famous for its winds, with the support of local authorities and business, they began to carry out activities to set speed records for windsurfing and kiting. First, the competition was held in the bay, after which a special channel was dug on the shore.

On March 5, 2008, the Frenchman Antoine Albot set a world windsurfing speed record of 79.0 km / h.

In November 2012, the Frenchman Antoine Albo set a world windsurfing speed record of 83.77 km / h.

On November 2, 2015, the Frenchman Antoine Albot set a new world record for windsurfing speed - 99.75 km / h (27.71 m / s) ^[4] . The wind speed was about 20 m / s.

• Winter windsurfing

Organization:

• ISAF - International Sailing Federation. International Sailing Federation. The main organization that regulates the rules of sailing racing (Racing Rules of Sailing).
• PWA - Professional Windsurfing Association. Organization of a world windsurfing tour and a professional rating of windsurfers.
• IWA - International Windsurfing Association. International Windsurfing Association.
• EFPT - European Freestyle Professional Tour. European professional windsurfing freestyle tour.
• IFWA - International Formula Windsurfing Association. International Formula Class Association.
• IFCA - International Funboard Class Association. International Association of Fanboard Classes (Slalom, Wave and Freestyle).