The Foil Podcast

The Foil
  • 4.5 (2)
  • Sports
  • 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. 15h ago

    Route du Rhum 2026 preview: the biggest solo race in the world | The Foil Podcast Ep 44

    What makes the Route du Rhum one of offshore sailing’s great spectacles? 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 Farewells Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. 2d ago

    Loïck Peyron: tales from eight Routes du Rhum | Off Diary

    What happens when your trimaran breaks apart in an Atlantic storm—and your first instinct is to sleep? 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 legacy 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

  3. Oct 21

    Does SailGP have an age problem? | The Foil Podcast Ep 43

    Does SailGP have an age problem — or an opportunity problem? 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. Oct 15

    TP52 Season Review 2026: winners, wobbles and what’s next | The Foil Debrief

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

  5. Oct 14

    Has technology ruined sailing? | The Foil Podcast Ep 42

    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. 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 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. Oct 7

    Ewan McGregor goes offshore, America's Cup Q&A & match racing dominance | The Foil Podcast Ep 41

    The Foil Podcast is brought to you by Musto. 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. 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. 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

  7. Sep 30

    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

  8. Sep 30

    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

See All (55)

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.

Information

You Might Also Like