Category: Uncategorized

Please note that there is now a DF distributor based in Hong Kong. Please visit the “Where to Buy” page for contact details.

China has submitted all relevant applications to join the DFICA and the Executive Board has approved those applications. Pursuant with the DFICA Constitution and DFICA Regulations , the Board now posts for public viewing and comment on the China proposal to join DFICA.

Now that the 2024 DragonForce 65 Globals are winding down the ICA find
themselves looking towards the next Globals, the 2026 DF95 Global Championships.

3 bids for the championships were received for the event from the USA and South Africa. All the bids were extremely credible, well put together and all of them would have no doubt been able to stage a great event.

The ICA worked with the various bidders to fully understand what was on offer,
culminating with the ICA committee evaluating the bids against a set of criteria which included topics like the probable sailing conditions, accessibility, event facilities, accommodation, safety and security and last but not least, rotation between countries and regions.

We are now pleased to announce that the 2026 DF95 Global Championships have
been awarded to the National Class Association of South Africa who will, in
partnership with The Cape Radio Yacht Club, host the event at the Theewaters
Sports Club on the Theewaterskloof Dam, approximately 100km east of Cape Town
in late October 2026. The facility has previously hosted a number of sailing World and Regional Championships and will later this year host their DF95 National Championships.

On the ICA executive making the decision Phil Burgess, the DF ICA Chairman, had
the following to say. “I am extremely happy that we have the opportunity to take the Global Championships to South Africa in 2026. The DF95 class is growing at pace around the world, and we are committed to ensuring that all countries that have adopted the DF classes could host a championship. I have no doubt that South Africa will put together a fantastic event and I look forward to taking part.”

The team in South Africa are already working hard on the planning for the event and will enjoy the full support from the ICA to ensure that the event can live up to the high standards of all the previous Global Championships.

Des Fairbank, Roy Gardener and Andrew Bosworth who are part of the Class
Association Executive in South Africa said, “We are extremely honoured to have
been selected as the host nation for the next DF95 Global Championship. The DF95 class is already the most active Radio Sailing class in South Africa. We thank you for having the confidence in us and eagerly anticipate welcoming participants from across the globe, be they competitors or spectators, to the shores of our diverse and vibrant nation.”

Further information will be released by the ICA and the hosts in due course.
In the meantime the ICA thanks the unsuccessful bidders for the work they put in to prepare their bids and their understanding with the decision on this occasion and encourages them to resubmit bids for future championships.

Yesterday (12th May) the 2024 DF65 Globals got underway in Sweden. The weather looked lovely and eventually the breeze turned up and allowed a good day’s racing.

The organisers have a great Facebook page that is being kept up to date with all the latest information including results, videos and other good stuff.

If you want to keep up to date over the next few days of racing then please click here

Good luck to all the skippers taking part.

Chile has submitted all relevant applications to join the DFICA and the Executive Board has approved those applications. Pursuant with the DFICA Constitution and DFICA Regulations , the Board now posts for public viewing and comment on the Chile proposal to join DFICA.

As you’ll no doubt be aware the DFICA has conducted some consultation to get the class rules for both DF65 and DF95 up to date in a manner that included input from all member nations.

The new class rules are now online and are effective from January 1st 2024. There is also some rationale from the Rules Committee so that you can see the reasoning behind the changes.

Edit-For those that can’t find them the new class rules are under the relevant class heading on the main menu.

Have a great 2024 racing season.

At this years DF95 Globals we made some new friends who have expressed an interest in helping out on the DFICA committee. Details below.

The DFICA is pleased to announce the appointment of 2 new committee members to the team. Two members of the current Executive will be looking to stand down before the next AGM, and these appointments will add strong candidates for election next year and further diversify the representation on the Executive.

David Booth from South Africa brings a wealth of sailing experience and administration. Among his long list of significant achievements are, Vice President of the Optimist Class Association for 11 years, helped set up the Cape Radio Yacht Club, a National Judge, Regatta Organising Chairman and PRO at international events.

Chuck Millican from Florida USA is the current President of the American Model Yachting Association and has a very impressive list of multiple national championships, a member of the US Olympic Yachting Committee and Bermuda Olympic Executive Committee and is highly credentialed in sailing administration and race results.

DFICA Chair Phil Burgess said “We are extremely fortunate to have both David and Chuck join the team. Both are willing to spare their time, experience and skills to further develop our sport and ensure we have a strong succession plan in place for the future of our Classes.”

The current DFICA Committee is:

Chairman – Phil Burgess (Australia)

Vice Chairman – Chris Dance (Australia)

Secretary – Russ Gardner (USA)

Treasurer – Wayne Stobbs (UK)

Media – Tim Long (UK)

Manufacturer’s Representative – John Tushingham (UK)

Committee Member – David Booth (South Africa)

Committee Member – Chuck Millican (USA)

The Rules Committee comprises:

Chairman – John Tushingham (UK)

Member – Chris Dance (Australia)

Member – Russ Gardner (USA)

Member – Buzz Coleman (UK)

Round one and two place offers have been sent out and there has been good uptake on places. We have now had loads of information from the hosts about the event and have put this information on the Events page of the website.

Please click here to take a look.

It’s been a while since we posted here and there are now some important matters to get out to you guys and girls. The first is an update on the rules and upcoming events from DFICA Chair Phil Burgess.

“The DFICA World Council met on 30^th October to address these issues:

Rule changes – All changes were approved with Option 2 (painted hull allowed) selected for hull treatment. The new rules will apply from 1^st January 2024 and the Rules Committee will soon issue the new versions to be posted on this website.

Voting was as follows:

DF65 vote results

21 votes by 7 nations

Section C carried (100%)

Option 2 selected 17 for, 4 against: rule change approved

Section D carried: (100%)

Option 2 selected 21 for, 0 against: rule change approved

Draft stripes carried (100%): rule change approved

DF95 vote results

25 votes by 9 nations

Section C carried (89%)

Option 2 selected 16 for, 9 against: rule change approved

Section D carried (89%)

Option 2 selected 19 for, 6 against: rule change approved

Elastic carried (100%) : rule change approved

Draft Stripes carried (100%) : rule change approved

The new class rules for both classes will be published over the next week.

2024 DF65 Global Regatta – Round 1 offers were sent to all 19 member nations. 33 entries were received so Round 2 offers will now be sent mid-November to fill the remaining places. Any unused places will be allocated to the host nation to support local skippers. Ten wildcard entries are available for allocation by the DFICA and skippers who may have missed their nations’ selection, can request consideration. Applications must be notified to the DFICA by your national representative by 15^th December.

2026 DF95 Global Regatta – Bids have been received from 3 Clubs to host the next champs – 2 from South Africa and 1 from Texas. The DFICA will consider these at their next meeting and expect to make an announcement early next year.”

The DFICA rules committee have taken note of the situation that arose a couple of months back and have now come up with a couple of solutions that your country rep will need to vote on at an upcoming council meeting.

For full details of the proposed changes and the rationale behind them from the rules committee please head over to the Class Rules page where you’ll find the information.