Some pictures from Kajaani

2X world Champion [Open Class] Juha Mannermaa did his first session on Oulujarvi [Lake Oulu]. The lake is HUGE! With a surface area of 930 square kilometers and a location at 64 degrees north ICE is not the problem-but daylight? That can be troublesome at this time of year. Cheers to Juha for getting his daughter Lotta involved.


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William Tuthill

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Season started!

We can't call this sailing yet. Just checking the ski angle and edge sharpness.

Julli the winter sailor.

Photos from WISSA 2007 updated

By William Tuthil
I have much to report. We JUST got in from a LONG drive to Gaspisie and back. It is beautiful out there and WISSA 2008 accoms will be set up for families...
More later - much more.

For now, here are some fresh pics from Estonia.

[8 more images]

Do you need text?


Estonia 2007. Kalev Allikveer on a 3 blade sled.










Estonia 2007. Just after the start.


Estonia 2007 Vitold Nerling. Legendary windsurfing coach from Poland.


Estonia 2007. The technology and talent at WISSA World Championships is as up to date and radical as ANY windsurfing race on the planet. Here is to keeping the Open Class alive and strong FOREVER!

DVD of the WISSA 2007 is now available

Best moments from 27th Ice & Snow Sailing World Championship in Haapsalu are gathered on DVD and available to everybody.

DVD includes best footages of the event and extra picture gallery from all days, starting with opening event and ending with prize giving ceremony.

DVD is available at price 10 EUR plus postage fees. Information about ordering is available at email address: aivar@surf.ee

Letters from Estonia

Hi William, great to have news of you and happy to see you next week. Up here, the ice conditions are fast but there are no much wind. Yesterday we held 4 races in 8 to 12 km/h. My bigger kite is 8 m2 and everybody run with 10 and 12 m2 so I follow the troops...

Today we have some snow and less wind. No many hope...

See you soon, Dominique

Letters from Estonia

Mein lieber Freund William,
more than once did I (and a few others) wish you and your family were with us here in Estonia.

The opening ceremony on Monday was a most impressive celebration of nordic Winter, starting with an evening procession over the ice with flickering flame torches, country signs and country flags.


We walked for about 20 minutes on solid Baltic Sea ice from the competition site (Promenaadi Hotel), to the historic centre of Haapsalu. What a beautiful setting for the opening event event - an open air theatre within 800 year old walls around, providing excellent acoustics.

The first day of racing in light winds produced interesting results due to surface conditions - ice with up to one inch of old frozen snow. The young team from Poland was doing well with their sleds and so did the Skimbat team from Finland with their nordic skates. However, it is snowing today and conditions are changing. The race committee has been doing outstanding work.
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The award for Best Design we can skip this year because there is nothing new.
That?s about it for now...have to run for the skipper's meeting.
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I am so glad that Dominique Robichaud is here. He will present Quebec's offer on Thursday evening at the WISSA meeting.

Give my love and warm thoughts to Kim, Annie and Abigale. We have been thinking and talking about you a lot.

Viele Gruesse,
Klaus

27th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

ICE & SNOW SAILING
12-18 of February 2007, Haapsalu, ESTONIA
Read on for the Race Notice
Click here for REGISTRATION
[original site]

NOTICE OF RACE (NoR)

1. EVENT
1.1. The 27th World Championship 2007 will be held from Monday February 12th to Sunday February 18th 2007, on Gulf of Haapsalu, Haapsalu, Estonia.

2. ORGANISER
2.1. The Championships will be organised by Estonian Windsurfing Union as the Local Organising Authority (LOA) for and on behalf of, and under specified conditions laid down by the World Ice Snow Sailing Association (WISSA) and the ISAF.

3. VENUE
3.1. The event will be based at the Hotel Promenaadi, Sadama 22, Haapsalu, Estonia.
3.2. Haapsalu is 100 km from Tallinn, the nearest international airport.

4. RULES
4.1. The 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and Appendix B – Windsurfing.
4.2. The WISSA Rules.
4.3. This Notice of Race (NoR) & the Sailing Instructions (SI).
4.4. The Sailing Instructions may be altered at skippers meetings.
4.5. The WISSA Rules and Sailing Instructions will be available at registration and check-in.
4.6. Competitors shall attend the opening & closing ceremonies, including the prize giving.

5. CLASSES
5.1. Sailboard class - Any sled, rider stands with windsurfing rig
5.2. Wing class - All kinds of hand held wings (no lines) – wings, skate sails, skimbats and similar.
5.3. Kite class - Overhead sails, all kite designs, parawings and similar

6. DIVISIONS
6.1. Groups:
6.1.1 Overall - All competitors
6.1.2 Women - All female competitors
6.2. Age:
6.2.1 Youth - under 20 years on December 31, 2007 (born 1988 and later)
6.2.2 Master - 40 – 49 years on December 31, 2007 (born 1958 - 1967)
6.2.3 Grand Master - 50 years and over on December 31, 2007 (born 1957 and earlier)

7. DISCIPLINES
7.1. Course races Up to 11 races on triangular course (same for all classes).
A minimum of 3 (three) races is required for a valid Championship.
7.2. Speed trials Up to 3 runs. Speed will be measured with a radar or/and a GPS unit.
There will be no division segregation in the speed trials.
7.3. Long distance marathon Course and conditions to be determined in Sailing Instructions.

8. EQUIPMENT
8.1. All competitors shall bring their own equipment.
8.2. The sail size for Sailboard class is restricted to 7.5 m?.

9. SAIL INSIGNIAS & BIBS/VESTS
9.1. For Sailboard class national letters & sail numbers shall be in a colour that contrasts strongly with the body of the sail and positioned according to RRS Appendix G. Sails shall otherwise comply with the national letter system according to the RRS 77 and Appendix G.
9.2. For Wing class and Kite class numbered bibs/vests will be arranged by Organiser.
9.3. During racing, competitors may be required by the Organisers to wear bibs/vests carrying the event sponsors’ branding; and carry the event sponsors advertising on their sails. The maximum size of the event advertising sticker is 600 x 1000 mm. The stickers may not be cut or trimmed in any way.

10. SAFETY
10.1. It is the responsibility of each competitor to participate in the safest possible manner at all times.
10.2. Helmets shall be worn during racing.
10.3. Protective clothing is highly recommended.

11. LIABILITY
11.1. Competitors take part in all races at their own risk. See RRS 4, Decision to Race. The LOA, WISSA or any of their officials or representatives or the sponsors or their officials or representatives are not responsible, under any circumstances, for any damage, loss or injury either ashore or on the sea either to persons or equipment, which may result.
11.2. Participation in this event, supporting events and in each race in the is at the sole discretion of the sailor and at his/her own risk.
11.3. No organisation or individual will be held responsibility for any moral or material damage that may be sustained during travel or arrival at the Championship venue.

12. COURSES
12.1. Courses shall be as prescribed in the Sailing Instructions.

13. SCORING
13.1. RRS Appendix A and RRS Appendix B8 shall apply.
13.2. The Low Point Scoring System of RRS Appendix B8.3 (a) shall apply.
13.3. Discards as in RRS Appendix B8.2 shall apply:

14. SCHEDULE
14.1. Schedule:

Sat/Sun, February 10/11th
Arrival/Training

Monday, February 12th
10.00 – 16.00 hrs Registration
18.00 hrs Opening Ceremony

Tue/Sat, February 13/17th
10.00 hrs Skippers meeting
11.00 hrs First possible start

Saturday, February 17th
18.00 hrs Prize giving ceremony

Sunday, February 18th
Departures


15. MEDALS & AWARDS
15.1. A class will qualify for awards if there are at least five competitors registered.
15.2. A division will qualify for awards if there are at least five competitors registered.
15.3. Medals or trophies may be awarded up to the first five competitors in each Class and Division, depending on entry numbers.
15.4. Awards categories and the actual number of prizes to be awarded in each properly constituted Division will be posted on the Official Notice Board (ONB) after the close of registration.
15.5. The first man/woman in the each class in Overall Division shall be known as the Class World Champion.
15.6. The first Woman in the each class shall be known as the Class Women World Champion.
15.7. The first Youth in the each class shall be known as the Class Youth World Champion.
15.8. The first Master in the each class shall be known as the Class Master World Champion.
15.9. The first Grand Master in the each class shall be known as the Class Grand Master World Champion.

16. SPECIAL PRIZES
16.1. Special prizes will be awarded to the best three competitors in Long Distance Marathon race in each class (No Divisions but Overall only).
16.2. Special prizes will be awarded to the best three competitors in Speed Trial in each class (No Divisions but Overall only).

17. TELEVISION & MEDIA
17.1. In registering for the event, competitors automatically grant to the LOA the right in perpetuity to make, use and show from time to time at their discretion, any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped or filmed television and other reproduction of them, taken during the period of the event as defined in NoR and SI in which he/she participates without compensation.

18. ACCOMMODATION
18.1. Contact for assistance with accommodation – hotel@promenaadi.ee, website: http://www.promenaadi.ee , phone +372 47 37 250, fax +372 37 254

19. AIR TRAVEL/TRANSPORTATION/TRANSFERS
19.1. A wide range of scheduled flights are available from all over Europe.
19.2. Organiser will arrange transport to and from the airport for equipment, competitors and support personnel (30 EUR/person), if the competitors send their flight details at latest on February 1st 2007 to organiser.

20. REGISTRATION
20.1. The registration office during the regatta will situate in Promenaadi hotel.
20.2. For more local information before the regatta and to make enquiries, please contact:
+372 5040050 – Mr. Aivar Kajakas.
20.3. The address of the Organiser may also be used for contacting competitors until a week prior to the first day of the event:

Estonian Windsurfing Union
Merivalja tee 1
11911 Tallinn,
ESTONIA
Tel: +372 50 400 50
Fax: +372 606 0021
E-mail: aivar@surf.ee

20.4. Competitors will be required to produce the following, prior to completing registration formalities on site:
20.4.1 Original Regatta Entry Form (Form 1).
20.4.2 Evidence of valid third party insurance.
20.4.3 Parental/legal Guardian Assent – for those under age of 18.
20.4.4 Medical Treatment Permission – for those under age of 18 or their parents medical insurance policy.
20.4.5 Original Bank Transfer/Draft details.
20.4.6 Proof of age.
20.4.7 Photo for name card (size 4 x 5 cm; also possible to send by e-mail - 300dpi).

21. ENTRIES & PAYMENT
21.1. The pre-entry fee is 70 EUR + 10 EUR donations to WISSA (totally 80 EUR) and may be paid with bank transfers. The deadline for pre-entries is FEBRUARY 1st, 2007.
21.2. Money transfers shall be in name of: Estonian Windsurfing Union and be sent to:

Account Name: Estonian Windsurfing Union
Account: 221011060355
Bank Details: Hansapank
Address Liivalaia 8, 15040, Tallinn, Estonia
SWIFTBIC: HABAEE2X
IBAN: EE662200221011060355
Correspondent Bank: Deutsche Bank Frankfurt
SWIFTBIC: DEUTDEFF

21.3. Entry fee paid on site of event is 80 EUR + 10 EUR donation to WISSA (totally 90 EUR) and shall be paid in cash in Euros or Estonian Kroons only.

WISSA 2007 Notice!

At this time we do NOT have any firm proposals from Europe for 2007! If you have been wanting to get the WISSA World Championships to come to your country, the time to apply is now. We will be accepting suggestions by email in advance of the 2006 WC in Trois Rivieres, but it is necessary to present any formal proposals at the W.I.S.S.A. meeting during the event.

WISSA History

If you happen to have photos, links, newspaper clips, magazines, t-shirts from any of the Championships 1980-2008 please send me the soft-copies, we want to fill out the blanks in our history before the Anniversary event!