LWA Melting Pot, Summer Series & Icebreaker Series

NOTICE OF RACE

The Organising Authority is the London Windsurfing Association (LWA)

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1 RULES​
1.1   The events and the series will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028. These include Appendix B (Windsurfing Fleet Racing Rules), World Sailing Development Rules Appendix WF Wingfoiling Racing Rules, the Prescriptions of the RYA, this Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions, and the rules of the relevant International classes as amended by national class rules where applicable.
1.2   Club, council rules and byelaws apply if displayed on the premises of the club or council hosting the event.

1.3   Under rule 87, International Raceboard class rule C.8.1 is changed with the permission of the International Class Association to allow competitors in the Raceboard fleet to use 3 sails per event for National competition – all other equipment limitations within this rule remain unchanged.
1.4   Competitors should note that the LWA implements the RYA Racing Charter and that they will be expected to sail in compliance with it. The Charter can be found at the front of the RYA edition of the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 (the yellow pages after the definitions), or on the UKWA website at www.ukwindsurfing.com or on the RYA website at www.rya.org.uk/racingrules
1.5 The Exoneration Penalty, Advisory Hearing and RYA Arbitration of the RYA Rules Disputes Procedures will be available.

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2. ADVERTISING

2.1    Advertising will be allowed in accordance with the class rules of the competing classes. If no limitations are prescribed within the class rules, rule 80 shall take precedence.

2.2    Boards may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the Organising Authority. 

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3     ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

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3.1 Racing will be in the following fleets and sub-divisions where notified:

BIC Techno 293  -5.0 open/ 5.8 open- 6.8 Techno / 7.8 Techno / Techno+ 8.5

       Raceboard

       Div II

       Windfoil -IQFoil/Formula Foil/Freeride Foil  Equipment limitations apply, see Appendix B

       Wingfoil - There will be no equipment limitations

       Old Skool Windsurfing 6m

Within these fleets the following age categories (divisions) may be recognised:

       Junior aged 14 or under as at 31st December 2025 – Techno 293 6.8 only

       Junior aged 16 or under as at 31st December 2025

      Techno 293 OD 7.8 over 17 born 2008 or before

      Youth under 20 born 2005 or later

       Master aged 40+ born 1984 or before

       Grand Master aged 50+ born 1974 or before

       Legend aged 60+ born 1964 or before

       Super Legend 65+ born 1959 or before

       Seavet

Within these fleets the following National class divisions may 

        Raceboard 7.8 , Raceboard Lightweight,  Raceboard Heavyweight, Div II and Windsurfer Class

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       3.2 The LWA Committee reserves the right at their absolute discretion to exclude the entry of any sailor.

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       3.3 Entries should preferably be made in advance through the LWA website but may be made on the day at the discretionof the Organising Authority.

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     3.4 Before competing, each competitor shall register for the event at the Race Office, pay the required entry fee and complete, update or confirm an equipment registration form if required.

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     3.5 Competitors under the age of 18 must agree a Parent/Guardian Declaration on line or at time of entry.

     

    3.6 Fleets may race together on a single start, depending on the number of entries. Individual classes within a fleet shall be raced and scored as a single fleet.

    3.7 Boards must display sail numbers on both sides of the sail in accordance with RRS Appendix G and in accordance with B9. For the purpose of Appendix G, this is not an International event. Breaches of NOR 3.7 shall not be grounds for protest by a boat. This changes RRS 60.1(a). Wingfoil sailors will be supplied with a numbered vest.

    3.8 Competitors must enter and race under their allocated number, other than with the express permission of the Race Committee.

   

   3.9 A competitor not complying with 3.7 will be scored DSQ but may seek redress via a results query form and accept a 20% place penalty for each race whilst in breach of 3.7 without written permission of the Race Committee. This amends A5.

 

4 FEES

4.1      Entry fees are set out on the LWA website.

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5 SCHEDULE 

5.1 Competitors shall register and confirm entry details at the Race Office before 10:30 hrs.

5.2 There will be a welcome and briefing for all competitors at 10:30, (in person or virtual).​

 

5.3 The scheduled time of the first warning signal is 11.00.​
 

5.4 The normal programme for each fleet will be 4 races per day.
 

5.5 Minimum Conditions: The intention is that all racing takes place in suitable conditions. The Race Officer shall be the sole judge of the suitability of conditions. See Sailing Instructions for details.

 

6 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Sailing Instructions can be downloaded from the LWA website and will be available from the Registration Desk at events.

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7 VENUES:     

LWA Melting Pot:

Sat 22 February LWA AGM Oxford SC

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LWA Summer Series 
Sat 22 March       Burghfield SC

Sat 26 April          Fisher Green SC
Sat 10 May          Queen Mary SC
Sat 14 June          Oxford SC
Sat 12 July            Andrew Simpson Centre Portsmouth
Sat 13 Sep           Burghfield SC

Sat 11 Oct           Bray Lake

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LWA Icebreaker Series

Sat 1 Nov             Burghfield SC

Sat 15 Nov           Bray Lake
Sat 22 Nov           Oxford SC              

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8 COURSES

The course to the sailed will be detailed  at the Briefing.

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9 SCORING

9.1          GENERAL

9.1.1      The Low Point Scoring System of Appendix A will apply, except that rule B8.8 (Ties) is deleted.

9.1.2      A competitor only becomes eligible for series or event points by registering at the event and being capable of sailing and intending to do so.

9.2          SUMMER SERIES SCORING

9.2.1      Each competitor’s Summer Series score will be his or her fleet position in the same fleet/division at half plus one of the total qualifying events (ie events at which 2 or more races have beenn sailed). The competitor with the lowest score will win the series.

9.2.2      If fewer than 2 races are completed at any event for a fleet it will be discounted for the Summer Series and the events to count reduced accordingly.   (4/7, 4/6, 3/5, 3/4, 2/2, 1/1)

 

9.3          ICEBREAKER  SERIES SCORING

9.3.1      Each competitor’s Icebreaker Series score will be his or her position in the overall results from all 3 events.

 

9.3.2      If fewer than 2 races are completed at any event, that event will still be counted for the Icebreaker Series.

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9.3.3     Each Icebreaker Team consists of 4 sailors. The score for a lady, youth/junior or a sailors using a 7.8 sail or smaller is halved. If a team has more than one such sailor the worst score is halved.

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9.3.4    Rule A5 does not apply. A board which does not start/did not sail the course/did not finish/retired or was ndisqualified will be awarded a score of the number of sailors entered for that event, plus 1. A board not entered for that event will be awarded a score of the number of sailors who enter the series plus 1.

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10  SAFETY REGULATIONS

10.1 All junior sailors who will be aged 17 or under on 31st December 2025 shall wear a personal flotation device appropriate to class rules at all times when afloat except briefly when changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. Excluding Windfoils.

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10.2 All Windfoil and Wingfoil crew shall wear an impact vest which may also act as a personal flotation device with a mimimum of 50 Newtons at all times when afloat.

 

10.3 Sailors who enter on a Windfoil or Wingfoil must wear a helmet at all times. A helmet shall be of a minimum 300 square centimetres of the exterior surface that can be seen from above the water with the crew lying face down or face up.

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10.4 A detachable wind-leash shall be used and worn as intended at all times when afloat, except briefly while changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment.

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10.5 If requested by the Race Officer, all competitors shall wear a personal flotation device appropriate to class rules at all times when afloat except briefly when changing or adjusting clothing or personal equipment. A personal flotation device may include an impact vest with a minimum of 50 Newtons.

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10.6  If conditions dictate, the organisers may require all competitors to wear personal flotation devices and/or wet or dry suits.

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11 ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

A board shall neither make nor receive radio or mobile telephone transmissions while racing.

 

​12 PRIZES

12.1 Summer Series: Prizes will be awarded to the first competitor in each fleet with 3 or more registered at the event, provided that at least one race has been completed. Additional fleet prizes, and category /sub-division prizes, may be awarded depending upon the numbers of competitors.

 

12.2 Icebreaker Series: Prizes will be awarded to the winning team at each event.  If the same team wins more than one event the prizes will be awarded to the next team down. 

 

12.3 Series prizes will be awarded if one event has been completed. Individual prizes will be awarded based on Series results. Other prizes mat be awarded at he LWA Committee's discretion.

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13    SUPPORT & COACH BOATS/PERSONS
No coach boats or support boats will be permitted without the express permission of the LWA Committee.

 

​14 RISK STATEMENT

 

14.1 RRS 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”

14.2 Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;

b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their property whether afloat or ashore;

c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;

d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;

e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;

f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances.

g) It is their responsibility to familiarise tthemselves with any risk specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event, in person or virtually.

 

15 INSURANCE

Each participating board shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £5 million per event or the equivalent. (This cover is automatically provided as part of UKWA membership).