Formula Kite Championship in San Diego

An estimated 30 kiters will be competing in the 2018 Formula Kite North American Championship to be held November 9-11 in San Diego, CA. Hosted by San Diego Yacht Club, kiters will launch from the Crown Cove State Beach for the race venue on South San Diego Bay.

Typical San Diego breezes ranging from 8-12 knots along with flat water will provide riders the ability to sail faster without worrying about large swells or big kelp patties. The foiling kiteboarders will challenge each other in a series of races for three days and the top ranking countries from North and South America can qualify for the 2019 Pan American Games.

Kiteboarding is proposed as a Sailing event for the 2024 Olympics, with Formula Kite as the suggested equipment. American Kiteboard Association (AKA) Board Member and Race Director Robbie Dean explains the current parameters of the equipment. “The Formula Kite Class has been around for a long time. The broad concept is that there are certain design parameters in terms of dimensions that the equipment can fit within, like a ‘box rule’.

“That’s the main feature of the equipment development. You can develop it as long as it fits into this theoretical box, which is what is being proposed for Olympic inclusion going forward. It’s up for discussion whether they have to remain a ‘box rule’ class, rather than a one-design.”

The November event will be raced using the Short Track format, a newer trend in America that was promoted by the French. The Short Track course is less than three miles in overall length. With riders capable of hitting speeds over 30 knots over much of the course, races last less than ten minutes each.

Event details – Notice of Race

Source: Casey Allocco