Foiling Week Garda 09.07.2017
Foiling Week GARDA 2017 – Day 3 summary
Lake Garda continues to deliver with yet another warm summer afternoon of
sailing for all types of foiling craft. The theme of the day was ‘Accessibility’
and the light afternoon breeze was perfect for women and young sailors to
get the opportunity to try foiling.
Following their presentation at the Forum in the morning, the Magenta Project
initiative arranged foiling sessions out on the water for budding enthusiastic
female foilers coached by Magenta ambassadors Jo Aleh, (New Zealand
Olympic Gold medallist) and Josie Gliddon (GBR) coach and regular Moth
sailor.
Jo Aleh delivered a boat full of wet, fatigued but thrilled young female sailors
to the dock. “I was surprised by how well they all did and they were so small.”
“The biggest difference was that the girls were such good listeners and they
got it almost immediately.”
Kathleen Swalling a first time foiler from Australia, living in Dubai, shared her
experience of the day.
“Oh wow, amazing, beautiful scenery, great people, fantastic being with a
bunch of women and top class sailors. Foiling for the first time ever at this
amazing location it was just divine, I am so lucky. I tried two types of boat
starting with the F101 and got that up and foiling which was just incredible.”
A family of American Optimist sailors drove for 2 days from an Optimist
regatta in Belgium after hearing about the event to take part in the trials.
“Another family told us about the event and once my kids heard about it, we
had no choice but to come.”
Racing continued throughout the afternoon for the Moths, Flying Phantoms,
S9, A Class and Prototypes.
Link to Results: https://myregata.it/en/2017/22/The-Foiling- Week-2017
Gurit Forum Day 3 – Theme ‘Accessibility’
The formal speaking section of the Forum began with a round table
discussion with a diverse group, debating the accessibility of the sport across
gender, age and ability.
The full and engaged audience listened to Magenta Project ambassadors Jo
Aleh and Josie Glidden kick off the discussion describing physical,
psychological and cultural challenges women face in sport.
Even though the professional foiling classes require a tremendous amount of
strength and agility, Aleh believes that whilst technology is making the boats
easier to sail, it is obvious to her that the role of women in current boats is
behind the helm. “Foiling is giving more opportunities to women sailors than
ever before.”
Audience member Don Montague, an originator of modern kite surfing,
offered the suggestion that proposals be given to classes and events to
shape the make up of fleets. “Everyone is supportive of what you are trying to
do” Montague added.
The panel accepted that there are still cultural barriers to increasing the
numbers of female participants in sailing but that the introduction of new class
rules can help shift the gender balance.
Increasing participation for children was a goal tackled by Adriano of the
Waszp class, building on the concept of role models mentioned earlier in the
Forum by noting the impact of female coaches bringing young sailors
throughout the week.
Filippo Ciarchi described an ambitious initiative between Acque Libere
Association, top foil designer Guillaume Verdier and Italian Boat builders
Persico Marine, to design a 3 – 4 person foiler for able bodied and disabled
sailors to foil together.
Ciarchi added that in foiling boat trials at Foiling Week Garda,
“We had a disabled sailor who test sailed the F101 and was foiling within
minutes”
There was an abundance of presenters updating progress on existing foiling
projects and exciting concepts for production and entry level foilers.
High speed pioneer Paul Larsen of Vestas Sail Rocket explored the
successes and failures of his previous campaigns and gave a glimpse into a
future trans-oceanic foiling motor sailer that has the capacity to transport
goods or people in comfort. Though most of the project is conceptual and
under wraps, Larsen believes developing the concepts from his world record
hunters have real applications in ocean sailing and the utilisation of
renewable energy.
A broad range of designs were shared with the Forum from a trio of solar
electric foilers to a purpose built foiler for sailing schools and a luxury 60ft
catamaran designed as part of a Masters thesis.
Included in these presentations were the Sea Air, a foiling Mini Transat and a
primer on the expensive analysis tools for engineering these fantastic craft by
Paolo Manganelli from event sponsor Gurit.
The final day of 2017 Foiling Week Garda includes a v20 Electric foiling solar
powered demonstration and races for all classes followed by the prize giving
and buffet at host club Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
