The Foil Podcast

The Foil
  • 4.5 (2)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

We are The Foil, a new wave of racing media. Founded and launched in 2026, we are a fresh, all-new, proudly independent digital media brand dedicated to the sport of sail racing. Our focus is centred around the major peaks of the international sport: SailGP, the America’s Cup and the Olympic Games, plus offshore classes and events, and the diverse wider world of sailing competitions that take place around the globe. Our mission is simple: to promote, talk about and report on the detail of an international sport that deserves a much higher profile beyond the dedicated sailing community who follow racing around the globe. We operate independently of series and event promoters and governing bodies as an impartial voice for the sport of sail racing. Subscribe to The Foil YouTube channel and follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and LinkedIn.

  1. 4d ago

    What the America's Cup warm-up events could count for - The Foil Debrief

    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. 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 Outro Become a member now:    / @wearethefoil   Website: https://thefoil.com/ Instagram: @wearethefoil Facebook: wearethefoil Threads: @wearethefoil LinkedIn: The Foil Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2... 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. 4d ago

    Not everyone left Naples smiling | The Foil Podcast Ep 40

    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? 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/ Follow us: @wearethefoil on Instagram & Threads | wearethefoil on Facebook | The Foil on LinkedIn Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422 Thanks for watching—please like, share and comment. Hit subscribe to show your support so we can keep doing what we’re doing. #TheFoil #AmericasCup #Sailing #RouteDuRhum #WomensSailing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  3. Sep 27

    Who made a statement in Naples? | The Foil Debrief

    Luna Rossa finish Naples in style—but what did we learn about the rest of the America’s Cup fleet? 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 Cup Who 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 Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join Website: https://thefoil.com/ Instagram: @wearethefoil Facebook: wearethefoil Threads: @wearethefoil LinkedIn: The Foil Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. Sep 26

    France win, capsize, win again on Day 2 in Naples | The Foil Debrief

    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. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  5. Sep 25

    What day 1 in Naples told us about the pecking order | The Foil Debrief

    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  6. Sep 23

    Why the Naples preliminary regatta counts - The Foil Podcast - Ep 39

    Nine months to the America’s Cup—and plenty to settle on and off the water. 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. Become a member now: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreTheFoil/join Website: https://thefoil.com/ Instagram: @wearethefoil Facebook: wearethefoil Threads: @wearethefoil 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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. Sep 20

    Five more knots and this is the best event on the circuit | Geneva SailGP Debrief

    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  8. Sep 16

    SailGP loses two drivers in a week: Canfield injured, Martine Grael out - The Foil Podcast - Ep 38

    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. 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 team Website: https://thefoil.com/ Instagram: @wearethefoil Facebook: wearethefoil Threads: @wearethefoil LinkedIn: The Foil Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/NSR2217026422 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

We are The Foil, a new wave of racing media. Founded and launched in 2026, we are a fresh, all-new, proudly independent digital media brand dedicated to the sport of sail racing. Our focus is centred around the major peaks of the international sport: SailGP, the America’s Cup and the Olympic Games, plus offshore classes and events, and the diverse wider world of sailing competitions that take place around the globe. Our mission is simple: to promote, talk about and report on the detail of an international sport that deserves a much higher profile beyond the dedicated sailing community who follow racing around the globe. We operate independently of series and event promoters and governing bodies as an impartial voice for the sport of sail racing. Subscribe to The Foil YouTube channel and follow @wearethefoil across all platforms – Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and LinkedIn.

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