Extreme Sailing in July in Barcelona

In 2013 Team USA’s Oracle, a hydrofoil fitted catamaran flew around San Francisco Bay and won the America’s Cup. By 2016, the Extreme 40, a sleek carbon fiber conventional catamaran, was replaced by the hydrofoil-equipped GC32 in the Extreme Sailing Series. These smaller, speedier GC32s will be flying along in San Diego Bay in front of Harbor Island this week. The final eighth stage of the series will be held in Los Cabos in early December.

A hydrofoil is a solid wing-shaped attachment mounted beneath a vessel that provides lift and reduces drag in the water. This allows for increased speed and less effect of ocean waves and current. Hydrofoil sailboats provide enough lift to raise the hull completely above the waterline.

This technology has had its challenges; once the hull rises, a sudden shift in wind or speed loss can dump the hull back into the water. The vessel can buck to and fro softly like a hobby-horse until it gains enough momentum to stay up on the foil. Crews have had to condition themselves to the new design; nose-dives and accidents were common as sailors adjusted. Experienced crews can fly along with the hull out of the water and twice as fast as the wind pushing them.

The course design allows for the racing to take place close enough for spectators on shore to get a good view of the action. This week’s racing will take place with the course set right along the waterfront of Harbor Island.

For fans of foil technology, airfoil will be highlighted as part of the first annual San Diego Kiteboard Invitational. The kiteboard races will be held daily at noon before the sailboat races begin at 2pm.