Windfoils go on show

Lifting a windsurf board on underwater wings was not a new idea: an American patent application for a windsurf hydrofoil dates from 1978. In 2009 the idea reached the boat shows.

In March 2009 Tomahawk Foils, a small company from Weymouth in England, unveiled its Tomahawk foil at the RYA Dinghy Show, fitted to a windsurf board. The foil was the invention of Jonathan Howes, who had patented it.

The same year the AFS-1, a board and foil from Brittany aimed at sailing in light wind, was presented at a boat show. Bruno André, who had joined the company Tridenn in 2007, is credited with the first carbon foil named AFS One.

These were small projects, far from the mass market. Within ten years foils would reach the world tour, and by 2024 the Olympic Games.