International Speed Windsurfing Class

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The International Speed Windsurfing Class (ISWC) is a class of speed windsurfing boards that has developed over the last 30 years in order to facilitate high performance competition in strong winds and on flat water. The International Speed Windsurfing Class is controlled by the International Sailing Federation and has been adopted as an international class in spring 2007. The class is defined as an "experimental" class, which means that the class rules give a wide possibility for the development of new equipment, also outside commonly used technologies. Speed windsurfing events are normally held on "flat water" as opposed to coastal surf; which means side-offshore wind directions with a strength of at least 20 knots. The ISWC speed world champion is established throughout a tour, the Speed World Cup.

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[edit] Records

Evolution of the world speed sailing record. Initially slower than the fastest sailing craft, windsurfers quickly caught up. The overall record was held by a windsurfer as of 2005.
Evolution of the world speed sailing record. Initially slower than the fastest sailing craft, windsurfers quickly caught up. The overall record was held by a windsurfer as of 2005.

A windsurfer holds the outright World Speed Sailing Record: Irish born sailor Finian Maynard who competes for the British Virgin Islands reached an average speed of 48.70 knots (25.05 m/s or 56.05 mph) over a 500 metre course at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (France) on 10th April 2005 [1]. This exceeded the previous record of 46.82 knots (24.08 m/s or 53.88 mph) set on the 13th November 2004 by the same sailor at the same venue. These performances brought back to windsurfing the record which had been held for over 11 years by the asymmetrical wing-sailed trimaran, Yellow Pages Endeavour.

[edit] Record Spots and Event Sites

Speed Windsurfing events are normally held at venues with reliable, strong offshore winds and flat water. In opposite to the venues for record attempts, accessibility is important as well as a not to difficult course to allow for proper race organization. For world record attempts, venues are chosen only by the best wind and water characteristics.

[edit] Prominent Competitors

Björn Dunkerbeck, 2005 World Champion

Finian Maynard, 2006 World Champion

[edit] External links