Glide Free foiling in Italy

by Glide Free Design Pty. Ltd. on 7 Oct 2014 Glide Free Design has recently conducted coaching of sailors at Lake Garda in Italy. Shaun Priestly, an RYA accredited trainer, has trialled the foils in a range of breezes and has been putting the boat through its paces.

SailLaser centre principal at Lake Garda, Shaun Priestley will conduct the foiling training using Glide Free Foils. You will be able to come to Lake Garda and try foiling on a Laser dinghy. The training course is being developed around foiling skills levels one, two and three, providing you with the opportunity to try, train or buy foils for your Laser.

Foiling dinghies provide a thrill unlike other forms of sailing. Incredibly, Glide Free Foils supercharge your Laser which can be upgrading with our retrofit foiling kit.

First time foiling

Italian 470 sailor Francesco Falcetelli tried foiling at Lake Garda and writes…

'It was the first time I sailed with a foils boat and was so strange that the boat was a common Laser. When I saw you sailing so easy I thought that I could sail in few minutes like you. But I was wrong!

When I jumped into the Laser I tried hiking hard to pull in the main and find pressure but nothing happened. I understood later that I had to move to the back and keep the boat very flat in order to let the foils work in the best way. Suddenly the Laser came up, but it was like a crazy horse! I was unable to keep the boat flat, every time was too much on the leeward side but finally I made it!

I released the main in time with the boat just a little bit on the windward side, the Laser started to fly! Then the apparent wind turned very quickly towards the bow, like in the half time it happens on the 470 I usually sail, I beared away and there was no sound of the water, only me and the wind. Thank you Peter, everyone should have this boat to fell this wonderful feeling!'

Model Yachtsman

Model yachtsman Brad Gibson also took a Laser fitted with Glide Free Foils for his first ever Laser foiling experience.

Be the first at your club to foil and experience many hours of fun foiling on your Laser!

For further details, go to our website for the latest tips and information on Glide Free Foils.