Weymouth Delivers! Raceboard grows again.
Posted On:  06/05/2009 23:21:00 PM
A great fleet of 31 raceboards competed in fantastic conditions last bank holiday weekend 2nd, 3rd & 4th May for Round one of The UKWA National Championships Cup 1 at Weymouth sailing academy. 13 races sailed over three days in winds up to 18 knots with just four points separating the top four boards.....a re-juvenated Dave Hackford taking the overall honours in a nail biting finish  ....( more )
News Flash - 'Guru' presentations at Weymouth this weekend
Posted On:  28/04/2009 23:10:01 AM
Last weekend our National racing association (UKWA) launched their racing season with a marvellous event at Pitsford near Northampton. Up on last year - 102 competitors attended, all blessed with wind and sunshine. The encouraging news was that the RACEBOARD FLEET over doubled in size from last year.
This bank holiday weekend the UKWA go to Weymouth for what looks like being one of the biggest championships for many years.   ....( more )
Pitsford - the Inland series gets off to a great start
Posted On:  27/04/2009 21:00:51 AM
26 raceboards turned out to race last weekend 25th & 26th April for Round one of The UKWA Inland National Championships at Northampton Sailing Club Pitsford. Saturday offered Sunshine and a good breeze. The race officer ran 5 rounds of extremely exciting course racing.   ....( more )
Round Hayling - a total success
Posted On:  15/04/2009 21:00:51 AM
Whow! 92 entrants - 60 finishers. The promised sunshine and force four it definitely was not, but what a great day! How long since we've had the thrill of a fleet that size racing .... of seeing a harbour full of windsurfing sails. The honours ( and free holiday from event sponsors Club Vass ) deservedly went to raceboarder Rob Kent on his Phantom 380. The full results are on the Hayling Island Sailing Club website. Here is a full report thanks to Paul Simmons   ....( more )
Regional Racing Saturday April 18th
Posted On:  15/04/2009 20:45:23 PM
Midlands region have an event at Barnt Green, south of Birmingham and the LWA (London Windsurfing Association) head a few miles North (!) of the M25 to Fishers Green. Expect close tactical racing .... the last Midlands event saw four different raceboard winners in the five races run, whilst LWA boasted seventeen raceboarders on the start line in mid March ..... 10.30 briefings for 11.00 am starts.
Round Hayling Marathon April 10th 2009
Posted On:  02/03/2009 8:00:51 AM
Great news! Hayling Island Sailing Club are reviving the Round Hayling Marathon. Here's what they have to say about it:
Back in the early days of windsurfing this race was one of the highlights of the windsurfing calendar.  Through whatever reasons the race gently died off however Hayling Island Sailing Club is looking to revive this race, this year on April 10th (Good Friday).  We see this as a great date as the tides coincide with a public holiday and the date doesn’t clash with any other calendar events, because it is one of the first of the season!  What a start to 09!  ....( more )
LWA start the year in glorious sunshine!
Posted On:  22/02/2009 5:05:49 PM

Each year, the London Windsurfing Association (LWA) start the year with their informal morning 'Melting Pot' event at Queen Mary Reservoir, near Heathrow. Fantastic weather and a great turn out helped to dispell memories of screaming hot-aches from previous years! Read all about it on the LWA website ....( more )
Europe to host three International Raceboard Championships in 2009
Posted On:  15/02/2009 9:41:46 PM

UK Raceboard sailors wanting to try their hand on the international stage, now have three great opportunities for 2009, all within driving distance.The International Raceboard Class Association have now confirmed the following:

2009 Youth and Masters Europeans, 10th-15th April, Lacanau Lake, France (near Bordeau)
2009 Raceboard Worlds, 6th - 11th July, Warnemunde, Germany (Baltic Coast)
2009 Youth and Masters Worlds, 22nd - 29th August, Portland Harbour, UK ......( more )

All About Raceboard UK
Raceboards are mass-produced windsurfers designed for racing around courses on any point of sailing in pretty much all wind conditions.
To ensure close, competitive, fair and affordable racing, the International Raceboard Class has a simple set of rules which define the boards and sails that are used. Basically they allow racing on longboards (up to 3.8 metres) with or without daggerboards using sails up to 9.5 square metres for men and 8.5 square metres for women. Typical fleets include familiar boards such as the Mistral Equipe, Mistral One Design, Fanatic MegaCat, F2 Ligthning and 380, Neil Pryde RSX as well as the new Starboard Phantom 380s.
3 different raceboard hulls
In the UK regular racing happens at National, Regional and Club level. There are series and venues to cover racing inland on reservoirs and lakes as well as at the coast on the sea. Links to the calendars appear on the right of this page. The racing is very inclusive and new competitors are always welcome. For 2009 Starboard/Tushingham and Mistral are offering a prize for every entrant racing Raceboard at the first UK Cup Event (Portland Sailing Centre, Weymouth May 2nd - 4th).
3 different raceboard hulls
If you are looking to get to buy a raceboard, whether it's your first raceboard or an 'upgrade', the lowdown on most of the more popular boards is here....
Blue AHD Raceboard
AHD
Unique and distinctive in it's blue livery, the AHD has always been a competitive board. Some say that the hull is so similar to the Equipe II that it is simply a 'custom' Equipe with a biger daggerboard - but that would hardly be a disaster. They have been known to take on water. Price Range £200 - £350 secoond hand.
F2 Lightning
This is a great board - competitive in all winds, it has a massive daggerboard, very similar to the Megacat, but nice rounded rails that can cope with the lift it generates. The wide tail means that this board still has a chance of holding its own downwind against the later, bigger volume boards. Price Range £150 - £250 second hand. 		F2 Lightning
F2 380
F2 380
A big, big board. Loads of volume, a great weight carrier and great in light winds......but that's not all, the flat underside means that, once planning, this is one of the broadest reaching boards there is. Highly competitive, but highly fragile. Hard, perhaps impossible, to find an 'un-dinged' one, and if you do ... even harder to keep it that way. Price range: £250 - £500 second hand.
Fanatic MegaCat
The picture on the right shows the 2008 Raceboard World champion carving his Megacat after victory. Ridiculously light, you can still find them at 14.5 kilos all up (dagerboard, skeg, straps etc). Huge daggerboard gives phenomenal upwind ability, and the light hull should see you downwind .... if you're not too heavy - not the best weight carrier. Price Range £100 - £250 second hand 		Fanatic Megacat
Fanatic Cat (Fat Cat)
Fanatic Cat ('Fat Cat')
An evolution from the Megacat, the Cat came from the same mould, but had extra volume added, largely in the tail. Same fantastic daggerboard, same great fittings (mastrack, slot flusher etc), this board had everything going for it, but never quite achieved the same status as it's predecessor, which it should have eclipsed. Price range £100 -£250 second hand.
Mistral Equipe II
The benchmark board, especially on the sea. It flies upwind on its sharp rails, has great reaching speed. Downwind there's enough volume to at least 'hang in there'. It was available with strong wind and lightwind daggerboards (though one was a bit small and the other a bit chunky). The slot flushers need replacing regularly (easily obtained, but hard work). Price range £250 - £500 second hand. 		Mistral Equipe II
Mistral Equipe III
Mistral Equipe III
Finally in production, the Equipe III is an all new design. Mistral tried 'evolving' the Equipe II into a bigger board, but the prototype was blown away by this all new design of Nik Baker's. Full length daggerboard is the (new) maximum 85 centimetres. Price tba
Mistral One Design
The Olympic board from 1996 - 2004, the One Design remains a good board, particularly for younger lighter sailors for whom it makes an excellent first raceboard. Heavier sailors might be frustrated by the relatively small daggerboard and low volume in lighter winds but they gybe like a short board and everyone enjoys sailng these in a blow. Price range £50 - £200 second hand 		Mistral One Design
Mistral Pan Am
Mistral Pan Am
These boards keep on winning. They were basically hand made Equipe IIs, which meant they got an extra 5mm all round and therefore upped the volume. Very sort after, performance as per the Equipe II and a bit more. Those lucky enough to own one rarely sell them. Price range unknown.
Starboard Phantom 380
Finally Raceboards back in mass production with Starboards excellent offering. A big board in the vein of the F2 380, but with a robust epoxy build and laminate deck. Currently the quickest board on all points of sailing. The long daggerboard gives fantastic upwind speed and does not overrail, it should also be easier to retract on the revised 2009 board. Price range £1600 new before the pound dropped 		Starboard Phantom 380
Exocet Warp X
Warp X
A wholly different design, the Warp X features a Raceboard legal tail section that can be removed in strong winds to allow the boartd to plane upwind on the skeg (as a Formula board). An 85cm lightwind daggerboard, a smaller strong wind daggerboard means stunning upwind ability in all conditions. Planing downwind with the tail section in place takes technique with the skeg being so far forward. Fittings were temperamental on the early boards. Price range £1750 new
Borrow a Raceboard

Yep. Just that. We lend you a board. You give us .... nothing ....nowt....zip! All you have to do is pay to enter an event. Sounds too good to be true, but it ain't! Three separate schemes have been put together so that you can borrow equipment for an event:

Participating Retailers
Boardwise, of Cannock, Staffordshire have been tireless in backing racing over the years, sponsoring events and providing prizes and support. Their huge stock includes many second hand raceboards, which they are now able offering to lend out for specific events.
Participating Manufacturers
Starboard have some demo boards of their Phantom 380s. Reserve one of these for an event and they'll bring it along for you to race.
Participating Competitors
Insurance has been arranged to allow competitors who are willing (or stupid enough) to lend you their spare boards. Several of our more gullable sailors have already bought into this and offered their equipment.
So .... you want do this .... send a mail to BorrowABoard@raceboard.org.uk telling us which event you want to enter and a few details to help us find the best board (weight/age/experience/address etc.)
Raceboard Rules

The International Raceboard Class rules are available on line here: rules

All racing takes place under ISAF Racing Rules. For a more human explanation of the Raceboard rules, check back on this page for an upcoming article from legendary guitarist and windsurfer Rod Davis.....
Join Us

For more information, or to join our mailing list, please email us at:
info@raceboard.org.uk
Buy a Raceboard

Check here for upcoming details of Raceboard kit for sail
Sell a Raceboard

Got some old Raceboard kit lying around your garage that could help someone get on the water? Email details of any raceboard kit you want to sell with prices, and we'll advertise it here for you, for free! No wave or slalom kit though, please. Details to SellARaceboard@raceboard.org.uk
The UK Cup Series

This is the big one, the main event, the national series to put the 'surf' back into your windsurfing.

Organised by the UKWA (UK Windsurfing Association) and taking place mainly on open water, these events have the backing of the full UKWA rescue crew

This year as part of the 'Raceboard Revival', we're racking up the first event in Portland Harbour to blast off the season. With the help of Mistral and Starboard/Tushingham there are prizes for every Raceboard entrant and there's a party for all on the Saturday night. Dig out your raceboard, or borrow one and be there!

Full details of all the events, locations, entry forms etc etc on the UKWA website
Date Location Description
May 2 - 4 Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy Cup 1
May 23 - 25 Bridlington Cup 2
Jun 20 - 21 Christchurch Cup 3
Jul 18 - 19 Mumbles Cup 4
Oct 3 - 4 Whitwell SC Cup 5
Oct 31 - 1 Weymouth Sailing Academy RYA/UKWA National Championships
Inland Series

Hugely popular, the UKWA's Inland Series is a very accessible set of events, offering tactical racing in the safety of inland waters. Many of the lakes and reservoirs are centrally located for those not fortunate enough to live on the coast.

Full details of all the events, locations, entry forms etc etc on the UKWA website
Date Location Description
Apr 25 - 26 Pitsford Inland 1
Jun 6 - 7 Whitwell SC Inlands 2
Jul 4 - 5 Derwent Reservoir SC Inlands 3
Sep 12 - 13 Farmoor Inlands 4
Oct 3 - 4 Whitwell SC Inlands 5 and Cup 5
Regional Racing

For those not able to travel so far, or maybe just starting out or getting back into racing, there are several regions offering racing for Raceboards. Details of all the events are below:
Date Location Organiser Description
Mar 21st Hollowell SC Midlands Midland Region 1
Mar 21st Bough Beech SC London London Region 1
Apr 18 - 19 St Mawes South-West Southwest Region 1
Apr 18th Barnt Green SC Midlands Midland Region 2
Apr 18th Fisher Green SC London London Region 2
Apr 25 - 26 Pitsford Midlands Midland Region 3
May 9 - 10 Kielder SC North-East North East 1
May 16th Brogborough SC London London Region 3
May 30th Carsington Water Midlands Midland Region 4
May 30 - 31 Roadford South-West Southwest Region 2
May 30 - 31 Derwent Reservoir SC North-East North East 2
Jun 6 - 7 Whitwell SC Midlands Midland Region 5
Jun 13th Bewl London London Region 4
Jun 13 - 14 Whitefriars South-West Southwest Region 3
Jun 13 - 14 Kielder SC North-East North East 3
Jun 27th Notts County SC Midlands Midland Region 6
Jul 4 - 5 Derwent Reservoir SC North-East North East 4
Jul 11th Queen Mary SC London London Region 5
Jul 11 - 12 Swanage Sailing Club South-West Southwest Region 4
Aug 8 - 9 Llandegfedd South-West Southwest Region 5
Sep 5th Chase SC Midlands Midland Region 7
Sep 5 - 6 St. Mary's Loch North-East North East 5
Sep 12 - 13 Oxford SC London London Region 6 (Sat Only)
Sep 19 - 20 Wimbleball South-West Southwest Region 6
Sep 19 - 20 Derwent Reservoir SC North-East North East 6
Oct 3 - 4 Whitwell SC Midlands Midland Region 8
Oct 17th King George SC London London Region 7
Oct 17 - 18 Calshot South-West Southwest Championships
Oct 25th Bartley SC Midlands Midland Region 9
Nov 7th Bewl London London Region Icebreaker 1
Nov 8th Whitwell SC Midlands Midland Region 10
Nov 14th Oxford SC London London Region Icebreaker 2
Nov 21st Queen Mary SC London London Region Icebreaker 3
Club Racing

Regular weekly racing happens at only a select few clubs around the country, but some of them are fanatical!
Oxford Sailing Club, Farmoor Reservoir
Have a large, enthusiasctic fleet that Race twice weekly (!), Tuesday and Thursdays throughout British Summer Time on an excellent stretch of open water that's placed just right to catch the wind. The bar's pretty good too!
Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club
Racing weekly on the sea off Hythe in Kent, with some of the greats of the UK longboard scene, this club really is a mecca for raceboard sailors.
Hayling Beach Sailors
Informal racing for Raceboards from the Inn On The Beach, Beachlands, Hayling Island at 6.30pm on Tuesday evenings during British Summer Time. Strictly informal sailing at sailor's own risk with no rescue facilities.

If you club is offering regular racing for Raceboards please email us at info@raceboard.org.uk and we'll post the details of your racing on this page.
International Racing

What a great year for trying your hand on the International Racboard scene! We have three international events all within driving distance, culminating in the Youth and Masters Raceboard Worlds here in Weymouth. All details and entry forms on the International Raceboard website.

2009 Youth and Masters Europeans, 10th-15th April, Lacanau Lake, France (near Bordeau)
2009 Raceboard Worlds, 6th - 11th July, Warnemunde, Germany (Baltic Coast)
2009 Youth and Masters Worlds, 22nd - 29th August, Portland Harbour, UK
Results and Reports

The first report of the year is in already ..... the LWA (London Windsurfing Association) Melting Pot
OK, ok.... we know Raceboards are quick ... scarily quick sometimes ... perhaps it's time to find out just how quick......borrowed a GPS, went down the beach in not very much wind and got 17.7 knots......went back the next day in about the same wind, but on flat water and got 21.4 knots (graph on the right shows the average wind speed on the first day - not the board speed)

Now it's over to you lot: buy, beg, borrow or steal a GPS, go out there and show us what your Raceboard can do. Mail you're best speeds to HowFast@raceboard.org.uk , preferably including the name of a mate who can confirm it (and not the one whose 911 you were sat in when you got the reading!)
Downwind Hall of Fame
Speed (knots)
 Sailor Location Date Board Rig
21.4 Surfing Stig Langstone Harbour 18/01/2009 Phantom 380 Lightning 9.4
17.7 Surfing Stig Hayling Seafront 17/01/2009 Phantom 380 Lightning 9.4
Upwind Hall of Fame
Speed (knots)
 Sailor Location Date Board Rig
10.2 Surfing Stig Hayling Seafront 17/01/2009 Phantom 380 Lightning 9.4
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