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About Olympic Windsurfing
06/03/2007 23:05
About Olympic Windsurfing
Windsurfers are the fastest monohull sailing crafts in the world today. It is believed that there are more windsurfers worldwide today than all other sailboats combined, and their popularity continues to grow. This is due to the craft's small size, low cost, portability and the excitement of "flying" over the water as if there were no craft below.
Windsurfers are great athletes, navigators, and sailors. Physically, the best windsurfing sailors are tall, lean and extremely fit. Yet, it is common to see a 105-lb. woman complete a race in the same time as a 160-lb. man, thereby proving that balance and sensitivity to the windsurfer are equally critical.
Windsurfing made its Olympic debut in 1984 (Los Angeles). Races are run on the same "trapezoid" and "Windward-Leeward" courses as all other sailing classes, which incorporate upwind, reaching and downwind legs. A typical day of competition consists of 2-3 races, each lasting around 45 minutes. The Olympic Regatta will consist of 16 races over 9 days (including two rest days).
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