IYC Sailing Incorporated - Windsurfing Division are pleased to release the NOR for the 2026 AUSTRALIAN RACEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIPS
8th -11th January 2026

The NOR is here www.iycsailing.asn.au/windsurfing/2026-raceboard-national-championships

But this notice is to chat about the new fleet categories we have added for 2026.

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The participating fleets shall be:
Open Raceboard,
Any raceboard, as determined by the Raceboard class rules with max sail size of 9.5M.

Retro Raceboard,
Any pre-2004 raceboard with max sail size of 9.5M.

Windsurfer GT,
Any standard Windsurfer LT longboard and fin with max sail size of 9.5M.

Sprint.
Any raceboard with a max sail size of 9.5M. Competitors in the Sprint fleet will sail a shortened course.

There are no age or weight divisions within the fleets.
All fleets have a Men's and Women's division.
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So dust them off folks and come along with just any board that fits under the std raceboard classification.
But no D2, short or formula boards.

We will be sailing course, slalom and marathon events - weather permitting. All on longboards.
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We thought long and hard about the max sail size for both Retro and Windsurfer GT and have settled on just allowing anything up to 9.5m for this first event. At the very least, it should settle a few discussions...

Registrations aren't yet open, but feel free to reply with your interest/thoughts here.

Cheers,
Neil Dewey

What happened to age and weight divisions.

Just asking for an old fat dude

berowne said..
"Sprint" Division is a polite inclusive name!

Not sure I like the idea the race committee can boot a competitor out of the open fleet and into the sprint fleet if they deem they are not fast enough. If you dont finish in the specified time that's your problem not the race committees.

Do any other sailing classes do that.

NeilD said..

cammd said..
What happened to age and weight divisions.

Just asking for an old fat dude

We just decided to simplify it all a bit, tbh. With most of us being old and stretching the wetsuits and with the addition of the 2 new racing categories - keeping age and weight divisions seems unnecessary.

Theres little chance of a 100kg guy having any hope against a 70kg guy across a regatta regardless of how well they sail.

Maybe there should be weight handicaps if you don't want divisions.

What rules will apply when racing the slalom course.

Will the entire open raceboard fleet start together. Will the normal rules of racing apply, such as overlaps and buoy room etc. How is this going to work in the framework of a National Championship.

NeilD said..

cammd said..
What happened to age and weight divisions.

Just asking for an old fat dude

We just decided to simplify it all a bit, tbh. With most of us being old and stretching the wetsuits and with the addition of the 2 new racing categories - keeping age and weight divisions seems unnecessary.

A departure from the International Class rules and race format is a bad idea. I think this will see a decline in the Raceboard numbers in Australia.
I think the inclusion of a informal Retro division is a good idea, but why do the Raceboard sailors sailing a newer board have to subsidise the sailors using a retro board or an LT?
if you want simple, there are plenty of LT regattas that you can enter to satisfy simpleness.

Results for Day 2
Great wind all day - 4 close races.







and, cos people asked - Open and Retro mixed together

Final result - fantastic last day with an across the lake marathon to finish.

Congratulations to all involved.







and Open/Retro combined




And, although it doesnt show it - Lissa McMillan absolutely smashed First place in Open Female

H i guys any other address for regatta photos
Thanks.
I keep getting this message

Apologies, the IYC regatta photos are at
flickr.com/photos/flash_nick
you can't click through as it brings a bunch of other characters through so cut & paste.