Neil Pryde RS-X, la nouvelle planche Olympique...
Posté : 09 oct. 2004, 12:11
ISAF Windsurfer Evaluation Trials - Report for Council
<br>
<br>INTRODUCTION
<br>
<br>The purpose of the September Selection Trials was to select the best windsurfing Equipment for the 2008 Olympic regatta, and for other associated events. Suppliers were required to present complete packages.
<br>
<br>The four day Trials took place at two GBR venues:
<br>- Hayling Island Sailing Club, which provided salt water, tidal and wave sailing in winds between 12 and 25 knots;
<br>- Queen Mary Sailing Club, which provided flat water inland sailing in winds between 6 and 14 knots.
<br>
<br>The 14 test sailors represented a good cross-section of racing windsurfer sailors. Standards ranged from Olympic medallists to Youth Squad sailors; weight from 60kg to 100kg; and sailor experience covered both Formula and long-boards.
<br>
<br>PRIMARY RECOMMENDATIONS
<br>
<br>1. There should be a change of windsurfing equipment for the 2008 Olympic regatta. This will revitalise windsurfing, from Olympic level to club racer and recreational sailor. The sailors want it – not one of the evaluation sailors ranked the current IMCO longboard as most suitable. There is now a new generation of boards available, a new board has already been chosen for U15 windsurfing, and Olympic windsurfing should lead, not lag this evolution.
<br>
<br>2. The new Olympic board should be the Neil Pryde RS-X, with the following equipment rules:
<br>- 2 sails, with maximum areas of 9.5 & 8.5m2 (men) and 8.5 & 8.0m2 (women)
<br>- 2 fins, one maximum depth 65cm and the other shorter for slalom racing.
<br>Two sail areas have been specified to allow for slalom racing, and for racing from 5 to 30 knots.
<br>
<br>SUPPORTING INFORMATION
<br>
<br>Trial Equipment and Supplier Presentations
<br>
<br>Neil Pryde confirmed it would supply equipment for the 2008 Olympic Regatta.
<br>
<br>All suppliers could start production promptly. Those that were already in production could do so immediately; those that were not yet in production would take one to two months longer.
<br>
<br>All equipment presented was of production quality, and provided good windsurfing sailing and racing. The range of the equipment highlighted different approaches for equipment designed to provide modern, exciting, all-round windsurfing racing that:
<br>- combines light wind sailability with exciting planing performance;
<br>- can be sailed from typical regatta locations;
<br>- can race in 5-30 knots (starting wind).
<br>
<br>Bic Sport Techno 293 Olympic is a refinement of an existing production board, based on the design that has recently been chosen as the Aloha replacement for U15 windsurfing.
<br>
<br>Boards & More “Prodigy-Light” is a development of the existing Mistral Prodigy design. The weight is reduced through use of carbon fibre in place of some glass fibre, and the fin and centreboard lengthened. The hull has a central (half-width) flat planing surface, and very soft chines.
<br>
<br>PD Olympias is a refinement of the PD Project presented at Torbole. The hull has a very slight V-shape and raised bow, and the stern has deep, V-shaped cut-outs.
<br>
<br>Exocet Open 310 is a refinement of the Exocet presented at Torbole. It is a radical development of the longboard with a kayak-style bow.
<br>
<br>Neil Pryde RS-X is a new, flat Formula-like hull with centreboard and carefully designed rails to assist with light weather performance.
<br>
<br>Starboard Z-class is a hybrid-style hull with centreboard. It has Formula-like aft sections and V-shaped bow.
<br>
<br>Sailors’ Evaluation and Panel Conclusions
<br>
<br>All boards presented delivered good performance in the range of conditions encountered. Minor changes could be made to improve all equipment presented, and will be required of the chosen equipment. All suppliers have plans to productise their equipment, and it is very positive that, through the two Trials, a new generation of fleet-racing boards has evolved.
<br>
<br>The range of rigs presented highlighted the scope for further rig development. It was agreed that carbon booms, and easily adjustable rigs, were required.
<br>
<br>The sailors were asked at the end of the Trials to rank the boards. They scored two boards approximately level and clearly ahead of the rest: the Boards & More Prodigy-Light and the Neil Pryde RS-X.
<br>
<br>Sailors were separately asked to rank the current IMCO Olympic board against the six Trial boards. No sailor ranked IMCO in first place. IMCO was ranked between 2nd and 4th, averaging 3rd.
<br>
<br>The Panel agreed with the sailors’ evaluation: the Boards & More Prodigy-Light and the Neil Pryde RS-X were the best two boards, and both would be good windsurfing equipment for the next Olympic quadrennium.
<br>
<br>The Panel recommends the Neil Pryde RS-X ahead of the Boards & More Prodigy-Light as Olympic equipment for the following reasons:
<br>1. The Neil Pryde RS-X excited the sailors more and displayed the demanding and high performance characteristics required of Olympic equipment. It felt faster and lighter, and required and rewarded skill and technique. In contrast the Prodigy-Light was really easy to sail, well balanced in all conditions, but not as exciting, and not as technical.
<br>2. The Neil Pryde RS-X is more modern, displayed more potential and has more scope for future evolution, whereas the Prodigy-Light is a lighter version of an existing well-established design.
<br>
<br>Manufacturers were requested to estimate prices ex tax for one board and one rig package:
<br>Neil Pryde RS-X €2,900 – Prodigy Light € 2,660 - IMCO One design €2,070
<br>
<br>The Panel also observes that the range of equipment represented a real step forward for windsurfing. The BIC Techno is clearly an excellent choice as the U15 board; the Prodigy-Light offers fine, well-rounded performance; the Exocet showed great potential as a fast racing board especially for light wind locations; and the Starboard and PD Project both offered exciting all-round performance.
<br>
<br>Other Recommendations
<br>
<br>Board Construction: the Olympic board should be manufactured using sandwich construction. A non-Olympic ASA-construction version of the Neil Pryde RS-X could be produced by Cobra or BIC.
<br>
<br>Equipment Development: it would be normal for this chosen Olympic equipment to develop in the same way that other Olympic equipment develops. Any rule or specification changes should be submitted to ISAF for consideration in the normal way. It is anticipated that the manufacturing specification of the sail will be refined during 2005 and 2006 for approval by ISAF.
<br>
<br>Equipment Choice for Future Olympics: in future Olympic cycles, the choice of board should be made at the November conference 4 years before the Olympic regatta.
<br>
<br>Slalom ladder: two slalom ladder competitions should be scheduled as two of the “races” in the Olympic regatta. Slalom should be sailed in winds of 7-15 knots using the smaller rig and fins.
<br>
<br>Race every day: to maximise the likelihood of completing the Olympic regatta in Quindaou, racing should be scheduled for every day with lay days inserted if racing is ahead of the schedule.
<br>
<br>Colour on sails: Windsurfing is the most visually exciting form of sailing. The sails should have enough colour to make boards clearly visible and distinguishable. Reinforcement patches, tape etc should be coloured wherever appropriate.
<br>
<br>Rich Jeffries, Evaluation Panel Chairman - October 7th 2004
<br>
<br>INTRODUCTION
<br>
<br>The purpose of the September Selection Trials was to select the best windsurfing Equipment for the 2008 Olympic regatta, and for other associated events. Suppliers were required to present complete packages.
<br>
<br>The four day Trials took place at two GBR venues:
<br>- Hayling Island Sailing Club, which provided salt water, tidal and wave sailing in winds between 12 and 25 knots;
<br>- Queen Mary Sailing Club, which provided flat water inland sailing in winds between 6 and 14 knots.
<br>
<br>The 14 test sailors represented a good cross-section of racing windsurfer sailors. Standards ranged from Olympic medallists to Youth Squad sailors; weight from 60kg to 100kg; and sailor experience covered both Formula and long-boards.
<br>
<br>PRIMARY RECOMMENDATIONS
<br>
<br>1. There should be a change of windsurfing equipment for the 2008 Olympic regatta. This will revitalise windsurfing, from Olympic level to club racer and recreational sailor. The sailors want it – not one of the evaluation sailors ranked the current IMCO longboard as most suitable. There is now a new generation of boards available, a new board has already been chosen for U15 windsurfing, and Olympic windsurfing should lead, not lag this evolution.
<br>
<br>2. The new Olympic board should be the Neil Pryde RS-X, with the following equipment rules:
<br>- 2 sails, with maximum areas of 9.5 & 8.5m2 (men) and 8.5 & 8.0m2 (women)
<br>- 2 fins, one maximum depth 65cm and the other shorter for slalom racing.
<br>Two sail areas have been specified to allow for slalom racing, and for racing from 5 to 30 knots.
<br>
<br>SUPPORTING INFORMATION
<br>
<br>Trial Equipment and Supplier Presentations
<br>
<br>Neil Pryde confirmed it would supply equipment for the 2008 Olympic Regatta.
<br>
<br>All suppliers could start production promptly. Those that were already in production could do so immediately; those that were not yet in production would take one to two months longer.
<br>
<br>All equipment presented was of production quality, and provided good windsurfing sailing and racing. The range of the equipment highlighted different approaches for equipment designed to provide modern, exciting, all-round windsurfing racing that:
<br>- combines light wind sailability with exciting planing performance;
<br>- can be sailed from typical regatta locations;
<br>- can race in 5-30 knots (starting wind).
<br>
<br>Bic Sport Techno 293 Olympic is a refinement of an existing production board, based on the design that has recently been chosen as the Aloha replacement for U15 windsurfing.
<br>
<br>Boards & More “Prodigy-Light” is a development of the existing Mistral Prodigy design. The weight is reduced through use of carbon fibre in place of some glass fibre, and the fin and centreboard lengthened. The hull has a central (half-width) flat planing surface, and very soft chines.
<br>
<br>PD Olympias is a refinement of the PD Project presented at Torbole. The hull has a very slight V-shape and raised bow, and the stern has deep, V-shaped cut-outs.
<br>
<br>Exocet Open 310 is a refinement of the Exocet presented at Torbole. It is a radical development of the longboard with a kayak-style bow.
<br>
<br>Neil Pryde RS-X is a new, flat Formula-like hull with centreboard and carefully designed rails to assist with light weather performance.
<br>
<br>Starboard Z-class is a hybrid-style hull with centreboard. It has Formula-like aft sections and V-shaped bow.
<br>
<br>Sailors’ Evaluation and Panel Conclusions
<br>
<br>All boards presented delivered good performance in the range of conditions encountered. Minor changes could be made to improve all equipment presented, and will be required of the chosen equipment. All suppliers have plans to productise their equipment, and it is very positive that, through the two Trials, a new generation of fleet-racing boards has evolved.
<br>
<br>The range of rigs presented highlighted the scope for further rig development. It was agreed that carbon booms, and easily adjustable rigs, were required.
<br>
<br>The sailors were asked at the end of the Trials to rank the boards. They scored two boards approximately level and clearly ahead of the rest: the Boards & More Prodigy-Light and the Neil Pryde RS-X.
<br>
<br>Sailors were separately asked to rank the current IMCO Olympic board against the six Trial boards. No sailor ranked IMCO in first place. IMCO was ranked between 2nd and 4th, averaging 3rd.
<br>
<br>The Panel agreed with the sailors’ evaluation: the Boards & More Prodigy-Light and the Neil Pryde RS-X were the best two boards, and both would be good windsurfing equipment for the next Olympic quadrennium.
<br>
<br>The Panel recommends the Neil Pryde RS-X ahead of the Boards & More Prodigy-Light as Olympic equipment for the following reasons:
<br>1. The Neil Pryde RS-X excited the sailors more and displayed the demanding and high performance characteristics required of Olympic equipment. It felt faster and lighter, and required and rewarded skill and technique. In contrast the Prodigy-Light was really easy to sail, well balanced in all conditions, but not as exciting, and not as technical.
<br>2. The Neil Pryde RS-X is more modern, displayed more potential and has more scope for future evolution, whereas the Prodigy-Light is a lighter version of an existing well-established design.
<br>
<br>Manufacturers were requested to estimate prices ex tax for one board and one rig package:
<br>Neil Pryde RS-X €2,900 – Prodigy Light € 2,660 - IMCO One design €2,070
<br>
<br>The Panel also observes that the range of equipment represented a real step forward for windsurfing. The BIC Techno is clearly an excellent choice as the U15 board; the Prodigy-Light offers fine, well-rounded performance; the Exocet showed great potential as a fast racing board especially for light wind locations; and the Starboard and PD Project both offered exciting all-round performance.
<br>
<br>Other Recommendations
<br>
<br>Board Construction: the Olympic board should be manufactured using sandwich construction. A non-Olympic ASA-construction version of the Neil Pryde RS-X could be produced by Cobra or BIC.
<br>
<br>Equipment Development: it would be normal for this chosen Olympic equipment to develop in the same way that other Olympic equipment develops. Any rule or specification changes should be submitted to ISAF for consideration in the normal way. It is anticipated that the manufacturing specification of the sail will be refined during 2005 and 2006 for approval by ISAF.
<br>
<br>Equipment Choice for Future Olympics: in future Olympic cycles, the choice of board should be made at the November conference 4 years before the Olympic regatta.
<br>
<br>Slalom ladder: two slalom ladder competitions should be scheduled as two of the “races” in the Olympic regatta. Slalom should be sailed in winds of 7-15 knots using the smaller rig and fins.
<br>
<br>Race every day: to maximise the likelihood of completing the Olympic regatta in Quindaou, racing should be scheduled for every day with lay days inserted if racing is ahead of the schedule.
<br>
<br>Colour on sails: Windsurfing is the most visually exciting form of sailing. The sails should have enough colour to make boards clearly visible and distinguishable. Reinforcement patches, tape etc should be coloured wherever appropriate.
<br>
<br>Rich Jeffries, Evaluation Panel Chairman - October 7th 2004
