RSX Jugend Änderungen 2009

The RS:X Class has decided to update the format for youth racing in 2009. The board was changed in 2004 for a more modern wide style planing hull. The format we are racing has remained almost the same since 1996 perhaps longer.

We will therefore produce a separate Youth version of the RS:X Standard Championship Sailing Instructions.  The format will now include

• Max number of races in a series = 16
• Max number of races per day in planing conditions = 4
• Max number of races per day in displacement conditions = 2
• Max time to windward mark = 10 minutes (reduced from 15 minutes)
• Time Limit = 40 minutes (reduced from 50 minutes)
• Race Target Time = 25 minutes in planing conditions (reduced from 35 minutes)
• If 30 or fewer boards are entered, they will sail in one fleet
• If to 30 to 40 boards are entered, they may sail in one fleet or two or more groups
• If  41 to 120 boards are entered, they will sail in two or more groups.
• Discards = 1st after 4; 2nd after 8; 3rd after 12

Following a meeting with the coaches here at the 2008 RS:X Youth World Championships, it has been decided that the RS:X Class will include an U17 Division in all RS:X Youth Championships from now on. This decision has been ratified by the RS:X Class Executive Committee.

The reasons are simple.

1. The RS:X Class is seeing an increasing number of boys and girls registered for championships who are under the age of 17
2. A little research has provided the reason. The Techno board is very weight sensitive. In fact, the word is that if you are over 55 kgs, you are too heavy to be competitive in that class.
3. The RS:X Class see the overlap in age groups with the Techno Class as a good thing. Sailors will be able to move up to the RS:X Class whenever their body weight determines they should and not simply when their age complies with some rule.

The U17 Division will be included in the 2009 RS:X Open Youth European Championship in Greece from April 25th - May 4th and in the 2009 RS:X Youth World Championship in Turkey from July 25th - August 1st.

The U17 Division will sail as part of the U19 Youth Fleet initially.This will mean that they will sail up to 4 races of 25 minutes in length in planing conditions. We are aware that other classes,  Formula Experience for example, have a maximum of 3 races per day for their U17 Division and will therefore carefully monitor the situation in the RS:X Youth Fleet.

It should be noted that, If the number of entries is sufficient, the U17 Division will be offered their own start.