Prospective Paris 2024 windsurfer equipment fully tested in Italy

The five day Paris 2024 Men’s and Women’s Windsurf sea trials have concluded with all five pieces of equipment fully tested on Lake Garda, Italy.

World Sailing received seven applications from class associations and manufacturers wishing to participate in the sea trials and the Paris 2024 Windsurfer Evaluation Working Party shortlisted the RS:X, Glide, iFoil, Formula Foil and Windfoil 1. All of the equipment was analysed against the criteria outlined in the invitation to tender ahead of shortlisting.
 
Circolo Surf Torbole hosted ten male and ten female windsurfers representing 18 nations. The sailors held extensive Olympic sailing / coaching experience and foiling expertise.
 
Across the five day sea trials, each sailor had an opportunity to test each piece of equipment in a range of conditions. Lake Garda’s extensive variety of breeze ensured the sailors could gain a full understanding of the equipment in 5 knots all the way up to 25 knots.
 
Their feedback was supplied to the Paris 2024 Windsurfer Evaluation Working Party which brings together:
-World Sailing Vice President – Ana Sanchez
– Chair of the Equipment Committee – Dina Kowalyshyn
– Chair of the Events Committee – Sarah Kenny
– Two Equipment Committee Members – Barry Johnson and Bruno de Wannemaeker
– One Events Committee Member – John Derbyshire
– World Sailing Head of Technical and Offshore – Jaime Navarro
– World Sailing Technical Specialist – Hendrik Plate
– Chair of the Athletes’ Commission – Yann Rocherieux represented by Maayan Davidovich
– Assisted by Training and Development Manager – Rob Holden
 
The Paris 2024 Windsurfer Evaluation Working Party also received presentations from manufacturers and classes on the following:
 
Presentation 1 – Cost
– Focusing on retail prices, Campaign cost, Equipment sponsorship opportunities and Existing pathway classes.
 
Presentation 2:  Equipment quality and availability
 – Aiming to evaluating if the equipment is readily available, mass produced and with an existing distribution network.
– Including Production capacity and Manufacturing Processes, covering Equipment Quality, Quality Management, Customer services and warranty considerations.
 
Presentation 3: Suitability to multiple formats
– Suitability to Course racing, Slalom, and Marathon formats around different sea state conditions.
 
Furthermore, International Measurers were on hand to check the supplied equipment and evaluate the quality of the equipment among the fleet.
 
The Paris 2024 Windsurfer Evaluation Working Party will now write a report and make a recommendation on what equipment should be adopted for the Men’s and Women’s Windsurfer event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
 
The recommendation will be published in the following weeks. The Equipment Committee will review the recommendation at the Annual Conference in Bermuda and then make their own to World Sailing’s Council, the main decision making body of World Sailing, who will make a decision on the equipment that will be adopted.