ETF26 2021 series announced

ETF26 racing in 2020 © Marie Lefloch

The ultra fast foiling catamaran ETF26 class will return for a series of six events in France and Italy as part of the 2021 season, the organisers have announced.

Six teams have already signed up to take part in this fourth year of the ETF26 series which will kick off at the beginning of April at the Spi Ouest-France in La Trinité sur Mer. The teams will then move to Morbihan for the Tour de Belle-Ile in May, followed by the Raid Quiberon in June.

The fleet's next series of high octane races will see the groups of professional and amateur sailors regroup in Italy on Lake Garda, as part of the Garda Foiling Week, at the beginning of July.

After heading back to France, the next stage of the race for the 2021 title will take place in Pornichet at the beginning of September with the Pro Am Foiler ETF26. This year's winner will then be decided in La Rochelle during the Grand Pavois boat show.

Series creator Jean-Pierre Dick, said: "The ETF26 series continues to gain momentum as an intense and exciting competition pitting some of the best professional sailors against up and coming youth sailors and skilled amateur racers.

"After a shortened 2020 season we are pleased to return with a number of international teams already signed up and we hope more will join this class which has proved so popular with sailors and spectators alike."

The six crews already registered are: Thorkild Juncker (Cool Runnings - Denmark), Mark Rijkse (Toroa Racing Team - UK), Jean-Christophe Mourniac (Team Pro - France), Charles Dorange (Youth Foiling Team - France), Yvan Bourgnon (France) and Moana Vaireaux (ABC Arbitrage - France).

Amateur sailor Thorkild Juncker who has been involved with ETF26 since the series launched in 2017, is once again representing Denmark with his Cool Runnings team.

He said: "The ETF series takes team racing to another level with the sheer thrill, excitement and speed, adding a completely new dimension to competitive sailing. You can learn how to sail on foiling catamarans at the highest level for a reasonable budget. Without a doubt, competing against some of the best in the sport of sailing has really raised our level." Last year's title was won by Billy Besson's Racing by Ethik team and Jean-Pierre Dick's team took second place with Charles Dorange's Youth Foiling Team in third.

The series was conceived by Jean-Pierre Dick, the four times winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre Race, and the boats were designed by Guillaume Verdier, the naval architect behind the winning boat Emirates Team New Zealand for the 34th edition of the America's Cup.