Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)

Any class rule change required World Sailing approval or an per-event-approval by World Sailing. The formal World Sailing approval is not expected before May 2025.

However, World Sailing has approved the change for the competitions in Palma, Hyeres and the Formula Kite Europeans in May.
Competitors can expect that the 3-kite-quiver class rule change will be in place for all major events starting with application to the Gold fleet.

13 March 2025

The 3-kite-quiver rule (once approved by World Sailing) will apply ONLY at the events listed in the class rule change (major classic regattas, major senior class championships) or when the Notice of Race so states.

13 March 2025

This is up for discussion. In the mid-term it is to be expected that the 3-kite-quiver rule will be applied at all senior competitions. This may be through a subsequent class rule change or the Notice of Race for each event.

It is important to note that several national associations have already indicated to apply the rule at national level.

13 March 2025

This is currently under discussion. An update will be provided in time before the next class youth championship.

Initial considerations indicate that the rule may be applied for the girls fleet to avoid the purchase of additional equipment (youth vs senior competitions), however for the boys fleet four kites may continue to be used with the XS kite serving as safety coverage.

13 March 2025

The current intention (communicated to Palma and Hyeres and drafted for the Europeans NoR) is to score everyone on 3-kite-quiver in front of everyone on 4-kite-quiver. For the gold fleet this is obvious (as the requirement to make the gold fleet cut is to be on 3-kite-quiver), and the silver fleet will then be split into silver-3 and silver-4. They will race together, but scored separately.
Example: a competitor that sails on a 3-kite quiver and does not make gold fleet, will continue to race on a 3-kite-quiver (therefore no need to still have a 4^th kite) but will be scored ahead of everyone in the silver fleet on a 4-kite-quiver. This avoids being disadvantaged once the split into gold and silver is applied and encourages the fleet to go on a 3-kite-quiver by default.

13 March 2025

Mikes Lab Bullet 3L (Mast) / 3LC (Glider) are eligible to compete in Formula Kite competitions until the end of 2021, if they comply with the correct measurements, see https://www.formulakite.org/component/k2/item/450-statement-on-eligibility-of-mikes-lab-bullet-3l-3lc-foils-in-formula-kite-competitions

However, It appears that the published 2017 dimensions provided by Mikes Lab (556.9mm) are either an accidental mistake in their submission, or based on the measurement system used in previous cycles.

All dimensions reported by teams are in the 565mm range (with an allowed tolerance of +/-2mm) which is in line with the dimensions submitted with the Mikes Lab re-application).

Event Technical Committees will therefore base a decision on the eligibility of a Mikes Lab Bullet 3LC glider not solely on the fuselage length measurement, if all other dimensions are within the accepted tolerances (see original statement below).

Competitors are reminded that event equipment inspection is NOT measurement, and that it is ultimately the responsibility of each competitor to ensure that their equipment complies with the class rules (see RRS 78). 

23 July 2020

No.

1 October 2021

Since the last class rules updated, shims are permitted.

Updated 13 March 2025

No. However, shims are permitted by the class rules in the meantime.

Updated 13 March 2025

No. See class rule C.9.4

Updated 04 May 2023

It is important to understand that event equipment inspection is NOT measurement – in single manufacturer one design classes (which the Formula Kite class is in principle, when applied to every individual manufacturer) the leading principle is that the manufacturer is trusted to produce identical equipment (within tight production tolerances).

The focus at event equipment inspection is that competitors only use the equipment they have registered for an event, and that they have not tampered with the equipment after it has left the factory beyond routine maintenance and repair.

It is NOT the purpose of event equipment inspection to verify if equipment is properly manufacturered. However, spot checks could identify equipment manufacturered outside of the allowed tolerances and lead to protests by the Technical Committee.

Therefore, that an event equipment inspector has inspected equipment at a previous event (and marked with an event limitation mark) does not mean that the equipment is "measured" and complies with the class rules. This responsibility remains with the competitor (see RRS 78).

26 July 2020

It depends.

The class rules do not make provisions about replacements, except that the registration requirements specify that a competitor shall not use more than one kite in each size range.

However, the Notice of Race / Sailing Instructions and/or the Equipment Regulations may specify that a damaged kite may only be replaced with a kite of the same brand, model and size.

The following policy is recommended from 01 January 2023 onwards:

Major events - replacement "same for same" (same brand, model, size)
Senior Worlds and Europeans, Olympic Qualification events, major Regional Games (Pan American Games, Asian Games)

Other events - replacement with any other kite in the same size range

In the first year after the Olympic Games ("the Evaluation Period") it is recommended to allow replacement with any other kite in the same size range for economical reasons and to give competitors time to change to new generation kite models.

No. Temporary replacement is not permitted by class rule C.1.1(a).

The Event Technical Committee may consider bridles damaged beyond repair in time for the next race as a damage to the kite, which may result in approval of a kite replacement. Other restrictions (for example no temporary change) apply

04 May 2023

MODIFICATION

Work resulting in a change to the original condition.

MAINTENANCE

Work required to retain the original condition, compensating for normal wear and tear in order to achieve its maximum useful life. This includes preventive maintenance and may include sanding and cleaning, but shall exclude coating, lubricating, fairing and bonding

REPAIR

Corrective action, following unintended damage, required to restore the original condition. This may include sanding, fairing and bonding but not coating.

SANDING

Removal of the outermost surface through use of an abrasive material with or without a lubricating agent, which does not alter the shape but may remove localised irregularities or textures in the surface. It may include polishing through the use of a cutting compound.

CLEANING

The application and subsequent removal of detergents or similar agents, the purpose of which is to remove residue on the surface.

FAIRING

The addition and/or removal of material to alter the shape.

BONDING

To fix in place with glues, resins, sealants or other similar chemical agents.

LUBRICATING
The application of non-permanent friction reducing compound.

COATING
Application of an additional permanent layer or layers of a substance to a surface. This may require prior preparation of the surface which may involve sanding, etching, blasting, but not fairing.

26 July 2020

RRS 50.1(a) states that ‘Competitors shall not wear or carry clothing or equipment for the purpose of increasing their weight.’
Increasing the weight of the harness by using elements heavier than necessary will be considered as purposefully increasing the competitor’s weight and therefore a breach of RRS 50.1(a).

Other than the for the fundamental rule, the maximum weight of a harness is regulated in the class rules.

Updated 13 March 2025

In reference to other applications of high visibility colours, the IKA considers luminous yellow (e.g. RAL 1026), luminous red (e.g. RAL 3024, 3026), luminous orange (e.g. RAL 2005), luminous green (e.g. RAL6038), luminous pink (e.g. RAL 4010) and equivalent as compliant colours. It is highly recommended to use fluorescent (neon) colours to increase the visibility on water.
Much darker and lighter shades of the colours above as well as colours like turquoise, blue, brown, white, black, chrome and gold are not considered as compliant with CR C.3.2.b.1.
As a guidance the colour chart below gives an indication of the colours and shadings mentioned above, please be aware that colours might differ based on your display settings or printer.

01. March 2022

The "minimum diameter" is the smallest dimension through the center of the line measured in any direction.

Note: Rules of part C are the responsibility of the competitor, not the manufacturer. Competitors should therefore ensure that their equipment always complies with the Class Rules, regardless if equipment is in new or in used condition.

02 August 2020

Except in certain events (Olympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, some Regional Games, ANOC World Beach Games etc) personal advertising may be displayed in accordance with World Sailing Regulation 20 (Advertising Code).

For Olympic Games and similar events, strict branding restrictions, including advertisement / makers marks for athletes clothing exist (see example for Tokyo 2020 here).

There is no restriction in size, but some parts of the hull are reserved for nationality flags, class insignia and event advertising.

Nationality flags, class insignia and event advertising shall not be shall not be trimmed, cut, or covered by other materials.

Red: space reserved for event advertising

26 July 2020

Formula Kite:
When racing in an IKA Formula Kite World Championship, Continental Championship, World Sailing Event or Regional Games, the national flag of the crew shall be displayed on the bottom of the hull, centered at the widest part of the hull in the forward third part.

KiteFoil Open:
When racing in an IKA KiteFoil World Series Event or World Championship, the national flag of the crew shall be displayed on the bottom of the hull, centered at the widest part of the hull in the forward third part.

A's Youth Foil:
When racing in an IKA A's Youth Foil World Championship or Continental Championship, the national flag of the crew shall be displayed on the bottom of the hull, centered at the widest part of the hull in the forward third part.

Displaying the national flag is optional at all other events.

Flags shall be 350mm in diameter, designed as specified by the IKA, and shall not be trimmed, cut, or covered by other materials.

Note: it is the responsibility to produce / purchase and apply nationality flags with the exact design specified at https://www.formulakite.org/equipment/nationality-flags

02 August 2020

No. The cutting and sewing pattern of all registered series production kites of one model/size must be identical.

18 November 2020