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6 June 2001, 10:41 am

No Wind on Day 1

Wojtek ©choppywater.de

Formula Windsurfing Europeans, Sopot, Poland, 5-10 June

There was a disappointing start to the event with no racing on Day 1 of the championships. The weather was cold and rainy without any wind. Most people did not even bother to take their boards down to the beach.

86 men and 15 women have entered the championships. The men have decided to race in a single fleet. That will certainly give some interesting starts when the winds pick up.

A New Class

Formula windsurfing is a new windsurfing class. The rules allow for one board, and up to three rigs and three fins to cover different wind strengthes and body sizes. At the ISAF AGM in November 2001 the class was defeated as the Olympic windsurfing class for the 2004 Olympics, but still aspires to be selected as the class for 2008.

Formula windsurfing is growing rapidly, especially in Europe. In Great Britain alone 60 plus competitors attend UKWA National events. It is also particularly popular in Poland, with the Polish competitors so far dominating international events.

A series of sponsored 'Euro Cup' events with good levels of prize money are taking place from May to September 2001, and so far have attracted some top names from the professional windsurfing world tour.

Racing should get under way today at The Formula Windsurfing Europeans.

ISAF Secretariat