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56 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Could sailing be dropped from the Olympics? | The Foil Podcast Ep 45
4 november 2026 · 55 min
Could sailing lose its place in the Olympics—and what needs to change to keep it there? Lees meer
Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Neil Cole debate the future of Olympic sailing: the pressure to attract viewers, the cost of staging competition, and the difficult choices facing the sport ahead of Brisbane 2032.
Should reliable racing matter more than spectacular boats? Could SailGP’s broadcast expertise help? And do viewers care about the equipment—or are they simply cheering for their country, even if it’s playing tiddlywinks?
We discuss ILCA, 49er and 49erFX, iQFOiL, Formula Kite, Nacra 17 and the mixed 470, plus the case for wingfoiling and a mixed keelboat event.
Which classes would make YOUR Olympic sailing line-up? Tell us in the comments.
00:00 Adapt or die: the opening debate00:38 Why the next six months matter08:16 What Olympic sailing needs to deliver22:06 Better broadcasts—and what SailGP could bring34:57 Which sailing classes should stay?45:00 Our dream Olympic sailing line-ups
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Route du Rhum 2026 preview: the biggest solo race in the world | The Foil Podcast Ep 44
29 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
What makes the Route du Rhum one of offshore sailing’s great spectacles? Lees meer
Marcus Hutchinson joins Neil Cole and Andy Rice for a Route du Rhum special, exploring the history, personalities and high stakes of racing solo across the Atlantic from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe.
From the dramatic first edition and the storms of 2002 to the latest foiling giants, we look at why this race means so much in France—and who to watch this time. Andy shares his experience aboard Gitana 18, while Marcus weighs up the Ultim and IMOCA contenders, the importance of preparation, and the hazards of racing at extraordinary speeds.
We also discuss offshore sailing’s sponsorship model, collision-avoidance technology, the enduring appeal of older boats, and how to follow the action.
00:00 Coming Up and Introductions
06:08 The Route du Rhum Explained
09:34 Origins of French Offshore Racing
16:03 Dramatic Finishes and Sailing Sponsorship
26:18 Storms, Rescues and Remarkable Returns
33:00 Aboard Gitana 18
37:36 Ultim Contenders and Collision Risks
46:52 IMOCA and Other Class Contenders
56:16 Why Winners Still Need Sponsors
58:13 Following the Race and FarewellsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Loïck Peyron: tales from eight Routes du Rhum | Off Diary
27 oktober 2026 · 52 min
What happens when your trimaran breaks apart in an Atlantic storm—and your first instinct is to sleep? Lees meer
Loïck Peyron joins Freddie and Andy on The Foil Off Diary to tell the extraordinary stories behind his eight Route du Rhum appearances, from his first crossing aged 22 to his record-breaking victory in 2014.
Loïck recounts the destruction of Fujifilm during the 2002 race, his dramatic rescue by a cargo ship, and the unexpected phone call that brought him back to win aboard Banque Populaire VII twelve years later.
Along the way, we explore Éric Tabarly’s influence, the emotional reunion with his father at the finish of his first Rhum, and what it takes to manoeuvre a giant Ultim trimaran alone. Loïck also reflects on sailing Happy with a sextant, the value of fear, and why offshore adventure captures imaginations far beyond the sailing world.
Which Loïck story stayed with you? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe to The Foil for more sailing
00:00 Tabarly and the Route du Rhum’s origins
06:03 2002: Storm, survival and rescue aboard Fujifilm
20:05 1982: His first Rhum and family reunion
26:43 2014: The unexpected Banque Populaire call-up
32:47 2014: Handling an Ultim and claiming victory
40:40 2016–2018: Rediscovering adventure aboard classic boats
44:43 Sailing’s cultural impact and environmental legacyBecome a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join
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Does SailGP have an age problem? | The Foil Podcast Ep 43
21 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Does SailGP have an age problem — or an opportunity problem? Lees meer
This week on The Foil Podcast, Neil Cole, Freddie Carr and Andy Rice take on Russell Coutts’s challenge to the sport’s established stars. Experience wins races, but how does the next generation get a chance to prove itself? The team debate age rules, development pathways and whether SailGP needs a feeder series.
Andy has also been up close with Ferrari Hypersail — an “outsized Batmobile” with ambitions to rewrite offshore sailing. From solar panels to winch technology, he explains why this could be the most exciting boat of its generation.
Then it’s over to Pensacola, where SailGP’s new training operation could change the game. More time on an F50 means proper testing, opportunities for reserves and nowhere to hide when the performance data comes in. Could this be the breakthrough young sailors have been waiting for?
Plus: your overwhelming response to our foiling versus displacement poll, Freddie enjoys a Bermuda Gold Cup prediction coming good, and Andy reports back from the Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Should SailGP make room for younger sailors through the rules, or should teams simply pick their fastest crew? Let us know in the comments.
Episode 43 is brought to you by Musto. Explore the collection at https://www.musto.com
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TP52 Season Review 2026: winners, wobbles and what’s next | The Foil Debrief
16 oktober 2026 · 36 min
Our 2026 52 Super Series season review, with on-the-water reporter Katie Dabson and Super Series veteran Simon ‘Stir Fry’ joining Freddie Carr to talk through a record-breaking year.Sixteen boats from 11 nations lined up in Valencia, the biggest fleet in 52 Super Series history, after a season that served up everything from survival conditions in Lanzarote to sub-eight-knot drifters. So where does 2026 rank for a man who has raced 104 of the circuit’s 107 regattas – and how did a season tipped as a five- or six-boat scrap end up as a two-boat fight between Platoon and Sled?The three run through all five events: Sled’s masthead heroics in Puerto Portals, Trinity Racing’s remarkable debut at the Worlds in Porto Cervo, Paprec’s long-awaited breakthrough in the Rubicon breeze, the Puerto Calero regatta that turned the season on its head, and the Valencia showdown, where a title fight in a record fleet turned into a match race.Katie brings a spreadsheet stat that explains more than any single race win, while Stir Fry makes the case for why 50-footers still hold a magic all of their own – and reckons he knows how many boats have got it in them to win next season.Read more: https://thefoil.com/news/platoon-aviation-s-consistency-seals-a-classic-52-super-series-season/Freddie’s pre-season rundown of the fleet: https://thefoil.com/news/freddie-carr-s-season-preview-52-super-series-2026/Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #52SuperSeries
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Has technology ruined sailing? | The Foil Podcast Ep 42
14 oktober 2026 · 1 uur
Has technology ruined sailing? That’s the question on The Foil Podcast episode 42, as Neil Cole, Freddie Carr and Andy Rice take on the foiling tech vs old-school sailing debate that’s dividing our comments section. Lees meer
When we launched The Foil, we assumed SailGP and the America's Cup would be our bread and butter. Then Cowes Week 200 happened, and the Mini Maxis, Wally 100s and 52 Super Series started matching them for views and comments. So what’s going on?
Freddie, fresh from the J Class in St Tropez and the 52 Super Series finale in Valencia, makes the case for proper sail trimming. The team picks apart positional feedback on the AC75, whether LiDAR should be allowed in the TP52 fleet, Northstar’s rethink of the IRC rule and the growing chasm between grassroots racing and the top of the sport. There’s also an off-the-record remark from a Cup team boss that’ll raise a few eyebrows.
Shona Gibson then joins to bring the news round-up: a revamped Bermuda Gold Cup with four female helms, 1,858 boats at the Barcolana in Trieste, 40-knot runs at the Sardinia Kiteboard Grand Slam, the 52 Super Series title decider and a preview of the Rolex Middle Sea Race. And Andy checks in from Pisa, on his way to Ferrari Hypersail – armed with Freddie’s questions.
Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join
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Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422
#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #AmericasCup
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Ewan McGregor goes offshore, America's Cup Q&A & match racing dominance | The Foil Podcast Ep 41
7 oktober 2026 · 41 min
The Foil Podcast is brought to you by Musto. Lees meer
This week on The Foil Podcast, Neil is joined by Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Shona Gibson for a packed episode covering everything from Ewan McGregor's transatlantic sailing adventure to the latest debates surrounding the America's Cup, SailGP and offshore racing.
The team discusses whether Ewan McGregor's voyage from Scotland to Brazil is a celebrity gimmick or a genuine offshore challenge that could help push sailing further into the mainstream.
We also dive into your questions and comments following the recent America's Cup action, including the growing divide between traditional sailing and the high-speed foiling world, whether augmented reality could find its way into sailing, AC40 vs SailGP racing and just how much America's Cup knowledge moves between rival teams.
Plus, Shona and Andy look back at Pauline Courtois' dominant Women's Match Racing World Championship victory in San Francisco, before discussing the incredibly close Offshore Double Handed World Championship — and whether offshore racing could eventually find its way into the Olympic Games.
And finally, we look ahead to what's coming next across The Foil, including the latest from the 52 Super Series and the growing Switch fleet.
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00:00 Ewan McGregor takes on the Atlantic
03:56 Live from the 52 Super Series
04:35 America's Cup & SailGP Q&A
19:00 Women's Match Racing World Championship
27:16 Offshore Double Handed World Championship
34:15 What's next in the sailing world?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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What the America's Cup warm-up events could count for - The Foil Debrief
30 september 2026 · 31 min
Mozzy's back. He's spent the summer on the beach sailing a Mirror, but the America's Cup has “summoned” him back “like a demon from the deep”, and he's brought some opinions with him. Lees meer
He thinks the two AC40 preliminary regattas “mean pretty much nothing”, so he has ideas to change that: extra wind tunnel time, extra budget, or testing development foils on the racecourse. Freddie has raced when a warm-up series point was “worth tens of millions of pounds”, so he knows what it's like when these events really count.
They also get into the racing in Naples. Luna Rossa won seven of 11 races with a newly formed crew, Peter Burling took on the Kiwis in the final, the French found a new gear, the mid-fleet battle was tight, and it was a tough weekend for GB1 and GB2. Plus, Mozzy on when the AC75 foil season finally kicks off.
What would you make the teams race for? Let us know in the comments.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:48 Naples as a great Cup venue
03:07 What could the warm-up events count for?
06:57 Luna Rossa technical review
09:56 Luna Rossa team picks
17:05 ETNZ second to third best
18:58 French punching above their weight
20:10 44-point teams
22:09 What will GB1 and GB2 take away?
25:07 AC75 Relevance
27:03 OutroBecome a member now: / @wearethefoil
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Not everyone left Naples smiling | The Foil Podcast Ep 40
30 september 2026 · 52 min
Naples brought the crowds, the drama and a taste of what next year’s America’s Cup could deliver. But how much did we really learn from the preliminary regatta? Lees meer
Neil Cole, Andy Rice, Lewis Smith and Shona Gibson break down the weekend: the atmosphere on the waterfront, what the results tell us about the teams, and why getting a reliable boat onto the racecourse is still part of the competition.
Then we head to Lorient, where Andy explores the heart of French offshore racing ahead of the Route du Rhum. Could Gitana 18 really cover 1,000 nautical miles in a day?
Plus: the World Sailing Inclusion Championships, the Women’s Match Racing Worlds in San Francisco, Lewis’s visit to Oliver Heer Racing, and the debate over offshore sailing’s Olympic ambitions. Could round-the-clock coverage bring new fans to the sport—or do cameras on board come at a cost?
What was your biggest takeaway from Naples? Let us know in the comments.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Coming Up & Welcome
03:47 Naples: Ready for America’s Cup?
08:32 What Did We Learn?
23:57 Who Impressed? Who Must Improve?
29:49 Lorient, Gitana & Offshore Racing
35:22 World Sailing Inclusion Championships
36:02 Women’s Match Racing Worlds
40:10 Inside Oliver Heer Racing
41:14 Offshore Racing’s Olympic Ambitions
46:50 Sailing’s Big Brother Cameras
Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join
Website: https://thefoil.com/
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#TheFoil #AmericasCup #Sailing #RouteDuRhum #WomensSailing
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Who made a statement in Naples? | The Foil Debrief
27 september 2026 · 20 min
Luna Rossa finish Naples in style—but what did we learn about the rest of the America’s Cup fleet? Lees meer
Andy Rice and Shona Gibson break down the final day, from Luna Rossa’s commanding match-race win over Emirates Team New Zealand to France’s impressive pace and costly capsizes.
We also unpack the extraordinary four-way tie on 44 points, the women’s and youth teams’ performances, and a difficult week for the British. Plus: what does Naples promise as a venue for next year’s America’s Cup?
CHAPTERS
00:00 Luna Rossa dominate Naples
00:46 Luna Rossa’s young talent delivers
02:02 How the final slipped away from New Zealand
03:44 France: speed, capsizes and a missed opportunity
05:36 Four teams tied! USA take fourth
07:04 New Zealand win the women’s and youth battle
08:29 Alinghi: seventh tells only part of the story
09:30 GB1: were we judging them too harshly?
10:44 GB2 finish last—and what this means for Britain
13:20 Naples verdict: a taste of next year’s America’s CupWho impressed you most in Naples—and which team has the most work to do? Let us know in the comments.
Subscribe to The Foil for more sailing analysis, interviews and our review podcast.
#AmericasCup #LunaRossa #Sailing
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France win, capsize, win again on Day 2 in Naples | The Foil Debrief
26 september 2026 · 10 min
A win, a capsize, then another win. La Roche-Posay gave us the full rollercoaster on Day 2 of the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, recovering from their second capsize in two days to finish on a high. Lees meer
Andy and Shona unpack four thrilling races, from Nathan Outteridge putting Luna Rossa under pressure at the start to Emirates Team New Zealand’s Women & Youth crew taking a memorable victory.
We look at the battle for the final, ARC Team USA’s strong starts and costly penalties, and why even Luna Rossa can struggle when caught in the pack. Plus, what the onboard audio reveals about staying calm when everything is happening at speed.
Who will make the final? Let us know your predictions in the comments.
00:00 France’s Capsize And Remarkable Comeback01:28 Outteridge Puts Luna Rossa Under Pressure02:42 Standings, USA’s Starts And Costly Penalties03:57 Luna Rossa Caught In The Pack04:43 Onboard Audio: Calm Amid The Chaos06:33 Who Will Reach The Final?
Subscribe to The Foil for more sailing analysis, interviews and updates from Naples.
#AmericasCup #Sailing #TheFoil
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What day 1 in Naples told us about the pecking order | The Foil Debrief
25 september 2026 · 8 min
Andy Rice and Shona Gibson break down the opening day of AC40 racing in the Bay of Naples.Day one at the second Preliminary Regatta of the 38th America’s Cup began with crews falling off the foils and hiking to keep the boats flat, and ended with them almost overpowered. The organisers' decision to stretch the broadcast window paid off with two race for the America’s Cup fleet.Andy and Shona pick through the drama, starting with the French team's OCS at the start of race two and the nosedive and capsize that followed. They look at how Tudor Team Alinghi bounced back from a tough opener with Pete Burling and Marco Gradoni's Luna Rossa senior crew pressing all the way round. They also explain why a two-board leeward gate rounding might not be the 'training wheels' move it appears to be.The debrief also covers ARC USA's contrasting fortunes, a quietly consistent day for Emirates Team New Zealand, and a standout showing from the GB2 Women & Youth crew featuring Hannah Mills and Olympic champion Ellie Aldridge. There is some head-scratching for Dylan Fletcher and GB1, and a look ahead at the forecast for the four races planned tomorrow.Read more: https://thefoil.com/news/home-favourites-in-front-after-a-waiting-game-in-naples/Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #AmericasCup
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Why the Naples preliminary regatta counts - The Foil Podcast - Ep 39
23 september 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
Nine months to the America’s Cup—and plenty to settle on and off the water. Lees meer
Neil Cole, Andy Rice and Freddie Carr welcome Shona Gibson to The Foil Podcast for episode 39, covering:
⛵ SailGP Geneva: light-air racing, behind-the-scenes paddock access and the battle for the final Grand Final spot.
🇮🇹 The road to Naples: what the AC40 regatta can tell us about the next America’s Cup, the team line-ups, women and youth taking on established stars, and the challenges of the racecourse.
⚖️ Another America’s Cup legal battle: the dispute between North Sails and Emirates Team New Zealand over sail technology, inventorship and ownership.
🏆 The inaugural New York Yacht Club International Women’s Championship: Shona shares her experience competing, the depth of talent across the fleet and what the event means for women’s keelboat sailing.
Who are you backing in Naples? Let us know in the comments.
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LinkedIn: The Foil
00:00 Episode Highlights
01:00 Meet Shona Gibson
03:00 SailGP Geneva and Grand Final Battle
08:57 Naples AC40 Preview: Teams and Stakes
34:36 Does AC40 Success Predict Cup Performance?
36:34 America’s Cup Sponsorship and Race Calendar
40:17 Naples Course: Wind, Waves and Tactics
44:30 North Sails–Team New Zealand Patent Dispute
51:49 New York Yacht Club Women’s Championship
59:53 Women’s Match Racing and Closing Stories
Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422
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Five more knots and this is the best event on the circuit | Geneva SailGP Debrief
20 september 2026 · 23 min
This is The Foil Debrief for SailGP Geneva, recorded in the tech zone with the F50s still rolling in behind us.Andy Rice and Freddie Carr talk through a weekend that had no right to be as good as it was. Barely any breeze, big holes on the race course, boats foiling past boats that weren't – and a race committee that quietly binned the broadcast window to get two complete qualifying series and a grand final away.From there we examine the split-fleet format, brutal as ever, where thirty seconds at the back of the start box decided Emirates GBR's weekend. The stick-or-twist conversations already happening behind containers as a 14th team comes online, and a heavy hint from Martine Grael about who might be driving it.Then the final – a late, scruffy gybe that looked like it had cost SailGP's season leaders everything, and the thinking behind it that only makes sense once you hear it. Plus the third-place scrap between Artemis, USA and Emirates GBR, a broken collarbone against a six-week gap, and whether Geneva is a great venue just waiting for the wind to turn up.Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.Read more: https://thefoil.com/news/los-gallos-snatch-geneva-from-the-flying-roos/Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP
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SailGP loses two drivers in a week: Canfield injured, Martine Grael out - The Foil Podcast - Ep 38
17 september 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
Two SailGP driver changes, a tightening fight at the end of the Ocean Race Atlantic and big America’s Cup team news — it’s been a packed week in sailing. Lees meer
Neil Cole is joined by Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Lewis Smith for episode 38 of The Foil Podcast, your independent take on sail racing, both foiling and non-foiling.
First, we unpack the spectacular Ocean Race Atlantic finish, with four very different IMOCA boats arriving within half an hour of each other. What did we learn about the new designs, why is hand steering making a comeback, and could closer racing and better onboard coverage bring back the Ocean Race’s glory days?
Then it’s SailGP ahead of Geneva. Taylor Canfield’s injury puts pressure on the USA just as their battle with Artemis and Emirates GBR heats up. We discuss the possible replacements, Martine Grael’s departure from Mubadala Brazil and what Paul Goodison taking the wheel could mean for the team. Plus, the light-wind forecast, Switzerland’s home prospects and why we could see some properly ruthless sailing.
Finally, we look ahead to AC38 and break down Australia’s sailing line-up: familiar faces, proven partnerships and a strong emphasis on team culture. Where might Kyle Langford fit into the picture? And what does Luna Rossa’s reshuffle mean for Marco Gradoni, the senior team and the next generation of Cup talent?
Who’s your pick to claim the final SailGP Grand Final spot? Let us know in the comments.
Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join00:00:00 Start
00:08:48 Ocean Race Atlantic takeaways
00:16:48 SailGP Geneva preview
00:25:31 Martine Grael leaves Brazil
00:35:52 SailGP Geneva race predictions
00:40:49 Switzerland’s home SailGP
00:44:15 Australia’s America’s Cup team
00:53:40 Luna Rossa reshuffles its teamWebsite: https://thefoil.com/
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New format and a 20-year wait ends - iQFOiL & ILCA 6 Worlds ‘26 | The Foil Debrief
15 september 2026 · 21 min
It’s been a huge week for Olympic sailing, with new World Champions crowned in the ILCA 6 and IQFOiL fleets – and some intriguing signs ahead of LA 2028. Lees meer
Lewis Smith and Andy Rice join Neil to break down Charlotte Rose’s dominant ILCA 6 World Championship victory, Emma Plasschaert’s remarkable consistency and the return of Annalise Murphy in Dublin Bay.
Then attention turns to Weymouth for the IQFOiL World Championships. We look at the new medal series format, Israeli dominance in the women’s fleet, a surprising result for Emma Wilson and Luuc van Opzeeland’s victory in a stacked men’s field.
Plus, what do the latest results tell us about the USA’s prospects on home waters at LA 2028? And is Olympic sailing finally finding better ways to make its racing accessible and exciting to watch?
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Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment. Please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.
00:00:00 Start
00:00:21 ILCA 6 World Championships
00:07:30 IQFOiL World Championships
00:09:32 New IQFOiL medal format
00:10:46 Women’s IQFOiL results
00:12:45 Men’s IQFOiL results
00:15:49 Formula Kite Europeans
00:16:58 What’s next for Olympic sailing
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Does the America's Cup partnership actually break its own rules? Ep 37
9 september 2026 · 1 uur 15 min
SailGP delivered another dramatic weekend in Valencia — but not in the way many expected. Lees meer
Spain looked untouchable on Saturday, only to miss the final completely on Sunday, while the USA produced another huge result to move right back into the championship fight. We break down Taylor Canfield’s win, Australia’s costly tactical decision in the final, why Artemis may now be vulnerable, and what it all means heading towards Geneva.
Then we head offshore for the Ocean Race Atlantic, where the new generation of IMOCA boats are being pushed brutally hard across the Atlantic. Team Malizia have shown serious raw pace, but reliability issues have opened the door for the older, proven boats — with crews facing what Freddie describes as “offshore survival conditions.”
And finally, the America’s Cup faces another major political and legal question after the New York Yacht Club asked the New York Attorney General to examine whether the new America’s Cup Partnership complies with the Deed of Gift. Is this simply healthy scrutiny, or the start of a much bigger fight over the future of the Cup?
Plus, a look ahead to the IQFOiL World Championships and the ILCA 6 Worlds.
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Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment. Please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:25 SailGP Valencia venue & vibe check
00:11:03 Saturday's start box strategy
00:25:06 Artemis Racing disruptions
00:30:14 Sunday's racing "one-and-done"
00:41:03 Valencia final analysis and USA victory
00:50:18 The Ocean Race Atlantic offshore survival
00:59:35 America's Cup and NYYC dispute
01:10:06 Upcoming iQFOiL and ILCA 6 Worlds
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The Foil Debrief: Valencia SailGP's biggest shock
6 september 2026 · 16 min
Welcome to The Foil Debrief, this first episode on Spain's shock elimination at the Spanish Sail Grand Prix – and it wasn't the only twist of the weekend. Lees meer
Andy Rice and Bene Donovan run through a light-wind Valencia that saw the fleet back on the big wing and the entire regatta compressed into a single group race before the final. Spain's stunning Saturday – two wins and a second – counted for nothing once a late move for the line left them with no room and no way back.
The final had its own drama: Italy's first-ever SailGP final ended before it began after a one-second over-early start, Emirates GBR produced one of the passes of the season to slip past Artemis on the run to the bottom gate, and Australia's fight back from last to fifth kept them alive.
Up front, a tactical error at the bottom gate from Tom Slingsby opened the door for USA to snatch the event win, along with light-wind specialists USA, Italy and Denmark all making the final on a weekend practically built for them.
We also weigh up whether SailGP's proposed format change could have saved Spain, and why the current 90-minute window leaves no room for it.
Full results here: https://thefoil.com/news/usa-take-valencia-title-as-one-bad-race-ends-los-gallos-final-hopes/
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Los Gallos’ home weekend in Valencia, and The Ocean Race Atlantic's biggest risk-takers - The Foil Podcast - Ep 36
2 september 2026 · 1 uur 16 min
Episode 36 of The Foil Podcast is live, and this week there’s a lot to cover – SailGP heading to Valencia for the first time, a full breakdown of Los Gallos' stellar season, The Ocean Race Atlantic underway, a title race shake-up in the TP52 Super Series after Lanzarote, and a shock finish at the ILCA 7 World Championships. Lees meer
Neil Cole, Freddie Carr and Andy Rice open with Valencia – a city with serious America's Cup pedigree, host of the 2007 Cup and the 2010 Deed of Gift match – and work through why its reliable sea breeze could produce a tight, sea wall-hugging start box for SailGP this weekend.
From there it's a proper deep dive into Spain's home team, Los Gallos: the downwind speed nobody else can match, the crew combinations behind Diego Botín and Florian Trittel, a team culture built on equal pay and no egos, and the story of a turnaround from crisis to championship contenders under Tony Alcázar and Hamish Willcox. There's also a look at who's chasing Artemis for that grand final spot before switching to offshore racing.
The Ocean Race Atlantic fleet have just departed out of New York, with the guys weighing up the radical new-build Malizia 4 and DMG Mori against proven offshore campaigners – and what onboard steering wheels and Starlink reporting mean for the sport. The Foil's Lewis Smith then joins to unpack a dramatic Men's Laser [ILCA 7, if you must] World Championships finish in Dún Laoghaire, a new scoring format, and the build-up to the Women's Laser [ILCA 6] Worlds, including a comeback by Ireland's own Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy.
Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422
00:00 Intro
03:11 SailGP heads to Valencia
08:43 Why Spain are so strong
28:41 The championship battle & Valencia predictions
34:16 The Ocean Race Atlantic Preview
43:16 New vs proven IMOCA designs
51:32 Who wins The Ocea… -
Why Australia are 'the best SailGP team ever' - The Foil Podcast - Ep 35
26 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
SailGP delivered another spectacular weekend in Sassnitz, with record-breaking speeds, a packed German crowd and a championship battle that is getting tighter with every event. Lees meer
This week on The Foil Podcast, Freddie Carr, Andy Rice and Neil Cole look back at a German Sail Grand Prix where the F50s reached an incredible 58 knots and France set a new benchmark for racing speed. We look at what made the boats so fast, the conditions that produced some of the most spectacular racing of the season and why Sassnitz is quickly establishing itself as one of SailGP's standout venues.
On the water, Australia continued their remarkable run of form and strengthened their position at the top of the championship, while Canada produced exactly the result they needed to keep their Grand Final hopes alive. With GBR, USA, France and Canada now fighting over what could be a crucial fourth Grand Final position, the battle behind the championship leaders is becoming one of the biggest stories of the season.
We also look at the struggles facing Emirates GBR, whether the Grand Final should feature three or four boats, the increasingly fine margins separating SailGP's leading teams and the latest developments from the America's Cup.
00:00 Intro & Sassnitz Reaction
06:00 SailGP's Development Teams & Transfer Market
14:00 Record-Breaking Speeds in Sassnitz
22:35 Saturday's Racing
35:22 Sunday's Racing & Brutal Conditions
42:55 Canada Keep Their Season Alive
50:15 The Sassnitz Final
54:06 Australia Dominate & The Championship Battle
56:42 Three or Four Boats in the Grand Final?
1:04:54 America's Cup & Sailing NewsBecome a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join
Website: https://thefoil.com/
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Crunch time for the chasing pack as SailGP heads to Sassnitz - The Foil Podcast - Ep 34
19 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
SailGP heads back to Sassnitz, a venue that produced some of the most chaotic racing of last season — and this time the stakes are even higher. Lees meer
This week on The Foil Podcast, Freddie Carr, Andy Rice and Neil Cole look ahead to the Germany Sail Grand Prix and a weekend that could prove pivotal in the Season 6 championship. They revisit last year's dramatic crashes, break down one of the biggest and fastest racecourses on the calendar, and discuss why the unusual start box and split fleets could make Sassnitz particularly unpredictable.
Attention also turns to the increasingly tight battle for the Grand Final. Spain and Australia are setting the pace, Artemis continue to quietly accumulate points, the USA have made a remarkable step forward, while defending champions Emirates GBR desperately need to stop their recent run of poor results. For France and Canada, Sassnitz could already be a do-or-die weekend.
Plus, we discuss whether SailGP should commit to a four-boat Grand Final, the Black Foils' chances of making an impact in Germany, and the latest from the America's Cup as Emirates Team New Zealand return to high-wind AC75 testing — with some ominously confident messages coming from the defenders.
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Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment. Please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.
00:00 Intro
02:10 SailGP Returns to Sassnitz
07:21 Germany SailGP Team Deep Dive
26:32 The Sassnitz Racecourse Explained
36:53 The SailGP Championship Battle
43:28 France & Canada’s Do-or-Die Weekend
47:48 Three or Four Boats in the Grand Final?
50:43 Our Sassnitz Predictions
52:29 America’s Cup: New Zealand Getting Faster?
56:02 Around the Sailing World
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The six American sailors chosen to take back the Cup - The Foil Podcast - Ep 33
12 augustus 2026 · 52 min
The America's Cup teams are taking shape, and this week there are some fascinating new names entering the picture. Lees meer
Lewis Smith, Andy Rice and Neil Cole look at the newly announced United States America's Cup crew, the strong crossover with the US SailGP Team and one particularly notable omission: Taylor Canfield. Could he still join the campaign, and how much catching up does the new American challenger have to do before Naples?
There’s also a major development for GBR with Jemima Lines confirmed as the fifth sailor aboard the AC75, before attention turns to LA 2028. With Olympic sailors getting their first proper taste of the waters off Los Angeles, we look at what they’re already learning about the venue, some impressive early performances and the sailors attempting to balance Olympic campaigns with SailGP and America's Cup commitments.
Plus, Andy pays tribute to legendary sailing photographer Carlo Borlenghi, and we catch up on the latest from the 470 Worlds and the Round Britain and Ireland Race.
This episode is brought to you by Saily, the eSIM built by the team behind NordVPN. Available across more than 200 destinations, with plans flexible enough for a weekend away or a full season chasing the SailGP circuit – no SIM swap, no roaming bill shock, no wandering foreign airports hunting for Wi-Fi. We use Saily ourselves when travelling to events, like we’ll be doing in Sassnitz next week. Download Saily from the app store and use code FOIL15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase. https://saily.com
00:00:00 Start
00:02:05 Cowes Week reflections and recovery
00:03:57 United States America's Cup crew announcement
00:15:56 Jemima Lines joins GB1 America's Cup crew
00:23:31 Remembering iconic sailing photographer Carlo Borlenghi
00:29:02 Get 15% off Saily eSim
00:30:15 LA Olympic test event insights
00:44:01 470 Worlds and Solent racing round-upBecome a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join
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The past, present and future of sailing - The Foil Podcast Live - Ep 32
4 augustus 2026 · 47 min
Episode 32 of the Foil Podcast celebrates the 200th anniversary of Cowes Week, diving deep into the rich history, vibrant present, and promising future of sailing. Lees meer
Join Neil Cole, Andy Rice and Freddie Carr as they discuss the significance of the iconic regatta with seasoned sailor Simon 'Stir Fry', who shares insights from the 'golden days' of sailing and the potential rebirth of the Admiral's Cup.
Freddie highlights the exciting developments in Grand Prix sailing and the impact of events like SailGP on the sport's evolution, while Andy chats with Olympic sailor Elliot Hanson about balancing professional sailing and Olympic aspirations.
Young talent, Katy Jenkins, represents the future of sailing and discusses her journey with the Athena Pathway and her first experience at Cowes Week.
Lastly, Dan Fielding tells The Foil about the wonderful work of Turn to Starboard, a UK-based sailing charity that helps military veterans.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:35 200 years of Cowes Week
04:37 Simon 'Stir Fy' and sailing's past
18:20 Elliot Hanson and the present of sailing
29:42 Katy Jenkins and the future of the sport
35:02 Dan Fielding and Turn to Starboard
41:22 OutroBecome a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join
Website: https://thefoil.com/
Instagram: @wearethefoil
Facebook: wearethefoil
Threads: @wearethefoil
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Has SailGP cracked the code? Our Portsmouth verdict - The Foil Podcast - Ep 31
29 juli 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
Portsmouth had everything. Lees meer
A packed grandstand, eleven races, changing conditions and another dramatic twist in the Season 6 championship. It was an event that showcased just how far SailGP has come, both on and off the water.
This week on The Foil Podcast, Freddie Carr, Andy Rice, Lewis Smith and Neil Cole discuss why Portsmouth felt like a milestone for the championship, whether the split fleet format has finally proved itself, and why the four-boat final is becoming one of the highlights of every event. They also look at Canada’s impressive resurgence, Australia’s costly mistakes, Emirates GBR’s disappointing home regatta and Spain’s remarkable run of form that has blown the championship race wide open.
With the end of the season in sight, is a clear top five beginning to emerge, and has SailGP finally found the format that brings out the very best racing?
The Foil is your independent home for sailing analysis, interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage from SailGP, the America’s Cup and elite sailing.
Subscribe for new episodes every week.
Listen on podcast platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422
#SailGP #TheFoil #Portsmouth #Sailing #AmericasCup #F50 #EmiratesGBR #Spain #LosGallos
Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join
Website: https://thefoil.com/
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Facebook: wearethefoil
Threads: @wearethefoil
LinkedIn: The FoilThanks for watching - please like, share and comment. Please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.
00:00 Portsmouth Delivers
07:09 Split Fleets & Four-Boat Finals
15:36 Saturday Racing Analysis
25:26 Sunday Qualifying Drama
35:52 Canada's Resurgence
42:11 Emirates GBR's Home Event
45:58 The Portsmouth Final
54:03 The SailGP Championship & Calendar Rumours
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The Foil Podcast Live: SailGP Portsmouth - Ep 30
28 juli 2026 · 47 min
The Foil takes over Musto’s flagship ’Lighthouse’ store in Portsmouth for the team's first-ever live and in-person podcast. Lees meer
Following on from a breezy and high calibre Saturday of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP event in Portsmouth we talk all things SailGP in front of a live audience. We’ll review what went down on day one of SailGP and look ahead to Sunday’s racing. We’ll make our usual wacky predictions, answer your questions and have a right good natter.
The Foil's Lewis Smith stands in for the podcast's usual host, Neil Cole, and shares the mic with senior contributors Andy Rice and Freddie Carr.
Website: http://thefoil.com/
Twitter: @wearethefoil
Instagram: @wearethefoil
Facebook: wearethefoilThanks for watching - please like, share and comment, please also hit subscribe to show your support so we'll keep doing what we're doing.
https://www.thefoil.com
Thumbnail image credit: Jason Ludlow / SailGP
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All you need to know before SailGP Portsmouth - The Foil Podcast - Ep 29
22 juli 2026 · 54 min
Episode 29 previews SailGP Portsmouth – the eighth event of SailGP season six – from every angle. Andy Rice goes over his conversation with Ben Ainslie this week: the reset the champions are after following an Americas leg bookended by disaster, comms that aren't as tight as last year, Stu Bithell stepping into big shoes, and the questions hanging over the back end of the season.Freddie Carr considers the crowd to be a genuine performance factor, drawn from standing on a boat in front of a packed Portsmouth grandstand himself, and reckons Emirates GBR will enjoy the pressure rather than crack under it.Then looking at the racecourse itself – thermals off Southsea, Spitbank Fort and bollards inside the boundaries, the peculiar course shape that shuts down the slingshot start, a 300-metre first reach, an east-going tide and the bottom gate that decided last year's event final.Plus: Lewis Smith's scoop on the group reorder, split fleets looking set to become a fixture, Martine Grael back in the driving seat, and the umpires’ talk of "anticipation".If you’re in Portsmouth on Sunday morning then be sure to come and say hi. Get your tickets to The Foil’s first live podcast here: https://thefoil.com/news/our-first-ever-live-and-in-person-podcast-sailgp-portsmouth/Comments are now live on thefoil.com so be sure to create your account and join the conversation under any of our articles. And follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.READ MORE: Andy Rice talks with Craig Mitchell on the art of remote umpiring https://thefoil.com/news/why-refereeing-sailgp-is-just-getting-harder/READ MORE: Lewis Smith on SailGP's split-fleet rule change https://thefoil.com/news/return-of-the-death-group-sailgp-tweaks-how-groups-are-seeded/00:00:00 Start00:06:13 Portsmouth SailGP weather and racecourse preview00:13:10 Permanent split fleet format?00:15:53 Form guide and predictions for Portsmouth00:20:23 Middle East cancellations and Ben Ainslie interv… Lees meer
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Under pressure in Pompey: SailGP’s Emirates GBR assessed – The Foil Podcast – Ep 28
15 juli 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
This week, The Foil’s podcast team train their focus on Emirates Great Britain as they head for home waters and the Portsmouth SailGP next week.Following a plug for our first live podcast – on the morning of Sunday July 26 at Musto’s flagship Lighthouse store on Portsmouth’s waterfront – Neil Cole, Andy Rice and Freddie Carr get into an analysis of reigning champions Emirates GBR and how their title defence is going at the mid-point of season six.After a fast start in Australasia, “the wheels fells of when they got to the Americas”, as Andy puts it. Yet through it all the British F50 is still equal second on points with Spain’s Los Gallos, despite failing to score at all in two rounds.Andy asks Freddie for insight into how the team management operates: is a “good vibes” Gareth Southgate approach or more a “hairdryer” Thomas Tuchel environment?Freddie then dives into the Emirates GBR backstory, cycling back to the first season of SailGP and plotting how the team has evolved. As he says, this was a pioneering squad that led the commercial growth that has made SailGP such a success story.Speaking of success, from this point what will a successful 2026 look like for the remaining champions over the course of the season’s second half? The team assess the merits of making the Grand Final or the ‘moral victory’ of topping the leaderboard.To conclude, Andy and Freddie then offer a round-up of the latest America’s Cup news, having also considered the blend between SailGP and Naples next year for both Emirates GBR and GB1, which both operate under the Athena Racing umbrella.For The Foil live podcast, sign up for your FREE tickets here: https://buytickets.at/thefoil/2299605For our round-up of the week in racing, go to: https://thefoil.com/news/the-week-in-racing-13-july-26/Subscribe to The Foil on YouTube for a new episode every week, and follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms:… Lees meer
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Can anyone beat New Zealand to win the 38th America’s Cup? – The Foil Podcast – Ep 27
8 juli 2026 · 1 uur 9 min
A year out, The Foil’s podcast team ask the key question: can any of the six teams lining up against the Defender really take on and beat Emirates Team New Zealand in Naples at the 38th America’s Cup next July? We run through the teams to assess what we know so far.ETNZ has Defender privilege – but under the rules of the new partnership arrangement, AC veteran Freddie Carr and Lewis Smith ask whether they have “depowered their advantage” by accepting Naples as the venue rather than racing on their own home waters.On the point of home advantage, Freddie refers back to his own experience sailing with Luna Rossa in the AC World Series in Naples in 2012 and ’13, when he experienced his “rock star moment” in sailing firsthand. Racing at home really can make a difference.As Lewis says, Luna Rossa was “a league ahead” in the recent Cagliari Prelim, and asks whether there might also be an operational advantage working from home.Meanwhile, The French La Roche-Posay team have hit the water in the past week and can make the most of 10 extra sailing days – even if they have capsized this week. Working out of same design stable as ETNZ, Lewis and Freddie weigh up their challenge.As for the Swiss Alinghi squad, question marks remain over their hardware following the huge capsize last time out in Barcelona, and they are pinned as a late starter too.As for the official Challenger of Record, unashamed patriot Freddie labels GB1 as the “dark horse for this Cup”, acknowledging the distracting context of the legal battle between Athena Racing and Ineos over the ownership of the British AC75.The return of Australia is an exciting moment for the Cup, but the team has been up front and honest about their biggest challenge: a lack of time. Freddie describes them as “underdogs”.Finally, the USA. As Freddie puts it, they are “super under the radar” given the little amount of information that has been confirmed about the American effort. Lewis and Freddie then summarise the fleet and come up… Lees meer
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SailGP vs America's Cup: Can they coexist? - The Foil Podcast - Ep 26
1 juli 2026 · 56 min
Sailing has never been healthier – and on this week's pod, that's exactly the problem.Episode 26 sees Neil Cole, Andy Rice, Lewis Smith and Freddie Carr wrestle with a question that's been sitting uncomfortably in the background: with SailGP, AmericasCup and the Olympics all booming at once, can they share a calendar – or will they start eating each other alive?The team trace the rivalry back to Bermuda 2017 and the framework agreement Grant Dalton never signed, then lay out just how tight the 2027 calendar really is – nine SailGP weekends, new AC75s splashing and a Cup to be won, plus an Olympic qualification cycle all fighting for the same patch of summer.Freddie, who knows the Cup's demands better than most, weighs life-changing SailGP prize money against the historical pull of helming a Cup boat, while Lewis – a former World Sailing insider – explains why the governing body faces an almost impossible juggling act. There's a hard look at the cautionary tale of golf's PGA–LIV war, a debate over who actually has the clout to knock heads together, and a real worry that the Olympics, and the women and youth coming through, could be the ones squeezed out.There's also offshore news, a look at Foiling Week, and a closing poll that has the panel split. Which one would you go for: SailGP riches, an Olympic gold, or the Auld Mug?Read Freddie’s recent technical breakdown of the SailGP fleet: https://thefoil.com/news/freddie-carr-winging-it-at-half-time-in-sailgp/Subscribe to The Foil on YouTube for a new episode every week, and follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP #AmericasCup #OlympicSailing
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“The move of the season”: Halifax SailGP unpicked – The Foil Podcast – Ep 25
26 juni 2026 · 1 uur 14 min
“The best of times, the worst of times – but fun all the time.” That’s Andy Rice’s summary of the Canada Sail Grand Prix as The Foil’s podcast team delves into round seven of SailGP 2026.Andy acknowledges the great work of SailGP’s tech team in returning to the water the three boats damaged in New York, as Lewis Smith and Freddie Carr join him to talk through a weekend that didn’t start well but finished on a high. After Lewis talks through rule changes that have followed the New York event, the team discuss the unexpected low winds of Saturday. And while the racing wasn’t a great spectacle, the “mad for it” Canadian crowd in the grandstand didn’t seem to care.Sunday was a complete turnaround, with what Andy describes as “one of the best days I’ve seen” in SailGP. The team advocate the decision to split the fleet – despite it triggering a so-called “group of death” – and also the first four-boat final. The winning skipper from Spain’s Los Gallos, Diego Botin, makes an appearance to talk about what Andy describes as “the move of the season” at the start of the final group race, which was “just the right side of clean”. Meanwhile, Bonds Flying Roos’ Tash Bryant sees the funny side (we think) of Andy pointing out that the Australians won zero prize money for finishing fourth. As Tom Slingsby puts it just off camera, “ouch!”.Read more on Andy’s fleet rating from Halifax: https://thefoil.com/news/andy-rice-rates-the-fleet-after-canada-sailgp/Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2...Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. #TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil Lees meer
00:00:00 Start00:03:53 SailGP Halifax event recap begins00:13:13 New safety rules and crew changes00:27:08 Sunday's dramatic weather transformation00:35:16 Spain's masterclass and move of the season00:46:29 Artemis technical issues and substitution rules00:53:35 The split fleet and four-boat final debate00:58:57 TP52 World Champion…
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Halifax SailGP, the Black Foils return and Luna Rossa launch - The Foil Podcast - Ep 24
18 juni 2026 · 46 min
It's a full house for episode 24 of The Foil Podcast, with a Canada SailGP preview plus the latest America's Cup updates. Neil Cole, Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Lewis Smith open with a tribute to offshore legend Charlie Dalin before turning to the weekend ahead.The Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax is the fulcrum of @SailGP Season 6 – event seven of thirteen – and the crew dig into why this race course turned the form book on its head last time, what a cold, shifting forecast could do to the foils, and whether we'll see split fleets for points scoring for the first time ever. There's the return of a freshly rebuilt Black Foils boat, a leaderboard that's wide open in the middle, and a look at who badly needs to kick-start their season.Then it's all about the Cup: Luna Rossa's relaunched AC75, what we spotted (and didn't), the first American training camp in Pensacola, and the design-stable question that could shape the whole AC38 cycle. Plus a pointed debate about whether the @AmericasCup is keeping commercial pace with SailGP. Predictions get made, and some might age better than others…Read more: https://thefoil.com/news/angry-coutts-bites-back-at-sailgp-critics/Listen to our podcast on Spotify and other platforms: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP #AmericasCup Lees meer
0:00 Intro & Charlie Dalin tribute5:21 Halifax SailGP preview10:23 Course analysis & split fleets discussion17:02 Can the Black Foils still make the Grand Final?23:43 Teams needing a second-half comeback28:15 Luna Rossa relaunch AC75 "Silver Bullet"32:30 Pete Burling's influence on Luna Rossa33:47 American Magic AC40 training camp36:04 America's Cup marketing & media discussion37:06 America's Cup design partnerships explained39:15 Richard Mille Cup & TP52 Worlds update41:45 Halifax final predictions
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Podcast Extra: Tom Slingsby breaks down the Aussie Cup challenge: boat, crew and the race against time
17 juni 2026 · 33 min
In this wide-ranging interview Tom Slingsby sits down with The Foil’s Andy Rice to give an inside look at the current state of the Australian America’s Cup campaign.The man widely regarded as the best sailor on the planet right now is busier than ever, and in this conversation he lays out exactly what Team Australia Challenge is up against as it returns to the @AmericasCup for the first time in a generation. Lees meer
Slingsby talks through the childhood memories that planted the dream, the curious overlap of @SailGP and the Cup – one a monthly sprint, the other long stretches of training and almost no racing – and why he refuses to give up the racing edge that he believes cost his old Oracle camp dearly. He walks through the crew taking shape, the engineering trade-offs of reworking Team New Zealand’s 2021 boat, and the clock that's ticking very loudly, with the launch of their AC75 pushed all the way to Naples in spring 2027.Along the way the conversation also touches on the Coutts-Dalton cold war, the Disney+ deal that could transform the sport, Hugh Jackman in the debrief room, and the hard truth about being first-time challengers. Whether all of it adds up to a shot at the Cup is the question Tom keeps coming back to – and the one we’ll all be watching for.Read more: https://thefoil.com/news/australia-returns-to-the-america-s-cup-after-26-years-led-by-tom-slingsby/Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #AmericasCup
0:00 Australia's America's Cup dream
5:00 SailGP vs America's Cup
10:10 Disney+, Russell Coots and America's Cup politics
15:20 Building Team Australia
20:30 Australia's boat and technology package
25:40 Can Australia win?
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Escalation in sailing's most explosive feud, SailGP repairs and the race to Halifax - Podcast Ep 23
11 juni 2026 · 1 uur 14 min
The legal battle between Sir Ben Ainslie and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken another dramatic turn. Lees meer
In this week's episode of The Foil Podcast, Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Neil Cole dive into the latest developments in the increasingly bitter dispute over ownership of Britannia, the AC75 that carried INEOS Britannia to the 37th America's Cup Match in Barcelona.
The team unpacks a series of extraordinary allegations contained within newly filed legal documents, including claims that have now made headlines far beyond the sailing world. They examine what the dispute could mean for Britain's challenge at the 38th America's Cup in Naples, whether GB1 can remain competitive while the case unfolds, and why ownership of a single yacht could determine whether Britain makes it to the start line at all.
Freddie offers a unique perspective having raced aboard Britannia during the last America's Cup campaign, while Andy assesses the wider implications for one of the most significant rivalries sailing has seen in recent years.
Away from the courtroom, Freddie returns from the Sardinia Cup with fresh insight into the growing strength of Grand Prix offshore racing and what it could mean for the future of the sport.
The team also turns its attention to SailGP's dramatic three-boat collision in New York and the race against time to repair the damaged fleet ahead of Halifax. With exclusive insight from SailGP's technical team, they reveal how close Italy, Brazil and the United States came to missing the next event and what is happening behind the scenes to get the boats back on the water.
This video is brought to you by Musto – the brand that's been building performance sailing gear for decades, working directly with sailors pushing boats and themselves to the limit. We wear it ourselves, on and off the water.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Sardinia Cup
05:20 America's Cup Legal Battle
19:00 The Brackley Lockout Claim
29:20 Two British America's Cup Teams?
39:10 The Tax Question
44:00 C… -
“That is not sport”: Dissecting the chaos of New York SailGP – The Foil Podcast – Episode 22
4 juni 2026 · 1 uur 28 min
A cruise ship blocking Friday practice; just three boats making it to the water to race on Saturday; a complex three-boat crash on Sunday; and a controversial flying finish to the final. That was SailGP New York in a nutshell. Lees meer
In our latest podcast, The Foil’s Andy Rice, Lewis Smith and Freddie Carr join host Neil Cole to break down the many talking points of a chaotic weekend in the Big Apple.
Andy and Lewis give us some insight into what was happening off the water, including news of a Disney+ documentary on Australia’s Bonds Flying Roos. Then they get into the nitty-gritty of a challenging race weekend for SailGP.
We hear about how the inconvenient docking of Queen Mary 2 on the Friday that thwarted practice wasn’t a surprise – at least to SailGP. Freddie doesn’t hold back on his opinions on the troubles of Saturday, when only four boats could be craned into the Hudson River, with only three taking part in races that ended up amounting to exhibitions that didn’t count for points.
The team dissect the three fleet races on Sunday, including the crash at the start of Race 3 that took out the United States, Italy and Brazil. Then they offer perspectives on the thrilling final as the Flying Roos edged out Emirates Great Britain in the final metres. Interviews with Nathan Outteridge, Nicholai Sehestead, Dylan Fletcher and Hannah Mills add depth to analysis of another evenful and unforgettable weekend for SailGP.
To read how the Flying Roos beat Emirates Great Britain to victory in New York, click here
https://thefoil.com/news/flying-roos-pip-great-britain-for-victory-in-the-big-apple/
Chapters
00:00 Intro
04:17 Andy Rice on NYC and Disney+
14:45 Friday practice cancelled
18:55 Saturday racing limited
28:20 Diego Botin interview
32:45 Sunday racing
35:12 Nathan Outteridge interview
42:00 Race 3 and the crash
52:40 Outteridge on split fleets
59:45 Nicolai Sehested interview
1:05:20 The final
1:13:55 Dylan Fletcher and Hannah Mills interviews
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America's Cup is back! The full Cagliari debrief - The Foil Podcast - Ep 21
28 mei 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
The America's Cup is finally back, and after eighteen months of SailGP we'd almost forgotten how different it feels. So Neil Cole sits down with Freddie Carr and Lewis Smith – The Foil's new reporter and multimedia editor, just back from Cagliari – to dive into our very first taste of AC38 fleet racing. Lees meer
Lewis was on the ground for (nearly) the whole weekend, and shares his hot take: he prefers the AC40s to the AC75s, seeing the smaller boats as more playful and fun to chuck about. He and Freddie dig into how all the racing unfolded, from the chop of day one to the great leveller of flat water on day three, and the autopilot "superpower" that had the Luna Rossa Women & Youth crew outclassing everyone – right up until it all unravelled.
The guys discuss what it's like to come back to the Cup after living in SailGP – the longer races, the space on the course, the upwind starts, the joy of actually being able to hear the calls on board – and then run a quickfire vibe check on all eight teams.
We've also got the news of a second prelim in Naples at the end of September, Freddie on the legal cloud hanging over Athena Racing, then it’s a switch to SailGP and what's brewing in New York this weekend, where the question remains: who, if anyone, can stop the Aussies?
Check Lewis' video from Cagliari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zBK_WJOXyM
Read more on SailGP’s 2027 calendar: https://thefoil.com/news/what-2027-calendar-tells-us-about-sailgp-s-future/
This episode is brought to you by Saily, the eSIM built by the team behind NordVPN. Available across more than 200 destinations, with plans flexible enough for a weekend away or a full season chasing the SailGP circuit – no SIM swap, no roaming bill shock, no wandering foreign airports hunting for Wi-Fi. We use Saily ourselves when travelling to events, like we'll be doing in NYC this weekend. Download Saily from the app store and use code FOIL15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.
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Podcast Extra: Mozzy and Freddie preview the AC38 Cagliari prelim
21 mei 2026 · 55 min
Mozzy and Freddie are back with a bonus podcast, previewing the AC38 Cagliari preliminary regatta, the curtain-raiser on the road to Naples. Lees meer
With only 11 of last Cup's AC75 sailors returning to the racecourse, and a fresh wave of names making their debuts, this opening regatta in Sardinia feels less like a tune-up and more like the moment the next America’s Cup cycle properly begins.
Mozzy and Freddie work through every announced crew list – from Emirates Team New Zealand’s Outteridge–Menzies pairing and the lingering Blair Tuke question, to GB1's surprising helm call, Athena Racing's two-female-helm setup, Luna Rossa's almost-too-stacked talent pool, Alinghi's freshly assembled lineup, and the French team's combination that could yet emerge as the dark horse of the weekend.
The Cagliari prelim also marks the first time we'll see B-boat sailors racing for seats on the AC75 itself – a significant format change that could reshape squad dynamics across every syndicate as the fleet builds towards Naples 2027.
READ MORE:
https://thefoil.com/news/mozzy-s-take-on-cagliari-crew-lists-who-s-in-who-s-out-and-why/
https://thefoil.com/news/freddie-carr-why-the-ac38-prelim-regatta-in-cagliari-matters/
Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
00:00:00 — Intro
00:04:28 — Emirates Team New Zealand (A Boat)
00:10:32 — Emirates Team New Zealand (Youth & Women's Boat)
00:13:49 — GB1 (A Boat)
00:20:36 — Athena (Youth & Women's Boat)
00:29:23 — Luna Rossa
00:36:03 — Tudor Team Alinghi
00:40:45 — La Roche-Posay Racing Team (France)
00:47:43 — Predictions & picks
#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #AmericasCup
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“It starts with a dream”: Glenn Ashby on Australia’s AC38 challenge – The Foil Podcast ep 20
21 mei 2026 · 1 uur 15 min
“The time is now,” decorated sailor Glenn Ashby tells The Foil’s Freddie Carr in an exclusive interview on Team Australia’s newly-minted challenge for the 38th America’s Cup. Lees meer
In a long-promised one-on-one with The Foil, Ashby tells his old friend about how Australia’s return to the Cup for the first time since 2000 came together, and how by the end of this year an expansion to “80-100 people” must be complete.
The feeling and process of building up a team from scratch carries echoes for Ashby of his part in Emirates Team New Zealand’s victory in the 2017 Cup in Bermuda. He also reflects on the technical support from the Kiwi effort this time via the shared design philosophy. “We wouldn’t be in Naples next year without the support of ETNZ,” he admits.
Ashby predicts much tighter performance between the teams than we saw in the 2024 AC37 in Barcelona, and explains what success will look like for the Australians following their relatively late entry for Naples.
Before the Ashby interview, The Foil’s team discuss other matters of the moment, including the 49er, 49FX and Nacra 17 World Championships in France. Andy Rice, who was part of the live stream commentary team in Quiberon Bay, gives us the lowdown and presents a pair of interviews: one with new 49er World Champions Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush, the other with Gianluigi Ugolini and Maria Giubilei who clinched the Nacra 17 crown.
NEXT UP: PODCAST EXTRAKeep an eye on the channel this week for an extra show, as Tom ‘Mozzy’ Morris and Freddie Carr preview the AC38 Preliminary Regatta which takes place in Cagliari this weekend. The duo dissect the teams and crew line-ups as the build-up to Naples in 2027 properly begins.
Also, head to thefoil.com to read Mozzy’s analysis of who’s in, who’s out and why
https://thefoil.com/news/mozzy-s-take-on-cagliari-crew-lists-who-s-in-who-s-out-and-why/
Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. #TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP
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First SailGP, now the America's Cup? The Aussies want it all | The Foil Podcast - Ep 19
14 mei 2026 · 1 uur 28 min
Australia have now won so many SailGP events that it's starting to look like the anomaly when they don't. Episode 19 of The Foil Podcast digs into a Bermuda Grand Prix that felt like the F50s finally getting to stretch their legs – flat water, proper breeze, big race course – and dissects exactly how Tom Slingsby's crew made it look so straightforward. Andy and Freddie walk through the racing day by day, from Spain's eye-catching foiling speed to the tactical shifts that shaped day two, and from Canada's pivotal error to the breakdown of the grand final itself. Lees meer
There were other stories worth unpacking too. Glenn Ashby's ankle injury, Artemis's mechanical heartbreak and the thorny question of whether the current redress rules are fit for purpose all get proper airtime – as does Ryan Reynolds's first experience of F50 G-forces, which apparently left the Hollywood A-lister a bit rattled. Freddie also reflects on a bruising week with Gladiator in the TP52 Super Series opener, won ultimately by Sled after a tight last-day battle.
And then, just as Bermuda was neatly wrapped up, the news was finally made official: a new Australian entry for the America's Cup, backed by the Winning family – 18-foot skiff royalty from Sydney Harbour, now setting their sights on the oldest trophy in sport. Andy and Freddie give their first read on what it means and who might be on the boat. Read more at The Foil https://thefoil.com/news/australia-returns-to-the-america-s-cup-after-26-years-led-by-tom-slingsby/
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Musto, the brand that's been building performance sailing gear for decades, working directly with sailors pushing boats and themselves to the limit. We wear it ourselves, on and off the water.
Follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP
00:00:00 Start
00:01:34 SailGP travel & expensive pints
00:07:21 TP52 Super Series recap
00:10:18 SailGP Bermuda day one…
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Inside Bermuda SailGP, Gitana 18 & which boats make the Olympics? | The Foil Podcast - Ep 18
7 mei 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
SailGP returns to Bermuda's Great Sound this weekend for the fifth event of season 6. For episode 18 of The Foil Podcast, Neil Cole, Andy Rice and Freddie Carr serve up everything you need to know before the F50s hit the water. Lees meer
The fourth visit to the spiritual home of SailGP brings a fleet of 12 (no Black Foils until Halifax) onto a stretch of water Andy and Freddie reckon plays more like lake sailing than open-water racing – gear-changey, breeze coming over the land, and a serious advantage to anyone who logged hours there in the AC50 days. Tom Slingsby is the obvious benchmark: he's topped the fleet-racing qualifying series every single time the league has rolled into Bermuda. The lads run over the contenders: a British side licking its wounds after Rio, an Australian squad riding the high of one of the fiercest race-day performances in the league’s history, a US team that simply refuses to let the wheels come off, and the defending Bermuda winners Spain.
Beyond the race weekend, Andy shares a revealing sit-down with Jimmy Spithill on his unwitting role in launching SailGP, an inside look at the radical new Ultim Gitana 18 with its three-axis foil control and U-shaped rudders, and what the Switch class might mean for Olympic sailing. Plus Cole Tapper's Congressional Cup blazer, Freddie's first day back on a TP52 at the 52 Super Series, and a strong case against renting a moped in Bermuda.
This episode is sponsored by Saily, the eSIM built by the team behind NordVPN. Available across more than 200 destinations, with plans flexible enough for a weekend away or a full season chasing the SailGP circuit – no SIM swap, no roaming bill shock, no wandering foreign airports hunting for Wi-Fi. This week we're using Saily ourselves in Bermuda. Download Saily from the app store and use code FOIL15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.
This podcast is brought to you by Saily, the worldwide eSim service. Download the Saily app in the appstore and use out code foil1…
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New signings, 7th challenger leaked & the design stables reshaping AC38 - The Foil Podcast - Ep 17
30 april 2026 · 1 uur 15 min
New alliances, new signings, and a secret that slipped out… In episode 17, Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Neil Cole dig into the detail of how AC38 is playing out. Lees meer
Paul Goodison is the new skipper of Tudor Team Alinghi, while Giles Scott was just announced as the sailing director of American Racing Challenger Team USA. Both are on the podcast this week, and they walk Freddie through the early weeks at their new homes – what they've found, what they've inherited, and what's keeping them up at night with Naples 2027 already feeling closer than it should.
What's emerging behind the scenes, though, may matter more than any individual hire. Alinghi have confirmed a design partnership with GB1, the Challenger of Record, and team director David Endean spells it out simply: with budget caps tightening and late entries scrambling to catch up, only the most prepared teams can afford to go it alone. Goodison himself admits it feels surreal – two campaigns ago, he and Freddie were sharing hotel rooms, taking design calls from opposite ends of the balcony so neither could hear. Now he's walking into the same meeting room as his rivals.
And this week, America's Cup media accidentally confirmed what has been the worst-kept secret this cycle: the seventh challenger is Australia. The quote naming them has since disappeared from the official website, but not before Andy and Freddie saw it. With the cat now out of the bag, they talk through the implications for this cycle.
Beyond the Cup, Freddie reports back from three days on a J-Class in Palma Bay before the TP52 season gets serious, Andy digs into French Olympic Week with special guest Alexia Lahoud, and Matt Wearn calls out Olympic sailing's media coverage from the top step of the podium. Plus a viewer question on whether the Cup's permanent backdrop of legal disputes is a feature or a bug.
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#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #AmericasCup #OlympicSailin…
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Why Ferrari Hypersail “could redefine” sailing – The Foil podcast – Ep 16
23 april 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Neil Cole, Andy Rice and Freddie Carr return for the latest episode of The Foil podcast with a range of subjects to discuss. Andy has just returned from Milan where he witnessed the livery reveal for Ferrari’s amazing Hypersail project. Lees meer
First up, the team tackle some audience questions, including when New Zealand’s Black Foils will return to the SailGP fleet as a new F50 takes shape in Southampton. They also discuss potential changes to the SailGP calendar in the wake of the war in the Middle East, the challenges of commentating live on events and the complexity of SailGP rules for racing.
Andy then tells us about arriving in Milan during Design Week to find out more about Ferrari’s fascinating venture into the sailing world. “The merging of automotive and maritime,” as Andy puts it. He offers some insight into the sustainability reasons why Ferrari has chosen to dive into sailing and, as Neil puts it, why this is a “moving laboratory” for new technology. Freddie suggests “It could redefine what we think sailing is”. But the team wonders, can a monohull really beat a multihull to a potential Jules Verne Around the World record?
An interview with French super-designer Guillaume Verdier – the man behind the Ferrari Hypersail – adds further detail, and he tells Andy how designers from land and sea “speak the same language” of physics.
The team then move on to the announcement made in Barcelona this week, as Tudor Team Alinghi announce their line-up for the 38th America’s Cup. “It’s an exciting line-up featuring a lot of talent,” enthuses Freddie. He and Andy then reflect on the importance of the forthcoming Road to Naples AC regatta in Sardinia.
To wrap up, Andy then offers an update on the 57th Semaine Olympique Française that is under way in Hyères this week, and Freddie tells us about how much he’s looking forward to grappling with Rainbow, the J-Class classic he’ll be helping to sail this week in Palma.
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Rio debrief: Australia reminds everyone who’s boss - The Foil Podcast - Ep 15
17 april 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
Australia's Flying Roos delivered what has to be the best single-day performance in SailGP history at Rio – and episode 15 of The Foil podcast breaks down how they did it. Lees meer
Andy Rice, just back from Rio, joins Freddie Carr and Neil Cole to dissect a Sunday that saw Tom Slingsby's crew take 30 points from a possible 30 in conditions that left most of the fleet scrambling. While others wrestled with the 27.5m wings in building breeze beneath Sugarloaf Mountain, Ian Jensen's wing trim calls and the team's collective calm turned chaos into a masterclass.
But this wasn't just about the Aussies. The team digs into why the United States' starting technique might be the most underrated development of the season, how Emirates Great Britain went from season leaders to finishing dead last in this event, and whether SailGP's race course setup under Sugarloaf made life harder than it needed to be.
There's also frank discussion about the prize money structure – with Australia's grinder Kinley Fowler watching his teammates pocket USD $400,000 without seeing a cent – and the growing uncertainty around how Season 6 will finish. With Middle East tensions threatening the Dubai and Abu Dhabi events, the conversation turns to potential replacements: Cádiz, Pensacola, or even (fingers crossed) Perth again.
This episode is brought to you by Musto – the brand that's been building performance sailing gear for decades, working directly with sailors pushing boats and themselves to the limit. We wear it ourselves, on and off the water.
Subscribe now and follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP
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SailGP Rio preview: tactical breakdown, home pressure, and the teams running out of time - The Foil Podcast - Ep 14
9 april 2026 · 1 uur 20 min
SailGP heads to Rio de Janeiro for the first time ever this weekend, and the forecast suggests a tactical chess match rather than a foiling sprint. Freddie Carr, Andy Rice and Neil Cole dig into the data, the storylines, and the strategies that will decide who leaves Brazil with points. Lees meer
Light winds are expected throughout the weekend in Guanabara Bay, so the team looks at exactly what worked in Sydney's H2 conditions. For teams in the bottom half of the standings – Canada, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland – this is a pivotal weekend. Come away with low points and the Grand Final starts to feel very far away.
We also have exclusive interviews with Brazil team owner Alan Adler and driver Martine Grael – both speaking candidly about home pressure, crew rebuilds, and the emotional weight of racing on the same water where Grael won Olympic gold. Plus: Glenn Ashby jumps onto France's SailGP F50, standing in for Leigh McMillan following his shoulder surgery.
In other news, Italian executive Marzio Pirelli has been appointed CEO of the America's Cup Partnership – but the bigger story is what we still don't know. One AC40 preliminary event is locked in for Cagliari in May. Beyond that, silence until the Cup match itself. As Freddie puts it: "It's tough to be a fan and not have your season laid out ahead of you."
The episode also tackles the new Olympic format – tested at Trofeo Princesa Sofia – and why it has sailors, media, and governing bodies at odds over what competitive fairness should look like heading into LA 2028.
This video is brought to you by Musto – the brand that's been building performance sailing gear for decades, working directly with sailors pushing boats and themselves to the limit. We wear it ourselves, on and off the water.
Subscribe now and follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #SailGP
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Olympic dreams, TP52 action and America's Cup secrets - The Foil Podcast - Ep 13
3 april 2026 · 55 min
This week, Andy Rice and Freddie Carr report live from opposite ends of the Bay of Palma – Andy cycling 10 kilometres along the coast to chase down Olympic stars, Freddie shivering aboard TP52 Gladiator as the rain hammers down. Lees meer
The Trofeo Princesa Sofía has 1,100 sailors across seven race courses and the Tramuntana mountains have been dumping 40-knot gusts into the bay. ILCA 7 sailor Micky Beckett is chasing a fifth consecutive win at this event but had to grind back from tenth after day one, while double Olympic champion Matt Wearn has led the fleet from the start. In the Nacra 17, the Swedes have upset world champions John Gimson and Anna Burnett. And reigning 49er FX Olympic champion Odile Lambriex van Aanholt is juggling a nine-month-old baby, a new crew recruited through a Dutch ‘reality TV talent search’, and a shroud that snapped mid-race.
Freddie breaks down the TP52 pre-season: drone scans, new sail sign-offs, and what he calls "playground football" racing – no race committee, no umpires, rules a bit loose. The class is thriving, with Pieter Heerema buying the world championship-winning Quantum Racing operation and inheriting Terry Hutchinson as tactician. A new Brazilian team joins the Super Series, Trinity Racing have built fresh, and Ed Baird and Hamish Pepper are back in the mix.
Meanwhile, the America's Cup entry deadline closed this week. Chris Poole's Riptide Racing didn't get across the line, but Karel Komárek may be coming in with an American-flagged challenge featuring Ken Read. And there's another entry the team won't reveal yet – perhaps one of the biggest Cup stories in two decades. And the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees have been announced: Glenn Ashby, Peter Isler, Lowell North, and the Beken family.
Andy also catches up with SailGP athletes racing Olympic classes in Palma: Spain's Nicole van der Velden and Joan Cardona from Los Gallos, plus Swiss driver Sebastian Schneiter and his 49er partner Arno de Planta, who's moving from reserve to …
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The Battle for Britannia - The Foil Podcast - Ep 12
25 maart 2026 · 1 uur 20 min
The Foil podcast team discuss the big America’s Cup story of the moment: the battle for the Britannia AC75 following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s demand for Sir Ben Ainslie to return the boat he claims he owns. Presenter Neil Cole and Andy Rice quiz Freddie Carr on the row, forcing Freddie – a cyclor for the Ineos team in AC37 – to walk a fine line on a topic he cannot be subjective about. Freddie offers an honest take on the situation which has undermined Ainslie’s preparations for AC38 with his rebranded GB1 team. Lees meer
Later in the show, Freddie then reintroduces The Foil’s technical analyst Tom ‘Mozzy’ Morris, who returns to the podcast – as promised – to answer audience questions on the AC and associated subjects. Among the gems Mozzy and Freddie tackle is which boat would win in an AC40 vs F50 vs AC75 face-off.
To round off the show, Freddie and Andy then discuss any other sailing business, including Freddie’s latest adventures in Dragon racing and the forthcoming 55th edition of the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca, which gets underway on Friday (27 March – 4 April), bringing together one of the biggest fleets of the Olympic season on the Bay of Palma.
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The AC38 arms race has officially begun - The Foil Podcast - Ep 11
19 maart 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
Taihoro has splashed. Almost 17 months since an AC75 last sailed, Emirates Team New Zealand have fired the first shot in the AC38 arms race. Lees meer
But how far ahead are the Defenders really? And what do the challengers need to do to close the gap? In this episode of The Foil Podcast, resident America's Cup obsessive Tom 'Mozzy' Morris joins Freddie Carr to break down everything we've learned so far from version three of the Kiwi machine.
Mozzy believes this protocol delivers fairer rules than ever before – no test boats, no AC40 loopholes, and a more level playing field across the challenger fleet. But Team New Zealand's head start on automation and control systems may prove decisive. Freddie reveals the moment during AC37 when he realised just how far ahead the Defenders were: while the British crew wrestled with boat handling, Pete Burling was simply chatting about wind shifts.
With Luna Rossa expected to launch soon and the challengers' window narrowing before the boats ship to Europe, the race is on. This is your essential briefing on the technology, the tactics, and the strategic battles ahead.
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Batteries replace humans: is this still the America's Cup? - The Foil Podcast - Ep 10
12 maart 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
The America's Cup sprint is officially on. Team New Zealand have rolled their AC75 out of the shed in Auckland, and for the first time in the Cup's 175-year history, there won't be a single human powering the sails. Lees meer
In episode 10 of The Foil podcast, Andy Rice, Freddie Carr and Neil Cole unpack what the shift from cyclors to batteries actually means for how these boats will be sailed. With a one-design 125kg battery pack replacing the engine room grunt of four elite athletes, the teams face an entirely new challenge: managing finite power across pre-start battles, acceleration off the line, and the constant demands of a foiling upwind-downwind course. And unlike athletes with tired legs, a battery doesn't get a second wind.
Freddie draws on his experience as a cyclor on Ineos Britannia to explain how the crew's jobs will be redistributed across the remaining five positions – and why Team New Zealand's software and hydraulic efficiency under the hood might be worth more than any individual signing this cycle. Meanwhile, the AC40's unlimited power has created habits that teams will need to unlearn fast.
With just 45 sailing days on the AC75 permitted before mid-January 2027, every hour on the water counts. ETNZ are first to splash, but with the design rulebook still wide open, there's nothing stopping their rivals from watching, learning, and designing around whatever the Kiwis discover. The conversation also touches on Paul Cayard's 45-years-in-the-making Bacardi Cup triumph and 18-foot skiff racing on Sydney Harbour.
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🔗 Read more at thefoil.com
#TheFoil #WeAreTheFoil #AmericasCup
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'Worst SailGP race I've ever seen' – why Sydney's light-wind weekend split opinion - The Foil Podcast Episode 9
5 maart 2026 · 1 uur 12 min
In this week’s episode, Freddie Carr, Andy Rice and Neil Cole break down Sydney SailGP – where the USA completed their redemption arc, Slingsby had a few frustrations, and light winds caused a weekend of upsets. Lees meer
Twelve months ago, Team USA capsized on the tow boat heading to practice in Sydney Harbour. It was rock bottom for a team that couldn't catch a break. Jump forward to this weekend and Taylor Canfield is walking around the tech zone like the main character in an action movie – J/70 World Champion, M32 World Champion, and now a SailGP event winner.
But Sydney wasn't kind to everyone. Tom Slingsby watched Australia's final hopes disintegrate in Fleet Race 7 when a 30-degree left shift turned what was supposed to be a decisive race into what Freddie Carr calls 'the worst SailGP race I've ever seen.' After missing a Sydney final for the first time ever, the Aussie skipper didn't hold back in the mixed zone, calling out race management for moving the start marks inside the final minute – something he says he's never experienced in over 50 SailGP events.
The team also dig into Auckland's uncertain future, with The Ocean Race potentially holding veto power over the venue slot. Russell Coutts is keen to make both events work together – picture IMOCAs and F50s sharing Auckland Harbour in the same weekend – but nothing’s confirmed.
The format discussion comes up too. Reaching starts, windward starts, stadium racing versus harbour tours. When you're locked into a 90-minute broadcast window and the wind doesn't cooperate, you end up with what we saw in Race 7. But does SailGP have enough flexibility to adapt?
Then there's the propulsion debate that almost ended Freddie and Andy's friendship. Electric motors on sailing boats? One of them thinks it's the future. The other thinks it's powerboat racing.
🔗 Read the Sydney review: https://thefoil.com/news/low-breeze-sydney-still-a-welcome-distraction-from-reality/
🔗 Watch the weekend recap: https://www.youtube.com/watc…
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Quentin Delapierre on safety in SailGP + Sydney preview - The Foil Podcast - Ep 8
24 februari 2026 · 55 min
Sydney SailGP is almost here, but the Auckland collision casts a long shadow. Lees meer
In this week's episode, the team digs into one of the most consequential weekends in SailGP's seven-year history. France skipper Quentin Delapierre joins to fill us in about what happened in Auckland and what comes next. Manon Audinet spent over a week in hospital, and the French team has brought in a psychologist to support their athletes.
Quentin’s message is clear: injuries will happen in extreme sport. The question is how the league responds. Split fleets? Halos? Stronger pods? He believes the answers will come through collaboration – and he won’t be walking away. "I will not quit the league," he says. "I'm fully into it, and I'm focused to win this championship one day. But some of the athletes have concerns, and that’s normal."
The podcast also previews Sydney's twilight racing, where shifty harbour breeze and the tactical puzzle of Shark Island await. With France and New Zealand sidelined, the championship door is open for teams who can seize the moment. Australia and Great Britain are the boats to beat on equal points at the top of the season leaderboard. But lighter winds could create opportunities nobody saw coming.
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The fallout for SailGP after disaster in Auckland – The Foil podcast, Ep. 7
20 februari 2026 · 58 min
Neil Cole is joined by Andy Rice and Freddie Carr, who were both on the spot in Auckland and witnessed the devastating collision between New Zealand’s Black Foils and DS Team France that left two sailors with serious injuries last weekend. Our trio review all the events, from the cause to the effect that led to SailGP splitting the fleet for the final day of racing. But should the organisers have acted sooner? And does this mean a split-fleet future is the right way to go for SailGP? Lees meer
Andy and Freddie disagree on a “line in the sand” regulation change, but converge on other issues including how the final between SailGP’s three champion teams – Australia’s Flying Roos, Emirates GBR and Spain’s Los Gallos crew – offered an upbeat sporting contest to complete what had been a difficult weekend.
What do you think about SailGP right now? To ask the team a question for episode eight next week, ahead of the next round in Sydney, drop a comment below.
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