July’s World Sailing Show focuses on Olympic debut of iQFOiL and Formula Kite

• Thrilling grand finale to Season 4 of SailGP in San Francisco
• Foiling Week’s unique blend of racing, workshops and exhibitions takes to Lake Garda
• Francesca Clapcich’s MER Concept team joins the Ocean Fifty tour
• Italy’s golden duo ready for more Nacra 17 gold in Marseille
• A look at the Olympic records waiting to be broken in France

Going behind the scenes with the last two iQFOiL World Champions, Luuc van Opzeeland of the Netherlands and current champion Nicolo Renna of Italy, and the winner of the Paris 2024 Test Event, Nicolas Goyard of France, the World Sailing Show takes a look at what to expect in Marseille. It’s been three years since the iQFOiL was officially named the windsurfing equipment for Paris 2024 and fleets around the world have been testing themselves in competition to prepare for the big debut.

Van Opzeeland and Renna have been training together, as they did for the 2023 World Sailing Championships, and Goyard goes into the Games having already won in Marseille, but all three will be aiming to make it to the medal race on the final day to become the first ever iQFOiL Olympic champion.

Another class making its debut this summer is the Formula Kite, the fastest sport in the Summer Olympics. Current World Champion Max Maeder of Singapore and six-time World Champion Daniela Moroz from the USA share their insight into what makes the event so exciting and who to look out for in the fight for medals in Marseille.

It was a thrilling finale to Season 4 of SailGP after a rollercoaster of a season. Heading into the San Francisco Grand Prix, all eyes were on the teams aiming to break Team Australia’s dominance and etch a new name on the trophy. After a huge error by the French team, it all came down to the winner-take-all final with Australia, New Zealand and Spain vying for position. A dramatic battle ensued and a photo finish to see whether there would be a new winner this year.

The look at Olympic Sailing classes concludes with the Nacra 17 mixed multihull event where Italy’s golden duo, 2022 World Sailors of the Year, Ruggero Tita and Catarina Banti will hope to add to their impressive haul of medals. The four-time and reigning World Champions have dominated the sport for the past six years and come into the Games looking to retain their Olympic title.

World Sailing’s Steering the Course and Evening the Keel created by Musto have done a great deal to promote the opportunities for women in sailing and now Francesca Clapcich, the first Italian to win The Ocean Race, is lending her expertise to offshore sailing. Her team, UpWind by MerConcept, has joined the 2024 Ocean Fifty season, with an all-female team. Over 100 sailors applied to be a part of the team but only seven could be chosen.

The team made its debut in San Malo where their first taste of competition saw them finish last but displayed great potential. The second race in Pornichet – La Baule already showed improvement and Francesca aims to close the gap with every race.

There is also a look back at the recent Foiling Week where the unique blend of racing, clinics, workshops and exhibitions brought around 400 sailors to Lake Garda. With a focus on youth sailing, there was a special edition of World Sailing’s Steering the Course, the SuMoth Challenge, innovative technology and sustainability. The World Sailing Show has all the action.

Finally, the World Sailing Show takes a look at all of the Olympic records on the line and who has greatness in their sights in Marseille.