Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard feb 2025

World Sailing and iQFOiL Class announce equipment change for Olympic class from January 2025

by iQFOiL Class Communications 10 Dec 2024 02:32 PST
Paris Olympic Sailing in Marseille, France on 1 August © World Sailing / Lloyd Images

World Sailing and the iQFOiL Class are pleased to announce an evolution in the iQFOiL Olympic Class equipment, designed to foster inclusivity and enhance athlete progression.

Starting in January 2025, the women's and men's iQFOiL fleets will adopt new sail sizes that encourage greater accessibility and smoother transitions between youth and senior categories.

Under the newly approved changes:

  • Women and Youth Women will transition from the 8m² sail to a 7.3m² (new design) sail.
  • Men will switch from the 9m² sail to an 8m² (current Women and Youth design) sail.
  • Both categories will adopt the existing 490 (4.90m) mast to align with the revised sail sizes.

These updates reflect a commitment to making the iQFOiL Class more inclusive for athletes of all body sizes. The new equipment supports a more level playing field, providing a competitive platform for sailors of a greater diversity of builds from different nations and continents.

The switch also aims to create a better progression for younger athletes moving up from youth to senior categories. With the new senior sails matching those used in the youth fleet, the transition will be smoother, reducing additional costs and minimizing training adjustments.

The new equipment has been tested by iQFOiL athletes and approved by World Sailing, with a focus on ensuring compliance with the highest standards of performance and reliability. Athletes will debut the updated configuration at the iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote, taking place from January 27 to February 2, 2025, marking the first official event under the new rules.

Quotes:

Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, iQFOiL Class Manager: "These changes represent a thoughtful and conscious evolution of the iQFOiL Class as a sport, which has just completed its first Olympic cycle. This new chapter prioritizes inclusivity, fairness, and accessibility worldwide.

By creating a smoother pathway from youth to senior categories and ensuring equitable competition across genders and body types, we are taking an important step toward making iQFOiL an even more global and sustainable class."

Jaime Navarro, World Sailing Director of Technical and Offshore: "The decision aims to further align the equipment with the intended weight targets that guided the selection of the iQFOiL for the Olympic Games to meet the needs of a diverse, global athlete base. These changes come at a pivotal moment, following their first Olympic cycle where we've gathered extensive data on performance and athlete development whilst also offering athletes stability and clarity as we move into the next cycle."

Related Articles

EUROSAF Academy hosts iQFOiL Youth Clinic
Led by four-time world champion Nicolas Schreier and designed for young athletes The EUROSAF Academy is happy to announce the upcoming iQFOiL Youth Clinic from April 14th to 19th, 2025, at its facility in Los Alcázares, Murcia, Spain. Posted on 16 Feb
Wilson and Watson bring home iQFOiL Games spoils
Gold and bronze for British pair Emma Wilson marked her return to Olympic class racing with a resounding victory at the 2025 season opener, as teammate Islay Watson picked up bronze. Posted on 3 Feb
2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote
Emma Wilson and Johan Søe triumph at the inaugural edition The #1 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote came to an exciting conclusion on Sunday with the Medal Series crowning Johan Søe (DEN 37) and Emma Wilson (GBR 7) as the first champions of the 2025 season. Posted on 3 Feb
2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote day 4
Finalists set for tomorrow's Medal Series Course and Sprint Slalom racing replace the Marathon as the top eight sailors in each fleet secure their spots for the Grand Final. Posted on 1 Feb
2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote day 3
Another day of amazing conditions greeted the 100 athletes Another day of amazing conditions greeted the 100 athletes at the iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote in Marina Rubicón, with four course races completed in each fleet under winds from north-east exceeding 20 knots and rough sea state. Posted on 31 Jan
2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote day 2
Four course races for the men and five for the women in a breezy 20+ knots The second day of the iQFOiL International Games at Marina Rubicón delivered another thrilling day of racing, with wind well above 20 knots, gusting up to 30, and near-perfect flat-water conditions. Posted on 30 Jan
2025 iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote day 1
Challenging conditions and standout performances The 2025 iQFOiL International Games got under way today at Marina Rubicón, marking the first official races of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. Posted on 29 Jan
Emma Wilson launches LA 2028 campaign in Lanzarote
The 2025 iQFOiL Games kicks off in Playa Blanca on Wednesday The 2025 iQFOiL Games kicks off in Playa Blanca on the Canary Island of Lanzarote on Wednesday January 29 and concludes on Sunday February 2. Posted on 28 Jan
Lanzarote to host iQFOiL Games of LA Olympic Cycle
The road to LA begins in the Canary islands with world-class athletes and new rules The iQFOiL Class is ready to set the tone for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle as Marina Rubicón welcomes the first iQFOiL International Games of the new Olympic cycle. Posted on 27 Jan
Kieler Woche premiere in the Sailing Grand Slam
10 Olympic classes, 12 international classes, ILCA 6 Men's Worlds and more This year, Kieler Woche will be dominated by the Sailing Grand Slam, the new joint platform for the five most prestigious sailing regattas in the world. Posted on 21 Jan
Selden 2020 - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignRooster Women's Wetsuit Range