When the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) announced in 2004 that the equipment used in the Olympic Games would be changed for 2008, selection trials, under the direction of the ISAF were conducted with the objective of choosing a new class of windsurfer.

Against a wide range of alternatives, the NeilPryde RS:X was selected to be the new Olympic Windsurfer Class. With just 67 days to go until the RS:X will see its debut in Olympic competition, now is an opportune time to reflect on the first three years of RS:X sailing, events and organisation.


Photo: Will Calver - 2008 World Championships, Auckland, New Zealand.

Following selection as the Olympic Equipment, the first priority was to distribute the new boards, sails and rigs to ISAF Member National Authorities (MNA's) in order that their competitive sailing programs were able to immediately start using the RS:X. The first of these was shipped out in June 2005, and, since then, NeilPryde has sold over 2,000 RS:X
boards and more than 4,000 sails.

As the equipment became more widely available, competitive participation increased. To date, three RS:X World Championship events have been held. The most recent, in January 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand saw 117 men and 76 women competing, while the inaugural RS:X World Championships in Italy in 2006 saw over 244 competitors
fighting hard to take the first World title.

Leading the way to the World Championships and, ultimately the Olympics, where 63 elite athletes have now qualified to represent their countries and compete for gold have been the numerous national and regional RS:X championships. On the road to Beijing have also been two pre-Olympic regattas held in Qingdao, China.

At youth level, the class moves from strength to strength on the back of three Youth World Championships. In 2007 65 Boys and 29 Girls competed in the RS:X Youth Worlds? while in June 2008, a record number of young RS:X sailors will be competing for the 2008 ISAF Youth World title in Denmark. As part of NeilPryde's ongoing support of youth
windsurfing, NeilPryde has prepared a comprehensive proposal to the ISAF in support of supplying the RS:X for the first Youth Olympic Games in 2010, and looks forward to hearing the result of this selection in early June.


Photo :Christian Chardon ? 2008 European Championships, Brest France

However none of this would have been possible without the RS:X Class Association. Established in November, 2006 the Class Association is the focal point for the promotion of the class, organisation of events and coordination of sailors worldwide. NeilPryde works closely with the Class Association as well as sailors, their national bodies and the
ISAF to ensure that future activities and developments relating to Olympic Windsurfing are coordinated and well organised. The delicate balance between durability and performance of equipment is a clear benefactor of this close working relationship.

NeilPryde continues to support the RS:X as the class for Olympic Competition. Not only are large amounts of sponsored equipment supplied by NeilPryde to both the Olympics? and the ISAF Youth World Championships, and charter equipment made available for major regattas worldwide, but NeilPryde has, in conjunction with its suppliers embarked
on an ongoing program to tighten and maintain manufacturing standards to levels not seen before in the windsurfing industry. This enhanced standard of manufacturing quality has been used in the construction of all RS:X equipment to be raced in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and, subsequent to an audit by the ISAF Class Measurer, the boards and rigs
built for Beijing 2008 have been approved for Olympic use.