69F Academy: Like little America's Cupers: monohull foiling for everyone

From Argentina to Europe: America's Cup-experienced designers Nahuel Wilson and Laureano Marquinez, who were involved in the former Artemis project among others, have developed a 6.90 metre monohull foiler in collaboration with renowned sailors from their country and a number of Italian experts, and are also offering a training and regatta concept.

The boat is designed to be safe and easy to sail for three-person crews and at first glance looks like a greatly simplified miniature version of the current America's Cup yachts. The Argentinians came up with the idea for the 69F after the introduction of the new AC75 class for the 36th Cup cycle. According to its fathers, the new design is intended to bridge the gap between the fastest displacement classes and a real foiling sports boat. The three-man crew uses outriggers instead of harnesses for easier manoeuvres and safer sailing. It is equipped with V-shaped, retractable foils, a rudder with a T-profile on the lower edge, a lifting keel, 40 square metres of upwind sail area and 78 square metres of downwind area, which accelerate the boat with a weight of 350 kilograms plus crew (270 kilograms).

Beautiful impressions of Lake Garda and the Olympic champion in action

The regatta concept that has already been drawn up envisages four regattas in four regattas in 2020, which together will make up the 69F Cup. Following this, the 69F Super Cup is planned for the final phase, which will be held in the 2020/2021 winter season in as yet undefined "warmer climes". All venues and the exact schedule will be announced soon.

In addition, the internationally operating 69F team offers some good ideas for newcomers, such as "pay per use": interested sailors do not have to become owners to sail the 69F. The producers have already financed six boats for a one-design circuit, which is set to take off in 2020 with its own programme and rules. They call their 69F package the "Six Pack". It is intended to be logistically, organisationally and technically self-sufficient and mobile and will be active in the Mediterranean and on European inland lakes. Anyone who wants to take part pays the relevant fees and rents the "Ready to Race" boat. Each regatta opens with a 69F Academy, which gives participants the opportunity to train in advance. The races are open to amateurs and professionals. Anyone wishing to take part requires a 69F licence, which can be obtained from the 69F Academy.

What does Olympic champion Santi Lange have to do with it all? The Argentinian gold medallist, who overcame a serious cancer in 2015 and won gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 in the then not yet, but now foiling catamaran Nacra17, was already involved in the development of the 69F and, together with other 69F team members, is one of the instructors in the future 69F Academy, which will focus in particular on foiling. In his opinion, sailing needs a broader approach to increase its popularity and "clubs with open doors for the next generation, exciting boats, fewer rules, less tactics, less theory and more fun".

Lange is convinced that foiling is the future of sailing. "Mankind has always dreamed of flying," says Lange. Accordingly, the slogan of the 69F Academy: "Come and fly with us!" The first Academy missions have already taken place in the Lake Garda area of the Fraglia Vela Malcesine Yacht Club. The pictures for this article were taken during this time. However, Lange himself will not be able to take part in all Academy events, as the 58-year-old is once again preparing intensively for his next Olympic event in Enoshima. He will be represented by his sons, who also compete in the 49er Olympics, and other well-known top sailors.

Here to the homepage of the 69F makers.