iQFOiL Class earns four nominations at 2025 World Sailing Awards

iQFOiL Class earns four nominations at 2025 World Sailing Awards © iQFOiL International Class

The iQFOiL Class has been shortlisted for four 2025 World Sailing Awards. The prestigious 2025 World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Impact Award, recognized for its groundbreaking work in environmental and social sustainability.

As one of five standout global initiatives selected, the nomination highlights the class's innovative and measurable commitment to a greener future for sailing and beyond. Kuehne+Nagel Young World Sailor of the Year Award is the latest addition to the World Sailing Awards as World Sailing acknowledges and celebrates achievement at all levels of the sport. Sailors selected as nominees for the awards may represent any aspect of the sport, judging for each award is conducted by a panel comprised of independent experts representing the diversity of the entire marine industry.

The iQFOiL Class is proud to have three Youth Sailors. In the girls we have Tamar Steinberg (ISR) has enjoyed international iQFOiL success at both youth and senior level in what has been an exceptional year for the young athlete. Gold at the 2024 U23 World Championship and bronze at the 2024 European Championship was quickly followed up with gold at the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères 2025 and a silver at the 2025 iQFOiL World Championship. She is part of the powerful Israeli squadron that won two medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Gold in the Men with Tom Reuveny and Silver in the Women with Sharon Kantor. In the boys there are two sailors, both Australians, showing their great state of form going towards the 2028 Los Angeles Games and even more getting ready for their home Olympic Games in Brisbane 2032. Grae Morris following his silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Morris continued his dominance by securing his first win at a Senior international event, at the iQFOiL International Games in Cadiz and backed it up at, winning the Trofeo S.A.R Princesa Sofia. Most recently, he won the U23 iQFOiL World Championships. Grae also had an impressive 2nd at French Olympic week in Hyeres. At just 21, Morris is an incredible ambassador for sailing and a role model for young athletes, especially growing the up-and-coming iQFOiL fleet in Australia. Rory Meehan's achievements this season reflect a rare blend of talent, tenacity, and national pride as he continues to be an energetic force on the circuit. At 18 year old Rory has had a phenomenal season, recently crowned the Under-19 iQFOiL World Champion at the 2025 Youth and Junior World Championships in Brest, France, an incredible achievement against a fleet of 149 of the world's best youth windfoilers. Earlier in the season, he delivered a standout performance at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma, finishing 29th out of 111 in a truly world-class senior fleet. This result was a standout moment in his season, demonstrating that he can compete with the best Olympic-level athletes in the sport. It sits alongside his strong performances at the 2025 World Championships in Aarhus (43rd out of 117 sailors) and the Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères (35th out of 75 sailors) where he consistently held his own in elite senior fleets. He added a 2nd at domestic regattas including Sail Sydney and Sail Melbourne, both behind Paris 2024 silver medalist Grae Morris.

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The 11th Hour Racing Impact Award, now in its seventh year is World Sailing's highest recognition for sustainability. Supported by 11th Hour Racing and aligned with World Sailing's Sustainability Agenda 2030, the award celebrates outstanding projects with replicable, high-impact strategies. For 2025, its scope was expanded to acknowledge initiatives making a difference not just in reducing environmental footprints but also in enhancing social outcomes.

The iQFOiL Class, the official windsurfing equipment for the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, has set a new global benchmark. In collaboration with sustainability-driven partner Starboard, the class is the first in Olympic sailing to be 10X climate positive, meaning it offsets over ten times the carbon footprint of its equipment and international events.

A model for sustainable sport

Through Starboard's Impact Program, each iQFOiL board sold results in:

• 22 mangrove trees planted, offsetting over 10X the board's carbon footprint.
• 11.4 kg of plastic removed from the shores of Thailand and Myanmar, equivalent to the weight of the board.

But the initiative goes far beyond offsetting. The mangrove planting supports long-term coastal resilience, income generation, solar networks, and freshwater access in vulnerable communities, while also promoting environmental education. Since 2021, the class has helped plant over 155,000 mangroves, certified by VERRA.

Each event on the iQFOiL calendar is accompanied by detailed carbon footprint assessments, factoring in athlete travel and energy usage. All emissions are mitigated through the mangrove program, making every regatta a contributor to climate action, not just a consumer of resources.

The equipment itself is a testament to innovation. With a full Olympic setup producing 752.5 kg CO2e, Starboard is actively researching eco-materials like volcanic fibres and recycled nylons, and moving its production facilities toward renewable energy.

"Sports are about pushing boundaries," said Svein Rasmussen, founder of Starboard. "Thanks to our collaboration with the Worldview International Foundation, we've made the iQFOiL class a pioneer in climate-positive performance. Now we look ahead to Los Angeles 2028 with the hope that the entire Olympic Games can go beyond neutral, towards becoming a net-positive global celebration."

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Judging for the 2025 award involves both a panel of independent experts from the marine industry and public voting, introduced in 2020 to increase community engagement. The winner will receive a $10,000 USD grant and an iconic trophy crafted from recycled carbon fiber sourced from an America's Cup boat, symbolizing innovation and renewal.

Voting is now open to the public. Cast your vote for iQFOiL and help support a movement that is not only transforming sailing, but changing the narrative on what sport can do for the planet.

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