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At the Saudi Sailing Federation, our mission is to make sailing one of the most beloved and widely practised sports in Saudi Arabia.
We believe that sailing can be one of the most inclusive and accessible sports – both competitively and recreationally – and we want to share this with everyone in Saudi Arabia.
As the national governing body for sailing, we strive to spread the culture of sailing and inspire first-timers, as well as produce future Saudi sailing champions who can compete on the world stage.
Join us at the Saudi Sailing Federation and discover the world of sailing in Saudi Arabia. Click below to find out more about what we have to offer.
ILCA 4
The Perfect Sailboat for Young Sailors
The ILCA 4, formerly the Laser 4.7, is a sailboat class designed for younger sailors and beginners, introduced as an accessible alternative to the Laser Standard and Laser Radial classes. As the boat shares the same hull design as the ILCA 6 and ILCA 7, it allows sailors to easily transition between classes as they develop their skills, by swapping the mast and sail without needing to purchase a new boat.
The ILCA 4's one-design class ensures fair competition based on skill rather than equipment differences, while the robust construction of the boat guarantees longevity and reliable performance. As it is easy to rig, sail, and maintain, the ILCA 4 is an ideal boat for learning sailing skills, making it a popular choice for sailing schools and clubs.
As in the other ILCA classes, the ILCA 4 is designed for single-handed sailing, helping sailors develop independence and decision-making skills on the water. The boat's durability, with a fibreglass hull and aluminium spars, allows it to withstand the challenges faced by beginner sailors. The simplicity of the boat also makes it relatively affordable compared to other sailboat classes, contributing to its popularity among new sailors.
Many national and international sailing competitions include ILCA 4 events, offering opportunities for young sailors to compete and gain experience, with many successful Olympic sailors having begun their careers in this class.
ILCA 6
Lightweight and Fast Sailing
The ILCA 6 sailboat, formerly known as the Laser Radial, is one of the most popular boats in the world, due to its broad accessibility and simplicity to set up and sail. Designed by Bruce Kirby (CAN) & Ian Bruce (CAN) in 1969, the ILCA 6 has a single mainsail, making it lightweight and fast to sail. As with all ILCA classes, it is built to strict one-design standards, meaning all boats are identical, providing a level playing field during competition.
The ILCA 6’s smaller sail area (5.76m²) makes it easier to handle for lighter-weight sailors. Designed for youth, women, and smaller adult sailors weighing between 55-70 kg, its manageable size and weight are suitable for those who might find the larger ILCA 7 more challenging. Its simple and durable construction features a single sail, a single tiller, and an uncomplicated rigging system, making it easy to set up, maintain, and sail, even for beginners.
The class has a strong international community with competitive racing in over 120 countries, providing ample opportunities for sailors to participate in local, regional, and international events. As the women's single-handed dinghy class at the Olympics, it is distinguishable from the ILCA 7 by the red rhombus on the mainsail.
The ILCA 6 is favoured by novice sailors as well as experienced ones who appreciate its performance capabilities and tactical challenges. Manufactured by licensed builders across the world, the ILCA 6 is a durable and low-maintenance design, making it an excellent investment for both recreational and competitive sailors, with an excellent resale value.
ILCA 7
Easy to Learn, Challenging to Master
The ILCA 7, formerly known as the Laser Standard, is a versatile and accessible one-design racing sailboat ideal for intermediate to advanced sailors. It is the largest rig among the three ILCA rig options and is typically sailed by men. Younger and lighter sailors may prefer the ILCA 4 or ILCA 6, which offer smaller sail areas and lighter hull weights. With its lightweight fibreglass hull and a sail area of 7.06m², the boat is designed to accommodate sailors weighing between 75-90kg.
The Laser class has a rich history and global community, with over 215,000 boats built since its introduction. Featured in the Summer Olympics since 1996, the ILCA 7 is the men's single-handed dinghy class, with intense, tactical racing that often comes down to split-second decisions. Successful Olympic and professional sailors, such as Robert Scheidt, Ben Ainslie, and Tom Slingsby, have competed in the ILCA 7 class.
The strong global presence of the ILCA 7 ensures that sailors worldwide can participate in regular races and training events, making it an attractive and rewarding option for sailing enthusiasts of various skill levels and backgrounds. Thanks to its affordability and versatility, the ILCA 7 is popular in sailing clubs and university sailing programs worldwide.
The ILCA 7 is easy to learn for beginners but still offers a challenge for experienced sailors. Its adaptability ensures that it remains popular among sailors seeking to improve their skills and compete at local, regional, and international events. In addition to its use in racing, the ILCA 7 is a versatile boat suitable for recreational sailing, training, and a wide range of skill levels.
Keelboat
Designed for Stability, Speed and Manoeuvrability
Keelboats are versatile sailboats, characterised by a fixed keel that extends down into the water from the hull. The keel provides stability and counteracts the force of the wind on the sails, making them popular for both racing and cruising. Keelboats come in a variety of sizes, typically ranging in length from around 18 feet to over 60 feet. They can be used in various bodies of water, from lakes and rivers to coastal waters and offshore sailing.
Keelboats are designed with different types of keels, such as fin keels, full keels, and wing keels, which offer unique advantages in terms of stability, speed, and manoeuvrability. They can be sailed single-handedly, with a small crew or a large crew, depending on the size and complexity of the boat. Keelboats are popular for sailing schools and clubs because they offer a more stable learning platform compared to dinghies, which can capsize more easily.
The J/24, designed in 1977 by Rod Johnstone, is one of the most popular keelboat classes globally, renowned for its competitive racing and strong international community. Keelboats participate in numerous races and regattas worldwide, including prestigious events like the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Fastnet Race. The keelboat class typically features larger boats with crews of 2-4 sailors. The teamwork and coordination required to sail these boats at a high level make for a particularly exciting spectator sport, with the larger size and stability allowing for closer, more strategic racing.
Many keelboats feature a cabin, which provides shelter and accommodation for the crew during longer voyages or overnight stays, making them popular for extended cruising. Thanks to its stable design, ease of handling, and adaptability to various sailing activities, the keelboat class offers an enjoyable and rewarding sailing experience for people of all skill levels and experiences.
Windsurf
Versatility and Fun on the Water
The Windsurf Class, a thrilling fusion of surfing and sailing, offers a versatile sailing experience suitable for enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. The sport requires a board and a sail, which are connected by a mast and a boom. The sail serves as an airfoil, generating lift and propelling the windsurfer forward.
Invented in the 1960s, today windsurfing incorporates various styles and disciplines, such as freestyle, wave riding, slalom racing, course racing, and speed sailing. Wind strength and direction play a crucial role in windsurfing, with winds between 10-25 knots being ideal for most skill levels. It is considered one of the fastest sailing sports, with the current speed record set at 53.27 knots (98.65 km/h or 61.30 mph) by Antoine Albeau in 2015.
Windsurfing caters to a broad demographic, from children as young as five to seniors seeking an active pastime. Beginners can use wider, more stable boards and smaller sails for easier balancing and learning, while advanced sailors can transition to high-performance boards as their skills develop. The sport's emphasis on technique and finesse makes it suitable for both men and women, leading to its popularity in mixed-gender competitions and recreational sailing.
Windsurfing has been an Olympic sport since 1984, with the RS:X class used for both men's and women's events in the Olympics in recent years, to be replaced by the iQFOiL at Paris 2024. Some of the most popular windsurfing spots worldwide include Maui (Hawaii), Tarifa (Spain), Cape Town (South Africa), Jericoacoara (Brazil), and Fuerteventura (Canary Islands). While it may take some time to master the basics of windsurfing, most beginners can start gliding across the water after just a few lessons.
Kitesurf
A New Era of Water Sports
The Kitesurf class is an increasingly popular water sport that combines elements of sailing, windsurfing, and wakeboarding. The sport has experienced rapid growth in popularity since the late 1990s, with an estimated 1.5 million kitesurfers globally.
Kitesurfing boards come in various shapes and sizes to suit different riding styles and conditions, allowing for customisation based on individual preferences. The standard set-up includes a kite, which acts as the primary sail, a board similar to a wakeboard or a small surfboard, a control bar for steering and adjusting the kite's power, and a harness to evenly distribute the kite's pull across the rider's body. Modern kitesurfing equipment incorporates several safety systems, such as quick-release mechanisms and depower systems, which help reduce the risk of accidents and make the sport safer for beginners.
Kitesurfing has a thriving global community, with numerous events held worldwide, such as the GKA Kite World Tour and the Red Bull King of the Air. Kitesurfing is a relatively new addition to the Olympics, and brings a fresh, exciting spectacle to the competition. The athletes' ability to harness the wind's power with their kites, perform high-flying jumps and acrobatics, and navigate tight courses at breakneck speeds draws the attention and admiration of spectators. Top riders can reach speeds of over 50 knots (approximately 57 mph or 92 kph), showcasing the sport's exciting pace.
The best conditions for kitesurfing are steady side-onshore winds, with wind speeds between 12-25 knots, depending on the rider's skill level and equipment. While kitesurfing has a relatively steep learning curve compared to other water sports, with proper instruction and practice, most beginners can get up and ride within a few lessons.