THIJYS VAN DER MEER (RACE DIRECTOR)
I have set a variety of courses so far. Some have been slightly experimental but obviously with the foiling we don’t just want Formula courses, we want some more excitement with reaches as well as the upwind and downwind. I am very aware of the safety and we make the start lines compulsory starboard or port starts so we don’t have everyone crossing. Foiling is becoming a bigger discipline so we are trying to make the courses exciting, different and safe. Starting on a reach can be dangerous and all the riders requested upwind starts. We have used box courses, M courses and straight upwind and downwind. With the upwind and downwind we are trying to end on a reach at least so we have riders coming in a straight line to the finish. It is easier to see who is leading and who is not that way.
The M course was intended to be a nice course for light winds. We have gybes in the downwind part of the course so guys gybe on top of each other and block each other’s wind. This stops them from getting up on the foil. When the wind picked up I did not want to lose too much time so we kept the same course. It ended up being on the edge. Some of the riders were scared. Some actually said they would rather go out in Jaws than sail those reaches overpowered! You kind of get the drift they don’t want too many reaches in strong wind! We are still experimenting, let’s put it that way!
