Registration for this event closes at Tue 01 Dec 2026 12:00AM.
Welcome to WAVE RALLY 3 and thank you for your interest in participating!
The organising authority for this event is Windsurfing WA Inc., hosted at the Geraldton Windsurfing Club Inc., with permission from the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure and the Shire of Chapman Valley.
See you all at Geraldton Windsurfing Club at Coronation Beach on the best two days within 6–10 January 2027.
Bring the fun vibes. It’s going to be epic!
EVENT SCHEDULE
For Wave Rally 3, the event window has increased from three days to five days. Racing will take place on the best two days within 6–10 January 2027. Entrants will be notified around four to five days before the event, once the forecast is clearer. Updates will be shared via email, WhatsApp and social media.
Event Day 1
09:00–10:00: Registration
10:30: Welcome & Skippers Meeting
12:00: First Possible Heat
18:30: Last Possible Heat
19:00: Sunset Sesh at ‘Playas Lounge’ (Event Site)
Event Day 2
10:30: Skippers Meeting
12:00: First Possible Heat
18:30: Championship Final
19:00: Presentation & Party at ‘Playas Lounge’ (Event Site)
LOCATION
The Wave Rally World Championships takes place at the Geraldton Windsurfing Club at Coronation Beach, Howatharra, Western Australia.
There are a variety of parking spaces around the event site. The main car park near the club is likely to fill up, so you may need to park in available spaces up to 100 m away. Sharing a lift where possible will help reduce congestion.
ELIGIBILITY
The event is open to Australian and international competitors. All competitors, including international entrants, must hold current membership of an organisation affiliated with the Australian Windsurfing Association (e.g., Windsurfing WA, Geraldton Windsurfing Club or their State Windsurfing Association).
Volunteers must register via this link.
ENTRY
The standard entry fee for Wave Rally is $200. An early bird fee of $150 is available for entries received before 1 December 2026. Please help the event by entering early and saving yourself some money! If you already hold current membership of an organisation affiliated with the Australian Windsurfing Association, no additional membership fee is required to enter Wave Rally. Otherwise, join an affiliated association or purchase the Windsurfing WA Single Event Membership for Wave Rally before entering. Membership fees are separate from the event entry fee.
Wave Rally 3 is limited to 80 entrants. Once the event reaches capacity, no further entries will be accepted unless an expansion of entries is announced. This limit is required by the special heat format and helps maximise each competitor’s time on the water.
Around 80% of the event budget is funded by sponsors and government grants. The remaining 20% is paid for from entry fees. The cost per entrant to host Wave Rally is around $800, which includes purchasing event equipment to help build the event for future years.
The entry fee includes a race rash vest for each entrant to wear throughout the event and keep afterwards. It must be worn and clearly visible during every heat. After each heat, competitors must report to the Wave Rally Admin tent to record their placing and confirm their safe return; the rash vest does not need to be returned. Use of the supplied WindSUP boards when the Race Director switches racing to the light-wind format is also included.
Parents or legal guardians must register entrants under 18 and complete the Consent for a Minor form in the downloads section. The completed form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian and the responsible adult attending the event, and brought to registration.
WITHDRAWALS & REFUNDS
A full refund of the event entry fee is available for withdrawals made up to and including 23 December 2026. To withdraw or request a refund, contact info@waverally.org with the competitor’s name and registration details. Requests received after that date will be considered individually, without limiting any rights under applicable law.
REGISTRATION
Competitors must check in at the ‘Wave Rally Admin’ tent in the ‘Playas Lounge’ (Geraldton Windsurfing Club) to pick up their competitor packs and complete registration. Collection of competitor packs is scheduled for Competition Day 1 between 09:00 and 10:00.
If you cannot arrive on time due to an emergency, please reach us through the ‘WAVE RALLY 3’ WhatsApp group.
WAVE RALLY DIVISIONS
There will be six competitor divisions; however, all sailors will be mixed in the main league heats. At registration on Competition Day 1, all men will be weighed and placed into one of three equally distributed weight divisions.
The divisions are:
- Youth: New for 2027 — under 20 years of age.
- Masters: New for 2027 — aged 60 years and over.
- Open Women: All women.
- Lightweight Men: Male competitors in the lightest third of the field based on the registration weigh-in.
- Middleweight Men: Male competitors in the middle third of the field based on the registration weigh-in.
- Heavyweight Men: Male competitors in the heaviest third of the field based on the registration weigh-in.
Age eligibility is determined as at 6 January 2027.
Youth and Masters are additional age categories. Eligible competitors may contest these categories as well as their applicable men’s weight division or Open Women, and may qualify for more than one division final.
There will be seven Wave Rally Championship titles on offer: one for each division above, plus the overall Wave Rally World Champion title. After all seven qualifying rounds, the highest-ranked sailors overall on the official heat board will qualify for the Championship Final, regardless of division. The number of places available and the qualification procedure, including how any ties are resolved, will be explained at the first Skippers Meeting.
WINDSURF GEAR ALLOWED
The Wave Rally concept is unique as the event is a wave slalom format with specific equipment rules. The organiser aims to make the racing as fun and fair as possible, so please respect the spirit and vision of the event.
The equipment rules are:
- Must be a wave board with two, three or four fins. Single fin setups are not permitted.
- FreeWave boards with PowerBox fin boxes are allowed; however, fin size is restricted according to the chart below. Single fin setups are not permitted.
- Fins must have a swept back wave shape. Upright slalom fins are not permitted.
- Maximum of three footstraps. Footstraps must be set up in inboard locations if the FreeWave board allows it.
- Maximum of five battens on wave sails.
- Windsurfer LT sails or equivalent are not permitted.
- Maximum sail and fin sizes allowed for all boards are as follows:
| MEN’S WEIGHT |
MAX SAIL SIZE (m²) |
MAX FIN SIZE (cm) |
| Under 75 kg |
5.0 |
18 |
| 75 kg to under 85 kg |
5.3 |
20 |
| 85 kg to under 95 kg |
5.7 |
22 |
| 95 kg to under 105 kg |
6.2 |
24 |
| 105 kg and over |
6.7 |
26 |
| ALL WOMEN |
5.3 |
20 |
Use the weight recorded at registration to determine equipment limits. Do not round the weight up or down.
A variety of 18 cm, 20 cm, 22 cm and 24 cm PowerBox K4 fins are available for purchase at the Admin tent for $90 if you need one.
COMPETITION FORMAT
There will be two competition days within the five-day event window.
The Welcome & Skippers Meeting starts at 10:30 on Competition Day 1. The Skippers Meeting starts at 10:30 on Competition Day 2. Every sailor must attend to receive the day’s forecast, race schedule and any changes to the format outlined below.
Competition Day 1 will feature five rounds of league style heat racing, with every sailor receiving five heats. There are eight heats per round. Heat sizes depend on the number of entries but will not exceed 12 sailors.
The Round 1 heat draw is based on entry order: the first entrant starts in the top heat and the last entrant is placed in the final heat. Each round includes sailors from all divisions, and races are scored by finishing position.
In a 10-person heat, places 1st–4th progress up the heat structure, 5th–6th remain in their bracket, and 7th–10th move down one bracket. Across multiple rounds, this system increasingly matches sailors of similar ability while giving competitors the opportunity to progress up the heat draw.
On Competition Day 2, a further two qualifying rounds will be sailed. After all seven qualifying rounds, the highest-ranked sailors in each division on the official heat board will qualify for their respective division finals: Youth, Masters, Open Women, Lightweight Men, Middleweight Men and Heavyweight Men. The highest-ranked sailors overall will qualify for the Championship Final, regardless of division.
Each division final will have 10–12 places, or fewer where fewer eligible competitors are available. The number of places available and the qualification procedure, including how any ties are resolved, will be explained at the first Skippers Meeting.
When conditions are too light for wave gear, generally below 20 knots, the Race Director may switch racing to event-supplied WindSUP boards. Competitors use their own sails, and board use is included in the entry fee. Racing on the supplied boards is one design. A pin system universal joint will be used, so competitors should bring a compatible pin system extension. The Race Director will confirm whether wave boards or event-supplied WindSUP boards are to be used before each heat starts. Equipment will not be changed during a heat. If conditions change, any equipment change will be announced over the PA system after the current heat finishes and before the next affected heat starts.
If there is no wind, the organiser may run a fun pumping race using the supplied WindSUP boards and competitors’ own sails.
In the event of a race dispute, the organiser’s decision is final.
For more information about the race format, watch this video.
NOTICES
The Notice of Race can be viewed here.
The Event Rules and Regulations can be viewed here.
COMMUNICATION
Our phone communication channel is the ‘WAVE RALLY 3’ WhatsApp group.
Official announcements, race times, schedule changes and other updates will also be shared via the event PA system.
SAFETY
A jet ski will monitor the course for safety. The Wave Rally race course is intended to be set and conducted within 400 metres of shore. Competitors remain responsible for complying with all applicable Western Australian marine safety requirements. If a competitor travels beyond 400 metres from shore in unprotected waters, additional safety equipment requirements apply under Western Australian law, including the requirement to wear an approved lifejacket. Competitors who may travel beyond this distance must ensure they carry and wear all safety equipment required by law. Any additional event safety requirements or instructions will be explained at the Skippers Meeting.
FOOD & DRINKS
The food van ‘JBCuisine’ will be set up at the event site. A variety of good quality food and drink options will be available for purchase. If you have specific dietary requirements, please bring suitable food in case they cannot be accommodated. The food van will aim to operate from 11:00 to 20:00.
Tables and chairs will be set up in the Playas Lounge at the event site so you can enjoy your food in comfort while meeting people from around the windsurfing world. The Sunset Sesh will feature a DJ and entertainment. Food is available to purchase from the food van.
ACCOMMODATION
All activities at the Wave Rally event take place at the Geraldton Windsurfing Club site at Coronation Beach, Howatharra.
For a detailed rundown of the accommodation options at the event site, please watch the Wave Rally Accommodation video.
VOLUNTEERS
The Wave Rally World Championships would not be possible without all the fantastic volunteers giving their time.
If you know someone who would like to volunteer at the event, please register here.
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
Massive thanks to our sponsors for making the 2027 Wave Rally World Championships a reality. This event wouldn’t be financially viable without them, so make sure you give them your support.
MAJOR SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SUPPORTERS
AND FINALLY…
Remember to bring your hat, water, sunscreen and good vibes. This is going to be fun!
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Facebook event · Facebook · Instagram · Wave Rally website
Gallery
Files for download
Notice of Race v1.18
Event Rules and Regulations v1.18
Consent for a Minor
