BREAKING NEWS FROM THE PWA ON 2019 FOIL RACING – 

“The Foil discipline is continuing to evolve, grow and offer great racing in light to medium winds as well as in an ever increasing range of venues. It has brought greater security of success to existing destinations and continues to open doors to new locations, previously unobtainable due to conditions. Moving into 2019, PWA Foil events will finally achieve an identity of their own, being offered as a full stand alone discipline for the first time, without being tied to Slalom events. Standards for foil events, in terms of prize money and other normal PWA World Cup requirements will be the same as for Slalom. Slalom will continue at the same existing standards too, but in cases where event organisers wish to have the full range of racing possibilities a discounted combination option will also be available. The big change for 2019 will be a move to production equipment for the Foil discipline. Competitors will register 3 sails and 1 board at their first event of the year, from either the Foil or Slalom equipment lists. They will then use the same equipment for the remainder of the season as they do in Slalom. For the first year of women’s foiling, women will be free to use any generally recognised production boards and sails, even if not registered models, provided that they are manufactured by member brands of the PWA.

Competitors will also register the foils they will use. Each competitor will register one foil set for the whole season which will include: 1 mast 2 fuselage 2 sets of wings (2 x front, 2 x back) Boards may be no wider than 91cm, sails no bigger than 10m2. As with Slalom, any plates, wings or accessories designed to be fitted to the board must also be registered, but the total width must not exceed 91cm including any attachments. The foil mast may be no longer than 115cm, including the depth of the fuselage, when measured perpendicular from the bottom of the board, to the base of the fuselage. The wings of the foil may not exceed 100cm, and the total length of the foil from the leading edge of the front wing, to the trailing edge of the rear wing, must be no more than 120cm.

There will be no fixed wind minimums for 2019, but as a guideline to race directors, if there is more than 50% of the leading half of the fleet stopped, or not able to fly, or if they are having to pump in a continuous, heavy fashion, then races should be abandoned. In general, the aim is to keep the courses short and punchy, so that racing is closer, and easy to follow, making events more exciting. The aim is to create something of a “match racing” type environment that will be attractive to anyone whether seasoned sailors or not. Intended courses for 2019 will include both “M” and “Box” course variations, with either upwind or reaching starts. Slalom style downwind courses with reaching starts may be used with smaller fleets. In the case that we have high winds at Foil only events, then straight upwind / downwind courses may be used for reasons of safety. As the discipline develops, there are undoubtedly going to be some changes and developments that may create new concepts and ideas, but we will continue to listen to the feedback of both sailors and industry to ensure that the discipline continues to develop in a way that bests suits the overall needs of the sport.

We look forward to seeing you above the water!

Kind regards  – The PWA.”