Yet more 'F' word
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 25 Aug 23:00 BST
Foiling Week Malcesine © Roman Christ
One of the enduring joys of this gig is circling back. This is no more especially so than when you get to see the plan unfold. In June of 2024, we set Going to publish the 'F' word live, and then we did it once more in March of this year as released Going to publish the 'F' word - Again!
So, as we get set for a Junior Foiling Cup in Mooloolaba on September 6 and 7, probably the most pleasing aspect of things over the last 12 months or so has been the global aspect. So much so that the Nikkis have just had a successful stint at Foiling Week on Lake Garda, which you could argue is the spiritual home of all things airborne.
David French was there with a few extra souls who were helping out, and four Nikkis that were being put to good use. "It was a really good experience. Foiling Week is an amazing event. You have 400 boats on the water, and really the first time we could actually get younger kids involved in this grand spectacle. And yes. Garda is an amazing place to sail, which is why a lot of sailors keep going back there."
"The youngest kid in the world that I've seen sailing in Nikki is seven, and then it is up to say 12 or 14 (There's the Skeeta for older/larger sailors). They need to have some experience on other boats, whether it be Optis, Minnows, Sabots, or whatever. They need to be confident in their own abilities, and to be able to steer a boat correctly before they can actually jump into the foiling space. Sailing the Nikki in displacement mode is another thing altogether."
Marvellously, Italy was just one part of the mix, with events going on all over the place. "Yes. Switzerland, for instance, is really going gangbusters. They're really doing a lot of things, and it's also in conjunction a lot with the O'pen Bic (skiff) class. There was also more happening in other parts of Northern Italy, and the weather was awesome."
"On the other side of the Atlantic, the Melges Flight School in Florida is huge, and they have loads of kids in Nikkis for their camps. Any kid can go there, and get really top-notch training. They have some incredible athletes and it's somewhat in partnership with America One Racing. The Melges Flight School do some pretty awesome stuff there, and it's only going to go from strength to strength."
Naturally, being part of the Melges brand means they are well-funded, and well-organised. It is an amazing location, right near the space centre, so family holidays are very much catered for.
Back in Spain, and there are some Nikkis at the SailGP Foiling Base Cadiz. The Inspire programme brings it to the wider community and actually get kids involved into this space. "You also have various sailing/yacht clubs and resorts and things like that around the world that are getting kids into the space, too. It is all about getting them to try something different, get them excited about sailing, and then it is onwards and upwards," added French.
"There are so many kids that want to do this. Creating the opportunity is where the Junior Foiling Cup comes in, because it is accessible, and also very little cost. Here is Australia, the Nikki Australian Championship will be held alongside the International Moths next January at McCrae Yacht Club. It will be really exciting to have both of them together, and the Moth Class has been incredible with the support they have provided, including coaching. So, there is terrific harmony existing between the Classes."
"Over the last few years, and in Australia in particular, they've sort of divided it up into the foiling division and a lowriders division, which is the old scowls and skiffs, and the Nikki has the same."
A distinct global gravitas would appear to be present. What a good thing. All very cool. All very current, and on-trend. All very much making sailing appealing.
As if to highlight this, and just what a nexus foiling is, French added, "When I was over at Garda, it was just a few weeks before the Moth World Championships. So, any sailor that you could think of generally was there; Tom Slingsby, Dylan Fletcher, Iain Jensen. Big, big names come back to the Moths and really showcase what they can do. Why? Because it's so much fun. It doesn't matter what class of boat they've sailed. These sailors are from Lasers/ILCA, 49ers, Nacras, whatever it is, whether it be Olympic class or not."
"It keeps you on the top of your game, and honing those skills. In turn, it makes you a better sailor in every other form of sailing. Sure. Even Harry Melges was saying this whilst he was at Foiling Week, and then just a week later went on to be the youngest ever helmsman in the class when they won the TP52 World Championship!"
"We have such a marvellous sport, and it obviously changes with the times, but you see the J-Class boats going around and they're magnificent. They're unbelievable. Now you have AC75s, and the excitement and drama of SailGP. So, sailing covers such a wide variety of things, and it pretty much can be anything for anyone," said French.
French has got great enjoyment from it all, as I dare say have all the kids who have partaken. Perhaps this is why he is about to undertake his Australian Sailing Coach's Course, and really go to the next level with it all. "It's a lot of fun, and I do get a lot of enjoyment out of it."
Did someone say, Giddy Up!?
Please enjoy your yachting, stay safe, and thanks for tuning into Sail-World.com.
John Curnow
Sail-World.com AUS Editor