Hi, I'm at the Formula Foil Masters Worlds in Argentina and there are guys putting weight on their backs. Or lead in the harmess.

As far as rules, what I read is that you can carry 8kg of equipment, but regarding clothing, harness, and apart from that a Camelback (water) with 1.5 lts max.

But it mentions the World Sailing Rules which specifically says no additional weight can be added with the purpose of gaining weight.

Any thoughts regarding these interpretations?

Strapping weights on oneself is a fairly well established no no in the world of sailing competition.


It may depend slightly on who the actual organising body is, but i would be very surprised if they would permit it, whoever they are.


I would hope the people strapping weights to themselves have at least made sure they are still buoyant with the weights on (they are wearing buoyancy vests aren't they?)

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Contact Piotr Oleksiak, Formula Windsurfing General Secretary at
piotr@internationalwindsurfing.com

I don't think they're legal. At least in the IQ foil rules it's clearly specified how heavy can the worn equipment be. I would expect the Formula Foil rules to be the same.

Unrelated to the rules, strapping extra weight to someone's back or body is a sure-fire way to screw up the back :)

Fortunately, when the races started, no one kept using the added weight. So it was ok.

Managed to do 15 races in 4 days. My first foil championship (apart being a Worlds) and I finished 16th out of 30 competitors.

So much learned, and so much things to improve now at home (tacks for.sure)

I agree. The best way to learn A TON and to improve your sailing, even for non-racing, is to race.