No.1 Choose your discipline!

Slalom: Slalom is all about speed and gybing. The race course is always downwind or across the wind so no tacking upwind! Slalom events in the UK have a minimum wind speed of 11 knots which means if it’s below that, you don’t go out!

Raceboard: Raceboard is an open sailing class and means that everyone or any kit can compete. But unlike slalom, they course race which means they have part of the race sailing upwind and the other half sailing downwind!

Formula: This is the fast course racing option which is great to watch, especially in high winds. A formula board is one metre wide with a 70cm long fin but no daggerboard like the rest of us. They are quite technical to sail and therefore is a class youth sailors graduate to after the Techno phase!

Techno One Design: This fleet is for non-adults! You are either on a 7.8m or 6.8m metre sail depending on whether you are competing in the under-17 (Youths) or under-15 class (Juniors). Although you can choose, for example, I sail in the under 17 Youth Class even though I am only 13 because I use a 7.8 metre sail. The fleet follows the course racing format like the Formula and Raceboard sailors.

RS:X: This is the new Olympic board. This ‘one design’ means that everyone is on the same kit; either an 8.5m or a 9.5m sail. It is for quite experienced sailors as there is no change down to a smaller sail when the wind get’s up! In the UKWA set up there is a youth class and an adult class and most Techno sailors graduate to this or the Formula class.

Although not covered in this mini-guide, let’s not forget the wave and freestyle option.

Freestyle & Waves: There is a freestyle circuit and a wave circuit which the Pro riders go to as well as Amateurs, Youths and Juniors. However for the Youth fleets and Amateurs there is Freewave events usually run alongside the Cup Racing events. If it’s flat and windy a freestyle competition is run. If there are waves, a wave contest is run. These events are a good place to start if you are into freestyle and/or waves.

Waves. PHOTO BY: Simon Crowther

Race boards. PHOTO BY: Simon Crowther

Formula. PHOTO BY: Simon Crowther
Techno one design

Slalom. PHOTO BY: Simon Crowther

The RSX discipline

No.2 Choose your venue

The Inland events are very good starter events with the main race course and a Junior Open course which is for kids who don’t have all the fancy gear but want a go at racing. They also try and do Team 15 racing on one of the days over the weekend but the junior course racing lasts for both days and are a brilliant way to get sailing experience.

After you get into racing in the Inlands and are more experienced, the Cup events are great to do. They have exactly the same classes but have no Junior Open or Team 15 course and are slightly harder and more technical to race in as there is tide, swell and waves. These can be three day events run over Bank Holiday weekends.

The wave events tend to be in cool but far away places like Tiree, Cornwall and the west coast of Ireland and often last four days or more so most sailors take a week or work or, if like me, a week away from the school desk!

No.3 Turn up!

You can find out the full list of events and how to get to each one on the UKWA website. You need to get there at around 9 o’clock on the first day which is usually a Saturday. Or arrive Friday night with your tent! There is usually space organised for camping on or off the race site. If you aren’t a camping or caravanning sort of person then there is always plenty of B+B’s around at all the chosen venues with the exception of Tiree (book early)!

Registration usually closes at 10 o’clock which gives you enough time to get rigged and ready for the first sailors briefing Although all of this will be announced over the loud speakers and of course depends on the wind.

No.4 Register

You need to be a member of the UKWA to enter a UKWA event because of insurance reasons. However, you can pay £10 and join for that one event. Ideally join for the year before today as you then get a sail number allocated to you and can get on with sail stickers. A full membership costs £45 a year, U18 costs £30. Email info@ukwindsurfing.com to join. You also need to pay a fee to enter the event which covers the costs of organising and running it.

No.5 Attend the Race Briefing

The briefing is always outside the race office. However, this can be someone’s van, an event cabin or if we’re very lucky a sailing club! You will be told the first possible start, what the wind is doing and what courses are likely to be run. There are loads of possible courses but the main one is the ‘box course’ which basically means you go round four buoys in a certain order. They will also tell you what your class flag is, what the start sequence is, what order the start sequences are in (that is which order the fleets set off in) and after the briefing you can see what tally number you have been given.

No.6 Pick up your tally

At all race events you wear a tally when you go on the water so the rescue teams know that if your tally is not on the board you should be on the water. Therefore don’t ever forget to put your tally back on the board during lunch and at the end of the day. This ensures everyone is accounted for and that no one goes missing in the water which is really important especially when the weather is manic.

No.7 Go Racing

Once an Orange flag is raised you need to get to the start line and be ready for the count down to your start. Then just try and cross the start line first and stay ahead of everyone else! More on that in future columns.

No.8 Collect Your Prize!

After the event the results will be posted at the race office and you can check them or query them after the races. The prize giving takes place on the last day and not before all of the rescue boats are off the water which gives you plenty time to de-rig, get changed etc. You don’t have to stay for prize giving but it is a great event and there are often free prizes that are given away so it is always worth it, and more importantly to support all the other sailors as who knows it may be you on the winner’s podium next time!