The 2024 Paris Olympics promises to elevate foiling evolution even further, introducing Kite Foiling and iQFoil to the lineup of sailing events. Sailing at the 2024 Olympic Games will take place on the waters of the Marseille Marina in the South of France and will run from 28 July – 8 August 2024.
Southern French city of Marseille will be a destination for many of kitesurfers, iQFoil windsurfers and Nacra 17 hydrofoiling catamaran sailors ‘flying’ above the waves on hi-tech foils looking to capture one of first foiling medals since the first sailing events of the modern Olympic era were held in France in 1900.
The Nacra 17, foiling catamaran was the first hydrofoil vessel added to Olympic sailing at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and IQFoil windfoiling and Formula Kite foil will be introduced as new Olympic sports and sailing classes
Nacra 17
Nacra hydrofoiling catamaran was the first foiling vessel to be included into Olypic sailing. The Nacra 17 is a performance catamaran used for sailing. It was designed in 2011, went into production in 2012 and has been the focus of multihull sailing at the Olympic Games since its conception.
The Nacra has been converted to a sailing hydrofoil for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Nacra 17 exhumes quality, speed and durability. Its curved foiling daggerboards give the cat space craft like features.
The Nacra 17 must have one male and one female, though which role they take (helm or crew) is up to the teams. The Nacra 17 is a very high performance foiling catamaran and now features hydrofoils allowing the boat to zip around above the surface of the water. It can be very fast and very difficult to control, which can result in races with many lead changes.
IQFoil
iQFOiL is a format of windsurfing where the main difference with the old Olympic format, RS:X, is that the daggerboard is replaced by a foil. So, instead of floating, the board appears to fly thanks to the use of hydrofoils attached to the bottom of the board that lift the board completely out of the water at planing speeds.
IQFoil is redefining windsurfing by combining traditional sport with new hydrofoil technology. This twist takes windsurfing to another level, literally lifting riders above the water so they can zip around at incredible speeds with amazing agility. It is all about mastering the sail and tweaking your stance just right to get that perfect lift and minimize drag.
Kite Foil
Kite foiling is one of two new sailing disciplines set to debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Formula Kite class is both fast and exciting, promising plenty of thrills for spectators. Athletes must juggle controlling their kite with maneuvering a hydrofoil board. Kite foiling sees riders βflyβ above the water on hydrofoils attached to boards and powered by huge kites. They can reach incredible speeds of up to 45 knots (51 mph).
Kite Foiling is an interesting blend that captures the fast-paced excitement of kiteboarding along with the nuanced finesse required in sailing. In this sport, athletes harness the wind with a large kite and propel themselves on a hydrofoil board. The hydrofoil lifts the rider above the water, significantly reducing resistance and notably increasing their speed.
The inclusion of foil sailing in the Olympics is expected to bring a fresh and dynamic aspect to the games. With its high-speed action and cutting-edge technology, it is likely to attract a younger audience, both in terms of participants and spectators. Moreover, it aligns with the IOCβs agenda 2020+5, which aims to make the Olympic Games more youthful, urban, and gender-balanced.
What are the Olympic sailing classes?
All boats compete in a fleet race format, where all the boats and athletes, classified by category, compete simultaneously on the same course. The boats sail a triangular course, marked by buoys, with the aim of reaching the finish line as quickly as possible.
- Women’s Windsurfing (iQFoil): 22 opening series races, 1 quarter final race, 1 semi final race, Β 1 medal race*
- Men’s Windsurfing (iQFoil): Β 22 opening series races, 1 quarter final race, 1 semi final race, Β 1 medal race*
- Women’s Skiff (49er FX) 12 opening series races, 1 medal race
- Men’s Skiff (49er): 12 opening series races, 1 medal race
- Men’s One Person Dinghy (ILCA 7): 10 opening series races, 1 medal race
- Women’s One Person Dinghy (ILCA 6): 10 opening series races, 1 medal race
- Mixed Two Person Dinghy (470): 10 opening series races, 1 medal race*
- Mixed Multihull (Nacra 17): 12 opening series races, 1 medal race
- Women’s Kiteboarding (Formula Kite): Β 16 opening series races, 12 semifinal races, 6 medal races*
- Men’s Kiteboarding (Formula Kite): 16 opening series races, 12 semifinal races, 6 medal races*
For more information on Olympic sailing and new hydrofoiling classes visit https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports/sailing