Foiling Week 2024 opened its doors and immediately set new records as the most participated event of 2024 of the International Moth Class with 100 boats, and the second-highest participation of the year (after Worlds) in a WASZP event (107 boats and registrations sold out less than two hours after their opening in May). A total of 386 sailors from 47 countries, showcasing skills on the challenging waters of Lake Garda for one of the coolest foiling events ever.
A focus of attention since the very beginning in 2014, Youth Sailing this year is “the” Social Theme of Foiling Week and the supporting initiatives planned by We Are Foiling are various and tangible. From 24th to the 28th, an under-19 selection of the 14th district of the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV) will be taught foiling on 69F, BirdyFish and WASZP during a clinic led by Master Coach Omer Brand.
The construction of an Azorean Whaler replica will provide new opportunities for young Azorean sailors while showcasing the positive heritage of the (former hunting) whaling culture. A charity auction to benefit Azorean youths will be opened online in the next days.
This year, incentive trophies and gifts for best youths will be assigned in most of the racing classes.
Foiling Week has reached a crucial moment in its racing schedule, with the conclusion of Switch One Design, BirdyFish and WASZP classes.
On the podium of the 8.2 division of WASZP class, first place for the Danish star Magnus Overbeck, second position for Spanish Pablo Astiazaran Pérez Cela who also won the U21, followed by Italian Ettore Botticini, third place. Marie Butler Wang from Norway is the best female sailor of the division.
An Italian stage in 6.9 division WASZP formed by: Francesco Carrieri, Tommaso Geiger and Leonardo Vanelo, followed by Rebecca Geiger, fourth overall and best female sailor.
Sebastian Faccioli is the winner of WASZP 5.8 division.
Umberto Felci and Giacomo Ferrari (ITA) won among BirdyFish, followed by Daniele e Sergio Minoni (ITA) and Pierre Rhimbault e Luis Marie Du Parc from France in third position.
Switch One Design final classment marks Italian Stefano Ferrighi in first position, second Simon Hiscocks from Great Britain and Fabio Fumagalli from Switzerland in third.
Yesterday ETF26 made their thrilling debut, a fleet featuring an impressive lineup of foiling stars. Liv McKay is fresh from her triumph at SailGP New York, joining Live Ocean with Leonard Takahashi, member of ETNZ Youth Team. On the starting line also Nicolai Sehested and Julius Hallstrørm, back from SailGP New York, representing ROCKWOOL SailGP Denmark. Italian sailor Maelle Frascari races onboard GERONIMO with Romain Bellet and Jean Baptiste Ducamin.
Challenging weather conditions marked the initial two days, yet the spirit of Foiling Week remained the same. Beyond the races, the event is packed with activities like the Foiling Trials, open to everyone willing to try foiling, workshops, and social gatherings.
A fundamental aspect of what Foiling Week stands for is its support for The Magenta Project, which aims to create a more equitable and inclusive sport. This mission has led to a series of empowering initiatives for women in performance foiling.
On Tuesday, METSTRADE and The Foiling Organization representatives presented the novelties of the second Foiling Technology Pavilion (Amsterdam, November 19th to 21st) to some of the future exhibitors gathered in Malcesine, spotlighting the latest advancements in foiling technology following its successful inauguration last November.
Luigi Maffioli, CEO of Gottifredi Maffioli, Official Ropes Supplier of Foiling Week and Foiling SuMoth Challenge Partner, together with master splicer Davide Fuzzi, led two splicing workshop sessions, supporting participants with hands-on experience in this aspect of the sport.
Boero YachtCoatings, Official Technical Partner of the event, provided all participants with the Boero Technical Area, a sailors’ permanent facility that immediately became a reference point for the solution of a wide range of problems related to painting. Boero also launched the #BoeroOnYourBoat contest for the best images shot during Foiling Week and posted on Socials.
Expert Moth sailor Nicolai Jacobsen led a clinic to help newcomers into the class, touching key arguments like tuning and trimming, boat handling and strategy.
11 Foiling SuMoth Teams from some of the most important technical universities in the World are running to define the winner of 2024 Challenge by the end of the week, on a way made of general set up, individual speed tests, fleet racing and instrumental measurements.
An open discussion on Sustainability, promoted by World Sailing, will be one of the main events of the Week and will go on stage on Friday afternoon. The panel will be conducted by U.S. Journalist Christopher J. Museler with the participation of Jo Aleh – Rio 2016 Gold 470 and Chair of World Sailing’s Athletes’ Commission – Mirella Vitale from ROCKWOOL Scott Over of Sporting Giants, Patrick Pacchetti from Recarbon, Virginia Jacquemod of Biodesign Foundation and Bruno Giuntoli of Foiling SuMoth Challenge.
Also tomorrow, June 27th, there will be a sustainability initiative in the afternoon: a beach clean-up organized by Biodesign Foundation and Foiling Week Impact Partner ROCKWOOL, supported by One Ocean Foundation. The sailing athletes from the ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team will also contribute.
Foiling Week proceeds with her intensive schedule, featuring a foiling SUP clinic by three times World Champion Olivia Piana, a Downwind Race from Arco to Malcesine and back, sponsored by Secumar – Official Safety Partner of Foiling Week – a female coach clinic by Rockwool SailGP Denmark Team Katja Salskov-Iversen together with We Are Foiling Master Coach Omer Brand, and thrilling Moth races. The final day, Sunday the 30th, will offer a pumping session with new world foiling guru Gwen La Tutour.
