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Kite surfing

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 8:56 pm
by Fredthecharlie
I've posted this here as a well known writer doesn't think kitesurfing is sailing ie he doesn't feel that kitesurfing should become an Olympic sport.
In June of this year the Bridge family set some "Round the Isle of Wight" records; Guy (16yo) went round in two hours 32 mins, and 25 seconds getting the fastest Kitesurfer and fastest solo sailor record and his mother Steph went round in 3hrs 3mins 24 secs to get the fastest female records (kitesurf and solo sailor). see http://www.volvocars.co.uk/kitesurfing
Compare this with the current fastest boat a Mod 70 Concise 10 Trimaran which took the fastest multihull record two days later, with a time of 2 hours 23mins and 23 seconds; a budget of ??????????? to get round 10 minutes quicker!

Re: Kite surfing

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:09 pm
by fishwics
There seems to be a difference between that part of the kite surfing world which is part of World Sailing and that part which is not (International Kite Sports Federation). IKSF don't want anything to do with World Sailing (formerly ISAF).

The other problem is that if Kite Sailing becomes an Olympic sport, then, while it is subsidiary to WS, boat sailing will lose one or two events to make room for it. Not surprisingly that upsets boat sailors!

Since WS are in conference at the moment, we'll just have to wait and see what is decided.

Simon



PS I moved this topic to "Gossip" as being somewhat less than technical and maybe more political.