Formula Windsurfing

Formula gets people talking. I love it.
Sounds like you already have a few keen formula guys. Just going back to stuff Sean was saying. Sean is very modest and as we know he is a world class sailor and he is very kind to us guys in the NSW fleet. If you line up with Sean or Luke don't feel dis heartened, we don't and they can both beat us by up to a leg in front. We still love formula and aren't about to quit it.

You only need one or two guys to train with. If I go out on Sydney Harbour I text a few guys and we go. This is how I would start the formula scene. Keep it cheap and simple. After a while have a fun weekend regatta from redcliff and one from RQ. and after another period when everybody is feeling more confident maybe one weekend at harvey bay or yeppoon. After this come you will be ready for the 3 day National title regatta. In NSW our races cater for beginners in that when you are learning the techniques you only do one lap and then finish. This way you don't hold up the days racing. After a while when you are skilled enough to race tactically with the fleet you do two laps.

Here is a video I film. Sean was on a borrowed Patrik board and a old gaastra with number AUS20

^ Interesting? as in 'can Leo lap them?' sort of interesting?

I reckon the race board gear has got allot faster. With the extra volume in the boards with bigger keels and skeps pushing 60cm the upwind lift is there. Add a formula or slalom style sail to the mix like a 9.5 Reflex in 14 knots and your honking.

Best as has been suggested any benchmarking needs similar sailor ability which is tricky.

105 replies. This is the thread that won't quit. It's been very topical, and source of debate.

Had 2 great sessions on my formula this week in the 6-12kt conditions we get a lot of this time of year. I'm hooked. Great concept for me, as it suits my sailing requirements.

Hey Sean, for someone in SE qld thinking of getting into formula, would you recommend they try formula experience or formula? It seems formula experience is alive and well in certain parts of the world, but Aust seems to be formula only?

Icarbon I don't think the support is as bad as it looks. Remember very few of us Queensland windsurfers actually do raceboarding and formula. Those 7 raceboards at lake Cootharaba are probably half (guestimate) of the entire qld raceboard community. Why none of us went in the recent Frostbite races I don't know? I was interstate that weekend. I think Cameron and Jacob participated?

I'd estimate 90% or more of the SE qld windsurf community are into slalom, speed, bump&jump, and wave sailing, not raceboard nor formula. I'm the joke of the rigging area with my barn door or boat (raceboard). They have their competitions with GPS TC, freerace, figure 8 slalom racing etc. They're not interested in course racing, and that's cool. Each to their own.

Yes, where possible.

Which races you referring to?

Cameron, yeah I'll be in those regattas as much as possible. What about a trip interstate?

Interesting thread

My rambling 2c - while race boards may have got faster ( Brynoz) they are not comparable to formula once its planing conditions - though I'm not sure thats what you where alluding to. Having raced alongside them a bit over the last twelve months I really don't see them as direct competitors. I'd love to own a race board but the bride says I already have too many toys

There is no shame being beaten by Tibor when it's light - they guy is a freak - and then you take into account his age. He can plane through lulls longer than your average chick flick.

As to the comments of formula racers waiting for wind 80% of the time .....this certainly hasn't been my experience and that's what SUPs are good for

Cluffy's comments re racing is a peculiarity of Marmong - summers NE have to come over a large ridge and the water state is confused by the adjoining sailing club setting their courses directly over ours

The structure of the NSW series is brilliant - 1 lap or 2 - suitable to all levels of sailor AND those who do not wish to join the arms race

Yes Formula is not for everyone - but for those who are already sailing slalom gear it's only a short step and greatly increases sailing time ( if like me sailing time is often not when it's windy)

I haven't sailed for over 2 months - not fit and an average sailor - yet today in 6-10 knots I planed for most of the time for an hour or so

Cam - good to hear the 161 is still going strong

Hi Cam, I'm just saying it as it is, I'm not pumping something up that's not there to be pumped

I'm pretty safe in saying that less than 1% of windsurfers are into Formula, it's not a new thing, we are all aware if it, its great that you enjoy it more power to you go for it have fun.

My point is, it's not where the future of the sport lies, its not what 99% of windsurfers are interested in (pretty sure manufactures would say it represent as similar % of their business, I don't see the shops with racks of formula boards!).

But please, go ahead import a few containers of formula gear, get some skin in the game, and prove me and the vast majority of windsurfers wrong.

As for the SUP dig, WT? (Naish NISCO had 40+ this morning at Cotton tree, ) safe to say that's doing better than formula and windsurfing in general!

Maybe if you plugged a sail into a SUP on a 5-10knt day and taught someone to sail (gee they kind of look like a windsurfer don't they?!, instead of parading around with a million dollars of gear that you cant use until the waters a meter deep, there would be more people learning to sail/windsurf.

I have said before and I will say again the 'high end' expensive call it 'elite' end of the sport that the minority seem keen on pushing is actually not what is going to grow the sport, think the last 10 years has proven me correct.

What is good for the sport is working with sectors of the sport that
A)most people are into
B)are most likely to be picked up or seem cool/interesting to the general public, AKA potential newbies.

I'd suggest on the list of windsurfing disciplines, Formula would rate last

I'm all formula'd out....pheww...