SailGP is to add new high-speed T-Foils to its fleet of F50s in January 2025, ahead of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Auckland.
The new foils will bring faster speeds to the international fleet and provide the most competitive racing to date, said SailGP CEO Russell Coutts.
The racing championship has carried out testing over the last 18 months with the Canada SailGP Team clocking over 55 knots in a wind speed of 17 knots, the fastest-ever speed registered on an F50.
The T-Foils will replace the existing L-Foils that have been used since SailGP’s inception in 2019.
The new T-Foils are constructed from machined titanium and carbon, with thinner sections than the current L-Foils, reducing the drag at high speed.
“The addition of T-Foils next season will be a game changer for the sport and SailGP, as part of our continued evolution to produce faster and more entertaining racing,” said Russell. “Alongside the existing innovative technology onboard our F50s, the T-Foils will enable teams to have more control at high speed and better performance.
“One of the big surprises has been the increased performance when sailing upwind, approximately 5.5 km/h faster.”
I expect the light-wind foils to have an even bigger impact on our racing and the competition as a whole.
Russell Coutts
And he pointed out that the foils will also level the playing field for new teams joining the league while also creating a learning curve for the more experienced crews.
The new T-Foils have been designed to improve performance, control and safety of the F50s at high speeds.
They are also less prone to damage when subjected to high negative loads in a nose-dive which has been an issue with the original foils.
The outer tips of the T-Foils – which protrude outside the hulls – have been designed to break off in the event of a high-impact boat on boat collision.
Further testing and refinement of the T-Foils will be carried out ahead of Auckland before final adoption across the fleet.
In addition to the high-speed T-Foils, SailGP is also in the process of producing new light-wind foils, designed to ensure the F50s are able to get up onto the foils in less wind than is currently feasible.
“I expect the light-wind foils to have an even bigger impact on our racing and the competition as a whole,” explained Russell.
“It will provide faster-paced, more entertaining racing for the athletes and fans in lighter winds and provide greater certainty of racing within the targeted broadcast window – irrespective of conditions.”
SailGP’s 2025 season will see events spanning five continents.
