Been meaning to put this up for a while, this at the RSX Olympic class worlds this year in Cadiz Spain. This day it was considered unsafe to race so Mr Neil Pryde decided to put up 1000 USD for the fastest RSX sailor. GPS's where used, only a select few nutters went out. why? Because it was gusting over 50 knots and 9.5m2 sails and 50 knots do not useually mix :) enjoy

That's madness, saw a few of those guys when they were over here for the comp, they aren't that big.

I spoke to one of the big names who was there, he said a lot didnt go out as it was madness to risk damaging their race kit. Obviously they get several rigs and use the best one for racing......so it was too much of a risk to damage it, also a bit too much of a risk to do it with only a few months before the big competition!

Much respect tot those who did though. We see them training here, often going out in winds approaching those speeds, sailing alongside them you really appreciate the control they have seeing their boards railing up and tailwalking so high in the gusts

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elmo said...

That's madness, saw a few of those guys when they were over here for the comp, they aren't that big.

Was reading before that the average weight for Beijing was ~70kg, so yer, light compared to say formula....but I guess the average wind speeds at that event was light and pumping is a massive part of that class.

Thought I had hooked into some kite video, with that screaming head banging backing crap
But good to watch
Healthy respect to those who challenged the conditions. Imagine being flung forward and one of those units running you down.

LOVED THE INVOLUNTARY FLAKAS. REMEMBER THE LAWS OF PHYSICS CANNOT BE BENT - THAT'S WHY US SPEED SAILORS USE THOSE RIDICULOUSLY SMALL FINS AND BOARDS. LOL THAT WAS ENTERTAINING. I HAVEN'T SEEN SUCH FOLLY SINCE SPEED SAILING IN THE EIGHTIES. THANKS UPTHERE!

i thought it looked liked good fun...


to watch, that is.....to watch

32 knots on anything would be pretty impressive in that chop. How fast do you think RIDICULOUSLY SMALL FINS AND BOARDS would go in those same conditions? Piloted by speedsailors of parallel skill. Allow for the fact that videos always seem to tone down the severity of chop.

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Ian K said...

32 knots on anything would be pretty impressive in that chop. How fast do you think RIDICULOUSLY SMALL FINS AND BOARDS would go in those same conditions? Piloted by speedsailors of parallel skill. Allow for the fact that videos always seem to tone down the severity of chop.

when you say equal skill do you mean the best in the world for their class or quite skilled in the general field of overall windsurfing
because i recon that some of the best speed guys in the world could have cracked 40 even in that wild chop, hey chris lockwood does it most decent days in the middle of the swan river

but i have to say i think even if it was a speed comp with normal speed gear there would not be alot less crashes

that sort of frivilous hijinks will get the sport kicked out of the Olympics!!!

Its good to see we all look the same when the wind is more than we can handle. except mine is 30knots in chop at sand point not 50knots with a RSX.

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pacman76 said...

Its good to see we all look the same when the wind is more than we can handle. except mine is 30knots in chop at sand point not 50knots with a RSX.

I wouldn,t worry Ricky that not 50kts, there,s no smoke on the water. Its certainly more that i could sail in with that gear.

Don't see any kite racers having a crack on there gear in that wind


Puuussssssaaaaaaaaiiiiiiii

Fully powerful message at the end. I agree. Even as a kid sailing we were sent out in almost anything.

It could be worse though like the America's Cup these days. "we will race if its between 8.5 knots and 12.5 knots and there has been no shifts for a 24 hour period".


"sorry, we can't race, there's some tide running now".

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uncle mike said...

that sort of frivilous hijinks will get the sport kicked out of the Olympics!!!

That's funny. I thought you were serious for a second.

The Olympics are so serious tho

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Upthere said...
This day it was considered unsafe to race so Mr Neil Pryde decided to put up 1000 USD for the fastest RSX sailor

1000 usd what's that 50 auD hehe