The Olympic class iQFOiL has new equipment

World Sailing and the iQFOiL class announce an evolution in the equipment of the Olympic class iQFOiL, designed to promote inclusion and improve the progression of athletes towards January 2025.

Starting in January 2025, the iQFOiL female and male fleets will adopt new sail sizes to promote greater accessibility and smoother transitions between youth and senior categories.

Here are the recently approved changes:

• Women and junior women will move from the 8 m² sail to a 7.3 m² sail (new design).
• Men will switch from the 9 m² sail to an 8 m² sail (current design for women and junior women). Both categories will adopt the existing 490 mast (4'90 m) to fit the revised sail sizes.

These innovations reflect the commitment to making the iQFOiL class more inclusive for athletes of all body types. The new equipment favors a level playing field, providing a competitive platform for sailors from a wider diversity of builds from different nations and continents.

The changes also aim to create better progression for younger athletes moving from the youth to the senior category. 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 the aim of ensuring compliance with the highest standards of performance and reliability. Athletes will debut the new equipment at the International iQFOiL Games in Lanzarote, which will take place from January 27 to February 2, 2025, marking the first official event under the new rules.

"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 inclusion, equity, and accessibility worldwide," stated Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, iQFOiL class manager.