The Foil Podcast

This is The Foil Debrief for SailGP Geneva, recorded in the tech zone with the F50s still rolling in behind us.Andy Rice and Freddie Carr talk through a weekend that had no right to be as good as it was. Barely any breeze, big holes on the race course, boats foiling past boats that weren't – and a race committee that quietly binned the broadcast window to get two complete qualifying series and a grand final away.From there we examine the split-fleet format, brutal as ever, where thirty seconds at the back of the start box decided Emirates GBR's weekend. The stick-or-twist conversations already happening behind containers as a 14th team comes online, and a heavy hint from Martine Grael about who might be driving it.Then the final – a late, scruffy gybe that looked like it had cost SailGP's season leaders everything, and the thinking behind it that only makes sense once you hear it. Plus the third-place scrap between Artemis, USA and Emirates GBR, a broken collarbone against a six-week gap, and whether Geneva is a great venue just waiting for the wind to turn up.Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.Read more: https://thefoil.com/news/los-gallos-snatch-geneva-from-the-flying-roos/Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two SailGP driver changes, a tightening fight at the end of the Ocean Race Atlantic and big America’s Cup team news — it’s been a packed week in sailing.

Neil Cole is joined by Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Lewis Smith for episode 38 of The Foil Podcast, your independent take on sail racing, both foiling and non-foiling.

First, we unpack the spectacular Ocean Race Atlantic finish, with four very different IMOCA boats arriving within half an hour of each other. What did we learn about the new designs, why is hand steering making a comeback, and could closer racing and better onboard coverage bring back the Ocean Race’s glory days?

Then it’s SailGP ahead of Geneva. Taylor Canfield’s injury puts pressure on the USA just as their battle with Artemis and Emirates GBR heats up. We discuss the possible replacements, Martine Grael’s departure from Mubadala Brazil and what Paul Goodison taking the wheel could mean for the team. Plus, the light-wind forecast, Switzerland’s home prospects and why we could see some properly ruthless sailing.

Finally, we look ahead to AC38 and break down Australia’s sailing line-up: familiar faces, proven partnerships and a strong emphasis on team culture. Where might Kyle Langford fit into the picture? And what does Luna Rossa’s reshuffle mean for Marco Gradoni, the senior team and the next generation of Cup talent?

Who’s your pick to claim the final SailGP Grand Final spot? Let us know in the comments.

Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join00:00:00 Start
00:08:48 Ocean Race Atlantic takeaways
00:16:48 SailGP Geneva preview
00:25:31 Martine Grael leaves Brazil
00:35:52 SailGP Geneva race predictions
00:40:49 Switzerland’s home SailGP
00:44:15 Australia’s America’s Cup team
00:53:40 Luna Rossa reshuffles its team

Website: https://thefoil.com/
Instagram: @wearethefoil
Facebook: wearethefoil
Threads: @wearethefoil
LinkedIn: The Foil

Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422

Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment. Please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been a huge week for Olympic sailing, with new World Champions crowned in the ILCA 6 and IQFOiL fleets – and some intriguing signs ahead of LA 2028.

Lewis Smith and Andy Rice join Neil to break down Charlotte Rose’s dominant ILCA 6 World Championship victory, Emma Plasschaert’s remarkable consistency and the return of Annalise Murphy in Dublin Bay.

Then attention turns to Weymouth for the IQFOiL World Championships. We look at the new medal series format, Israeli dominance in the women’s fleet, a surprising result for Emma Wilson and Luuc van Opzeeland’s victory in a stacked men’s field.

Plus, what do the latest results tell us about the USA’s prospects on home waters at LA 2028? And is Olympic sailing finally finding better ways to make its racing accessible and exciting to watch?

Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join

Website: https://thefoil.com/
Instagram: @wearethefoil
Facebook: wearethefoil
Threads: @wearethefoil
LinkedIn: The Foil

Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422

Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment. Please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.

00:00:00 Start
00:00:21 ILCA 6 World Championships
00:07:30 IQFOiL World Championships
00:09:32 New IQFOiL medal format
00:10:46 Women’s IQFOiL results
00:12:45 Men’s IQFOiL results
00:15:49 Formula Kite Europeans
00:16:58 What’s next for Olympic sailing
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SailGP delivered another dramatic weekend in Valencia — but not in the way many expected.

Spain looked untouchable on Saturday, only to miss the final completely on Sunday, while the USA produced another huge result to move right back into the championship fight. We break down Taylor Canfield’s win, Australia’s costly tactical decision in the final, why Artemis may now be vulnerable, and what it all means heading towards Geneva.

Then we head offshore for the Ocean Race Atlantic, where the new generation of IMOCA boats are being pushed brutally hard across the Atlantic. Team Malizia have shown serious raw pace, but reliability issues have opened the door for the older, proven boats — with crews facing what Freddie describes as “offshore survival conditions.”

And finally, the America’s Cup faces another major political and legal question after the New York Yacht Club asked the New York Attorney General to examine whether the new America’s Cup Partnership complies with the Deed of Gift. Is this simply healthy scrutiny, or the start of a much bigger fight over the future of the Cup?

Plus, a look ahead to the IQFOiL World Championships and the ILCA 6 Worlds.

Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join

Website: https://thefoil.com/
Instagram: @wearethefoil
Facebook: wearethefoil
Threads: @wearethefoil
LinkedIn: The Foil

Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422

Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment. Please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.

00:00:00 Intro
00:03:25 SailGP Valencia venue & vibe check
00:11:03 Saturday's start box strategy
00:25:06 Artemis Racing disruptions
00:30:14 Sunday's racing "one-and-done"
00:41:03 Valencia final analysis and USA victory
00:50:18 The Ocean Race Atlantic offshore survival
00:59:35 America's Cup and NYYC dispute
01:10:06 Upcoming iQFOiL and ILCA 6 Worlds
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Foil Debrief, this first episode on Spain's shock elimination at the Spanish Sail Grand Prix – and it wasn't the only twist of the weekend.

Andy Rice and Bene Donovan run through a light-wind Valencia that saw the fleet back on the big wing and the entire regatta compressed into a single group race before the final. Spain's stunning Saturday – two wins and a second – counted for nothing once a late move for the line left them with no room and no way back.

The final had its own drama: Italy's first-ever SailGP final ended before it began after a one-second over-early start, Emirates GBR produced one of the passes of the season to slip past Artemis on the run to the bottom gate, and Australia's fight back from last to fifth kept them alive.

Up front, a tactical error at the bottom gate from Tom Slingsby opened the door for USA to snatch the event win, along with light-wind specialists USA, Italy and Denmark all making the final on a weekend practically built for them.

We also weigh up whether SailGP's proposed format change could have saved Spain, and why the current 90-minute window leaves no room for it.

Full results here: https://thefoil.com/news/usa-take-valencia-title-as-one-bad-race-ends-los-gallos-final-hopes/

Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join

Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422

#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices