Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Leaderboard

Foiling around - Behind the shot with Paul Gibbins Photography

by Paul Gibbins 8 Dec 2023 22:41 AEDT
RYA Youth National Championships 2021 - Canon 5d Mk 3 / 300mm at f2.8 / ISO 100 / 1/6400 © Paul Gibbins Photography

Foiling Windsurfers - wow they're quick and soooo quiet! I'd been photographing hundreds of young sailors all week, on the water shooting all day and into an edit each evening to keep up with the event social media feeds. I was tired and not on contract, volunteering for an RYA Youth Nationals as a portfolio builder. But I was curious about the foiling windurfers, especially racing in a competition.

The racing didn't disappoint, it was a joy to photograph, unusual for Plymouth to see these kind of craft racing in the Sound. And unlike a boat making some noise, the foil has less contact with anything making it appear to glide almost soundlessly.

Being so quick, pre positioning my RIB on the course was crucial, like anything on a foil, it's not good to be in the way! But this was also not a day for changing cameras and lens, so working with a prime I sacrificed composition for quality and worked with the 300mm.

This meant working slightly further away, it was after all a 'nationals', where I assumed competitors would be vying for places to the next level of their professional careers. The starts were impressive, a masterclass in timing and hitting the line at maximum speed. We're getting used to seeing this on SailGP and Waszp Foiling events, where the boats power up quickly, but not something many amateur racers are familiar with, more often used to hitting a start line at maybe 6kts.

So photographing a foiling start is tricky, they come together very quickly already powered up, but the symmetry is sublime.

The youth competitors made it look very easy of course, they were having a great time with plenty of smiles and thumbs up for the camera. I was fortunate to be the only photographer on the water, blessed with some champagne conditions and plenty of opportunity for some good shots; a great way to end a busy week of event photography.

paulgibbinsphotography.mypixieset.com

Related Articles

Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third. Posted on 17 Jun
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community. Posted on 17 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted on 17 Jun
New Caledonia Groupama Race update
Rushour crew safely back in Noumea after capsize The boat was located and it was identified as capsized. All crew members were accounted for. Crew were transferred in the larger aircraft at Koumac and arrived back at Noumea at about 4pm local time. Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted on 17 Jun
ASBA launches Touring Trophy Series
The new leadership team brings experience, enthusiasm, and strong focus on inclusivity and planning The Australian Sports Boat Association (ASBA) has announced a dynamic new initiative to enhance participation and connectivity within the sports boat community - the ASBA Touring Trophy series. Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups. Posted on 16 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership. Posted on 16 Jun
IRC UK National Championships overall
Adam Gosling's JPK 1080 Yes! crowned overall champion The final day of the 2025 IRC National Championships, part of the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta, began on schedule, with a steady south-westerly breeze bringing yet another twist to the range of conditions experienced. Posted on 16 Jun
Royal Thames YC 250th Anniversary Regatta overall
Perfect Solent conditions and desperately tight racing for the conclusion Picture-perfect conditions of a building 8-18 knots from the south-west, bright sunshine and flat Solent conditions on the flood tide made for a glamorous conclusion to the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta on Sunday. Posted on 16 Jun
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastRooster 2025Allen Dynamic 40 Footer