iQFOiL
| Type | Foiling windsurfing board (not a boat with a hull in the water) |
|---|---|
| Board | 220 x 95 cm, 196 litres volume |
| Sail area | 8 sq m (men), 7.3 sq m (women) |
| Sailor weight range | About 65-85 kg (men), 55-70 kg (women) |
| Typical sailor | Olympic-pathway windsurfers; part of the Youth National Team's six classes |
iQFOiL became the Olympic windsurfing equipment starting at the Paris 2024 Games, replacing the non-foiling RS:X. The foil lifts the board out of the water, which is a genuinely different sport to sail than a traditional displacement windsurfer: race starts at roughly 25 km/h versus the RS:X's 5 km/h, with top speeds over 60 km/h. Riders choose between two foil fuselage lengths depending on conditions, a longer one for light-wind course racing, a shorter one for stronger wind and rougher water.
History
World Sailing introduced the iQFOiL to replace the RS:X windsurfer for the Paris 2024 Olympic cycle, after Tokyo 2020. The stated aim was faster, more dynamic and more spectator-friendly racing, and Paris 2024 was its Olympic debut.
Equipment
The boards, foils and the 4.9 m mast are identical for men and women. The sail is 8 sq m for men and 7.3 sq m for women.
How it sails
The Royal Yachting Association calls it a hugely physically demanding class. The foil lifts the board clear of the water, with speeds of up to 35 knots (65 km/h).
Class and racing
Race formats include marathon races, tactical course racing and slalom sprints, with up to six races in a single day. In the medal series, the top 10 men and top 10 women after a five-day opening series race in a knockout format. The 2026 World Championship was hosted by the United Kingdom, September 7 to 12.
Checked against its sources on September 20, 2026.