Australian Sailing has listened to clubs, coaches and sailors and are developing foiling programs, tailored specifically for delivery at your club by qualified coaches. The Programs will enable you to experience these exciting sailing classes this season and beyond. 

The first step and at the start of your foiling journey for any sailor, windsurfer, kiteboarder or wingsurfer is to participate in a Foil-Lab; a one-day introduction to first flight on the foil, focussing on foiling fundamentals, safety, and fun.

A Foil-Lab will assist you to understand what is happening with the foil below the surface of the water, and its physical relationship with your body. Foil-Labs are delivered with a short hour-long theory session first, which is vital to understand the fundamentals, before progressing to the on-water familiarisation utilising foiling equipment and a Rib.  

If you are already a competent club sailor in any non-foiling class, and you are curious about foiling, or just wish to expand your knowledge and skills, then a Foil-Lab is for you!  

Once you have participated in a Foil-Lab, and have decided that you want to continue your foiling journey, the next decision is, which foiling class, you may wish to pursue, existing classes at your local club could determine this choice, as well as local opportunities for skill development through club coaching programs. 

As part of the recently released Club Participation Programs, Australian Sailing is developing a suite of coaching programs and supporting resources for clubs and their coaches to deliver the ongoing development of foiling for members, from Foil-Labs through to your chosen foiling discipline and into club racing, in either Wind-Foil, Kite-Foil, Sail-Foil or Wing-Foil classes.  

The coaching programs will be structured as development appropriate stages for each discipline, ranging from a transition program, through to green-fleet, intermediate-fleet and advanced-fleet offerings, and will be available this summer. 

Many clubs around the country have already begun to deliver foiling opportunities to allow their members to experience foiling. Clubs have purchased club owned foiling equipment which is highly suitable for the delivery of Foil-Labs, coaching programs and the soon to be released Australian Sailing Learn to Wing course. In addition, to support clubs and their members further, Australian Sailing has gone to tender for the provision of accessible foiling equipment which can be utilised by clubs and their members this season. 

Foiling is one of many ways in which to help grow the sport of sailing, by increasing and diversifying the offerings of clubs, growing participation options for members, providing retention opportunities and inspiring coaches. 

If you are keen to try foiling this season, speak to your club about participating in a Foil-Lab and start to fly this summer! 

The development of the Australian Sailing Foiling Program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.