Very few regattas are able to gather 1,400 entries. The Defi Wind (Gruissan, France) from 25th to 28th May is the largest windsurfing competition in the world and entries are limited at 1400 windusrfers.
This year there will be 1400 competitors: 100 wild cards included the 42 times World Champion Björn Dunkerbeck added to other 1,300 places so requested. Registration was opened on February, 1st at 10:00AM and just one hour later, at 11:00AM there were 950 online registrations. The million-dollar question is how many participants there would be in Defi Wind if their entries were not limited. Races are sailed in a course of about 40 km (about 72 miles) in four legs around two marks parallel to the beach. The usual offshore wind, called Tramontane (N-NW) can blow up to 40-50 knots. Things can be very different if it blows the onshore southerly sea breeze not so strong but with waves.
This popular regatta is a very difficult challenge that begins with a “flying start” system from a rib whose wake must be crossed by all the 1,400 windsurfers. There are not a limit number of races during the four days, and a discard is possible when fifth race is finished.