The Annual General Meeting of International RS:X Class Association supported to open the Class ENP program for RS:X Female sailors to improve their level of skills and to help them to prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games and its qualification events.

The RS:X Class Executive Committee is preparing now the first RS:X ENP Training Course during the Princesa Sofia Trophy regatta in Palma, Mallorca, Spain between 25 March - 6 April, 2019, i.e. during the 50 S.A.R. Princesa Sofia Iberostar Regatta (http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall), and just before the RS:X European and Youth European Championships & Open Trophy (http://www.rsxclass.org/europeans2019/)

About the RS:X Class ENP Program:
Goal
Preparing ENP towards qualification for and racing in the 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo Japan, with specific focus on the female fleet as they have 27 MNA quota places, compared to 25 quota places for men!

Background
The level of the RS:X fleet last ladies in the 2016 Olympic Games was not good enough to finish all of the races, so quality improvement is necessary to have a minimum level required to compete in the Olympic Games.
The men have only 25 places, so will automatically have a much higher level, and therefore there is no need to do a specific ENP Program for RSX men fleet.

Class ENP Coach in Palma
Mr. Diederik Bakker (NED) will be the RS:X Class ENP coach for the Training Course in Palma, Spain. Diederik is a long time windsurfing coach and also the coaches representative in the Class Executive Committee.

ENP Training Group in Palma
The training group is limited to maximum of 8 sailors. Each sailor should come together with her coach as the training clinic will include also coaching their coaches.
At the moment ALG, EGY and PHI have been registered and there are still vacancy for 3 places. So countries who needs a help with coaching and are interested to join the ENP Training Course, please contact to [email protected], before March 1st, 2019.

The RS:X Class will provide and cover:

• The Class ENP coach Mr. Diederik Bakker (NED)
• The coach boat for on-the-water trainings
• Training and coaching in all aspects of RS:X equipment.
• Technical preparation on shore
• Theory regarding how to use the power from the sail the right way through the body and deliver this power to the board
• Trimming and adjusting to the expected weather conditions
• How to work together on the water in an efficient way
• Training on the water, including the video feedback with analysis of technic and trimming
• Optimisation of body, boom, harness lines positions and length, foot position in different wind conditions
• Tactical and strategic training when focused on racing drills and preparation for the regatta
• Daily program with the meetings on shore and on water training, plus evaluation
• Throughout all the course the sailor’s coach is fully involved the program

The Participants will cover:
Their own sailing equipment, travel, accommodation and meals.

Program in Palma
Monday 25 March – Saturday 30 March: training clinic and preparation to Princesa Sofia Regatta
Monday 01 April – Saturday 06 April: coaching clinic for Princesa Sofia Regatta

Venue
Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Palma Bay, Mallorca, Spain

Daily schedule
10:00-11:00 meeting at the Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Equipment preparation, daily objectives briefing, weather briefing incl. meteo lessons, trimming equipment for the expected conditions, biomechanics of windsurfing RSX, exercise briefing.
11:00-12:30 1^st water training session: focus on technical issues:

• trimming on the water
• body/feet positioning
• harness lines position/adjustments
• alignment of rig/body/board
• pointing or speed, feel your VMG: upwind and downwind!
• maximum power without pumping
• pumping technical: trimming, steering, footstraps, upwind, reaching, downwind
• manoeuvres: changing tack, 360, backward, mark roundings

12:30 – 14:00 lunch break
14:00 – 14:30 briefing for 2^nd water session: focus on racing exercises depending on weather conditions: startline positioning, where to start, fleet positioning, timing start accelerating incl max power pumping drills, tactics and strategy start and first upwind, topmark approach, mark roundings, downwind strategies, laylines, etc.
14:30 – 16:30 2^nd water session with implementation of exercises discussed in briefing depending on conditions and development potential during the week.
16:30 – 17:30 debriefing training session

When wind/weather conditions are not suitable for water sessions, we will have theory clinics:

• Meteorology and strategy
• Aero and hydro dynamics: Windsurfing/RSX consequences
• Planning and goalsetting(Goalscape)
• How to prepare for a regatta/race day
• Tactics and racing rules

During the Princesa Sofia Regatta there will be a meeting 2 hours before the first warning signal of that day at the clubhouse, where the expected conditions/meteo-forecast, changes in the SIs, trimming consequences, pre-race organisation on shore and on the water, coaching on the water: priorities and limitations will be discussed. Also there will be debriefing after the racing day.

May you have any further question, please do not hesitate to contact directly to Diederik Bakker (NED) as the RS:X Class ENP Coach for Palma - [email protected] or the Class Secretary Andrus Poksi - [email protected].

See you in Mallorca,
RS:X Class

World Sailing released a valuable update on how World Sailing Events Team sees the progress towards the Tokyo 2020, Dakar 2022, Paris 2024 and the various other World Sailing activities and events.

The attached file contains information on Olympic matters, World Cups, Youth and Para Worlds, training and match racing and has been shared with NOCs, MNAs, Team Leaders and those Olympic coaches we have contact details for.

Open file HERE

Use the links in the document to access more detailed information on each of the topics.

Text by Michael Downing
World Sailing Olympic Manager

In a light breeze, the RS:X is the most punishing Olympic sailing discipline to sail. Sailors will pump their sail all the way around the track to generate boat speed. With their heart rate at its limit for the entire 30 minute fleet race and 20 minute Medal Race, they must also make tactical decisions based on the wind and keep track of their competition.

When Zofia Noceti-Klepacka (POL) was caught starting early in the Women’s RS:X, the equation was at least simplified a little bit: Three women for three podium spots. The question remained, who would finish where.

Yunxiu Lu (CHN) started the race in first and was determined not to let the gold slip through her fingers.

“Today the wind was light, everybody was working hard,” said Lu. “The start line was very competitive, it was difficult. The Polish girl got an OCS. I just thought ‘work hard!’ Just pumping, pumping, pumping. ‘Keep going, need to go faster than everybody.’ I tried to do my best and it worked.”

Chinese sailors swept the top three spots in the Medal Race. Hongmei Shi was first, Lu second and Rio 2016 silver medalist Peina Chen was third. But only Lu stood on the podium in Regatta Park. Katy Spychakov (ISR) won silver while Charline Picon (FRA) took bronze.

Pawel Tarnowksi (POL) took a risk at the start of the Men’s RS:X Medal Race and it cost him a spot on the podium. The Polish sailor carried a six-point lead into the Medal Race, but the 22 points he picked up from the early start allowed three sailors to slip past him in the overall standings. Bing Ye (CHN) was the primary benefactor, going wire-to-wire for the win, which ensured him the gold medal. Radoslaw Furmanski (POL) earned the sliver with Pierre Le Coq (FRA) grabbing bronze.

“It’s really exciting to be here at World Hempel Series Miami Cup for the first time,” Ye said. “The sailing is really challenging here, but it was a really great opportunity to race here.”

Ye won the world championship in the RS:X class in 2017, but struggled in the 2018 World Championships, finishing 40th. This was an impressive return to form for Ye, but he’s careful not to look too far ahead.

“I’m only focused on the present, to do my best each day,” he said. “But I can promise I will show you a better performance in Tokyo.”

RESULTS: RS:X Men RS:X Women

Text & Photos: World Sailing

Six years already the International RS:X Class Association is providing the Youth Scholarship for those countries who’s RS:X sailor (Male and Female fleets will be counted separately) will participate at the RS:X Windsurfing Youth World Championships for the first time since 2017.

The RS:X Class Youth Scholarship covers 50% of the cost of the charter equipment at the RS:X Youth Worlds with maximum of six sets total and one set per applying country and per fleet (Male & Female).

The applications (simple email is enough) shall be sent to the RS:X Class ([email protected]) by June 1^st 2019 and will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis. The applicant’s National Association shall be the Full Member of the International Class Association. The final decision will be made by the RS:X Class Executive Committee by 15th of June 2019 latest.

2019 RS:X Windsurfing Youth World Championship will be held in Saint Petersburg, Russia between 4-10 August 2019.

Notice of Race

Event website: http://www.rsxclass.org/youthworlds2019/

Fair Winds,
RS:X Class Executive Committee