Formula Windsurfing

Formula Windsurfing

'Formula windsurfing' is the high performance competitive course racing format of the windsurfing world. These boards have a massive wind range that enables racing in very light winds from 7 knots up to 35 knots and are capable of reaching speeds of over 30 knots.

The International Formula Windsurfing Class is controlled by the International Sailing Federation and was launched in 1998. This class introduced rules that restricted competitors to one board with a maximum of 3 sails and 3 fins (changed to 2 fins in 2011). This led the designers into creating boards with a very wide wind range coupled with excellent upwind and downwind performance.

Formula boards are much wider than conventional boards and their length is considerably shorter. Formula boards have now been restricted to 1m wide with fins up to 70 cm long and maximum sail sizes of 12.5m^2. By changing the fin length, type and stiffness as well as the sail sizes these boards can be tuned for a wide range of wind and water conditions and suit a variety of different sized sailors.