RS:X is a windsurfing class selected by the ISAF[1] to replace the Mistral One Design Class for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The discipline has similarities to Formula Windsurfing - mainly in that the equipment used was designed to allow windsurfing in low and moderate wind conditions with good performance.[2]
RS:X equipment includes a board with a daggerboard, and a sail of a specified size. The board measures 286 cm in length and 93 cm in width. Unlike formula boards, it is quite heavy at 15.5 kg, which is almost twice that of regular competition formula boards, but is very similar to the weight of raceboards such as the previous Olympic board, Mistral One Design Class. The Mistral board has a weight of 17 kg ready to sail, while the RS:X board weighs more than 19 kg.
The RS:X seems to be a compromise between traditional raceboards which work well in 5 to 35 kn (3 to 18 m/s), and Formula boards which go fast in 12 to 30 kn (5 to 15 m/s), and has shown itself to be competitive with past raceboards in the medium wind range.
The shape and design of the RS:X sail is based on that of the Neil Pryde windsurfing sail V8.
