Olympics 2008 Sailing : The RS Class

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The waves and winds are up in Beijing and it's time for WindSurfing the RS:X way...

The RS:X windsurfer is a design by Neil Pryde that will be used in the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.


The International Olympic Committee choose the RS:X because it is representative of equipment used by performance orientated recreational sailors.

Sailors of the RS:X need to be athletic and the craft performs in a wide range of wind speeds.

CONSTRUCTION & DIMENSIONS

Hull Length 285.6cm

Hull Beam 93.3cm

Hull Volume 227 litres

Hull Thickness 13.8cm

Mast Length Men’s 520cm / Women’s 490cm

Hull Weight 15.75kgs

8.5m sail (women) 5.5kgs

9.5m sail (men) 6.1kgs

490 mast (women) 2.2kgs

520 mast (men) 2.4kg

Boom 3.05kg



PVC / Carbon / Epoxy sandwich over CNC machined EPS foam core. One shot boards are pressed and cured in a single shot process that reduces hand work to the minimum.

STYLE OF RACING

The class rewards all aspects of a competitor. Competitors must be able to sail the correct course and downwind tacking angles also become important especially in the lighter conditions.

The one design nature of the equipment means terminal and average speeds are very close and advantage is usually gained by better tactical decision making.


Brain and brawn are rewarded in a relative equal manner. With so many boards on the starting line a sailor must be able to make a top quality start from the front row or find themselves in a tough position to recover from.

Follow the race schedule for the RS:X here.