World Sailing and iQFOiL Class announce equipment change for Olympic Class

World Sailing and the iQFOiL Class are pleased to announce an evolution in the iQFOiL Olympic Class equipment, designed to foster inclusivity and enhance athlete progression.

Starting in January 2025, the women’s and men’s iQFOiL fleets will adopt new sail sizes that encourage greater accessibility and smoother transitions between youth and senior categories.

Under the newly approved changes:

Women and Youth Women will transition from the 8m² sail to a 7.3m² (new design) sail.
Men will switch from the 9m² sail to an 8m² (current Women and Youth design) sail.
Both categories will adopt the existing 490 (4.90m) mast to align with the revised sail sizes.

These updates reflect a commitment to making the iQFOiL Class more inclusive for athletes of all body sizes. The new equipment supports a more level playing field, providing a competitive platform for sailors of a greater diversity of builds from different nations and continents.

The switch also aims to create a better progression for younger athletes moving up from youth to senior categories. 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 a focus on ensuring compliance with the highest standards of performance and reliability. Athletes will debut the updated configuration at the iQFOiL International Games in Lanzarote, taking place from January 27 to February 2, 2025, marking the first official event under the new rules.

Quotes:

Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, iQFOiL Class Manager:

“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 inclusivity, fairness, and accessibility worldwide.

By creating a smoother pathway from youth to senior categories and ensuring equitable competition across genders and body types, we are taking an important step toward making iQFOiL an even more global and sustainable class.” 

Jaime Navarro, World Sailing Director of Technical and Offshore:

“The decision aims to further align the equipment with the intended weight targets that guided the selection of the iQFOiL for the Olympic Games to meet the needs of a diverse, global athlete base. These changes come at a pivotal moment, following their first Olympic cycle where we’ve gathered extensive data on performance and athlete development whilst also offering athletes stability and clarity as we move into the next cycle.”