How to Compete in a bwa event
Why should I enter a wavesailing competition?
Competition is a great wave to develop your skills, push your limits and immerse yourself in the performance side of your favourite sport! You can learn a lot just sitting on the beach and watching the top guys and girls on the water ripping and competing. If you are already at a good standard but feel like your progress has plateaued, going to events can be a great way to make further progress with your windsurfing/wavesailing. There is also a huge camaraderie at events that you don’t experience when you are free sailing. By the time you are enjoying this level of windsurfing it can be quite social isolating depending on where you are based and maybe you end up sailing alone a lot. Attending an event you will be surrounded by people who value windsurfing in the same way that you do and have a similar background and experience base in the sport. Many lifelong friendships have been made through meeting others at events like ours on the BWA circuit…
What are the steps to competing in wave sailing events?
There are three simple steps to competing in wave sailing events:
Join the BWA through the UKWA website to ensure that you are covered by event insurance and other benefits.
Pick the event you want to enter and sign up on our sign up page
Arrive on Tiree and sign in at the event registration or sign-in days and times. Only when you have signed in will your name go into the heat draw for that event.
What should I do once I have registered for the event?
A: Once you have registered, look and listen out for the first "skippers" meeting or announcement. If this is not clearly displayed on a board, ask any of the BWA team or riders.
How does the heat board preparation work?
Once all the entrants have signed in, the Head Judge writes out the heats for each fleet, seeding sailors based on the last 4 "rolling" events, then randomly placing everyone else who hasn't entered before into the heat draws. Remember, if you don't sign in, you won't be drawn.
What should I know about the heat sequence?
The heat sequence includes a warning (red light), preparatory (yellow light), and heat on (green light) signals. A flashing red/green light indicates that the heat has been cancelled, and a flashing red light indicates that the event is postponed or on hold. If the lights fail, they will be replaced with a simple red/yellow/red flag system
What equipment do I need for wave sailing competitions?
A: It is recommended to carry spares and rig spares, such as spare mast feet, ropes, and foot straps. Most riders tend to "graze" on small light snacks that have enough protein and energy to keep you focused. Keep a close eye on the heat orders, and bring a watch with a repeating countdown on it so that you can stay on time for the whole day.
Do I need to be a wave riding legend to compete in wave sailing events?
No, if you can handle yourself, have a bomb-proof waterstart, enjoy a good rinsing in reasonable size waves (up to head high), and understand the concept of top turn and bottom turn, you are ahead of the game.
Is it necessary to be able to forward loop to compete in wave sailing events?
Not necessarily. Many amateur competitions have been won by a sailor who couldn't loop but was the best in the waves. Of course, it helps, but at some down-the-line locations, the judges will only be asking you to wave ride with no jumps to count.
Can I compete in wave sailing events with limited spare kit?
Yes! To offer a typical illustration, most competitors can get away with carrying one board, maybe three sails covering 3.7-5.5m weather, depending on your size, and one boom. It can be handy to have an extra mast (or 2!) and an extra extension (or 2!) so that you can rig up 2/3 sails and swap them within minutes, should the wind change just before your heat but ultimately one mast and extension is all you really need.