Foiling Awards 2022 honour two years of achievement

The fifth edition of the Foiling Awards was held recently in the wonderful surroundings of the hall of the Teatro Arcimboldi in Milan, Italy. The evening, hosted by the expert Italian journalist Stefano Vegliani and British foiling sailor Hattie Rogers, was opened with a greeting by David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, who described the winners as ‘fantastic ambassadors for the sport of sailing.’

Returning after one year absence, the 12 awards took into consideration achievements between 2020 and 2021 and celebrated accomplishments ranging from Best Male and Female Sailor, best Team and Best Event, to awards dedicated to Commercial, Sustainability, Amateur and One-Off projects.

Graham remarked that fifty percent of the Olympic medals in Paris 2024 will be for foiling crafts and underlined how much the International Olympic Committee values speed and action, both of which characterise foiling, in their role to keep young people’s attention on sailing.

Speaking at the awards, World Sailing CEO, David Graham, said, “Our sport is our community. And the future of our sport depends on our community, its passion and its desire for change. From ensuring that our sport is accessible to a diverse audience – and is inclusive and welcoming to everyone – to finding new and radical solutions to the materials we use to have a positive impact on our environment.

“It is energising and exciting to have in one room the future of foiling. There are those who will develop and innovate the platforms, the sailors who will push the boundaries of athleticism and talent, to the designers and boat builders who are developing new and sustainable ways to build the boats. Thank you for being fantastic ambassadors for the sport of sailing.”

Many of the winners were able to collect their prize in person, showing that sailing is well and truly back on the road to full capacity. However, as sailing never really stops, a few notable exceptions sent video messages from their current training bases.

Tom Slingsby, voted Best Male Sailor, sent a video message; Emirates Team New Zealand’s Andy Malone also accepted the prize via video, as organisers of the 36th America’s Cup, which won Best Event.

Francois Gabart aboard the trimaran SVR Lazartigue, winner of the One-Off Boat category, connected via video call while training in the Bay of Biscay with his foiling marvel.

Arnaud Psarofaghis, skipper of Alinghi Red Bull Racing Team, collected the best team prize; he underlined that the preparation of the challenge for the 37th America’s Cup is proceeding swiftly and that the Swiss sailors will be ready.

Finally, great enthusiasm was shown for Finn Morris, the fifteen-year-old who built the “Minimoth” in his garden during lockdown when only 13 years old, which won him the award for Best Amateur Project.

Foiling Week was recently granted ‘Special Event’ status by World Sailing, joining high profile events such as the America’s Cup, The Ocean Race, SailGP, World Match Racing Tour, PWA World Tour, Star Sailors League and the GKA Kite World Tour.

The Foiling Awards 2022 Winners

Female Sailor: Josie Gliddon

One of the best sailors that you can come across on the starting line of any regatta, she dominated the Moth World Championship in Malcesine; she is an inspiration for all girls wanting to fly.

Male Sailor: Tom Slingsby

A deserved victory. Tom won the Moth World Championship in Malcesine in imperative fashion and then dedicated himself to the Australian team involved in SailGP, guiding it to victory.

Team: Alinghi

The nomination was linked to the successes in the GC32 circuit, but this achievement above all rewards Alinghi’s return as a challenger to the America’s Cup.

Event: 36th America’s Cup

The success of the first edition of the America’s Cup with flying monohulls is there for all to see. A big boost for the Foiling world.

Project: Flying Nikka

We saw the hull leave the yard in Valencia, now we can’t wait to see it fly.

One-Off Boat: SVR Lazartigue

A leap into the future with this 32-meter flying trimaran for Francois Gabart designed by Mer Concept, full of innovative solutions. The “aircraft” will take part in a summer tour of the Mediterranean, with a stopover in Genova from 24-26 May.

Amateur Project: Minimoth Finn Morris

At the age of just 13, Finn Morris designed and built during lockdown a Moth suitable for his height and age.

Innovation: Level Foils

The board, powered by a small electric motor, makes flying simple and within anyone’s reach.

Sustainability: Eco Foiler

A small flying dinghy of just under 4 meters, made 100% with natural and recyclable materials.

Production Boat: Vortex

The flying boat that wants to make foiling speed simple, safe, and accessible to everyone.

Commercial Project: Moby Fly

A hydrofoil vessel intended for passenger transport comes in three sizes: 10, 18 and 30 meters. Fast, with a top speed of 35 knots, and fuel efficient: up to 70 percent less fuel consumption than a ferry powered by a diesel engine

Motorboat: Mer Concept

The first catamaran powered by an electric motor that flies on foils. Measuring 12 metres long and five metres wide, the Mer has a cruising speed of 22 knots and a range of 90 miles.