Foiling has moved from America's Cup exotica to accessible club sailing in under a decade. These guides cover how the technology works, which boats to sail, how to learn, and where foiling fits in the broader landscape of high-performance sailing — from Olympic skiffs to offshore racers.
How Foiling Works: The Physics of Flying on Water
Bernoulli's principle, lift vs drag, the inverted wing under the hull, T-foils vs L-foils, wand-controlled ride height, and why foiling boats get faster the faster they go.
- Inverted wing generating upward lift
- T-foil vs L-foil geometry
- The apparent wind revolution
Foiling Sailboat Classes: From Moth to AC75
Every major foiling class from the Waszp entry point through the Moth, Nacra 17, F50 SailGP catamaran, and the America's Cup AC75 — with realistic speed figures and costs.
- Waszp: the affordable entry point
- Nacra 17: Olympic foiling cat
- AC75: 50+ knots, $10M per boat
Learning to Foil: What the First Sessions Actually Look Like
The prerequisites, the crash-and-recover progression, body position, tacking in foiling mode, school options, fitness requirements, and why a helmet is not optional.
- 20–30 crashes in session one
- Waszp as the learning platform
- Tacking in foiling mode: the hardest skill
High-Performance Sailing Beyond Foiling
The 49er skiff, IMOCA 60, Class 40, IRC offshore racing, speed polars, handicap systems, the J-series ladder, and how to find competitive racing at any budget.
- IMOCA 60: 25+ knots offshore
- IRC handicap system explained
- Class 40: $200K budget offshore racer
About These Guides
These are editorial resources covering foiling and high-performance sailing. Speed figures, equipment costs, and class rules change frequently — always verify current specifications with the relevant class association before making purchasing decisions. For marina facilities and launching sites, see the marina directory.