The core subject on day two of the Gurit Foiling Week Forum concentrated on ‘Sustainability’
The common theme that came out of the round table on the subject of sustainability was that the foiling marine industry needs to work together in combining resources to improve sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.
The foiling industry has the technology to create the designs for efficiency with reduction of waste and even re-cycling.
Enrico Benco who represents Go Sailing for a Change made the comment:
“We need to keep educating kids to make sustainability cool”
Every year one of the largest dinghy regattas takes place at Lake Garda with around 1000 Optimists.
Benco made the comment:
“Put an Opti made out of recycled materials in front of the kids at a 1000 boat Opti regatta in Lake Garda and you capture their interest, and from there they are aware of sustainable practices and what that looks like”
Benco’s company have also constructed a foiling Mini 6.5 sail boat completely out of re-cycled product.
Luca Torlaj from Polynt Group, a company that works on recycling carbon components and fibres, re-iterated the need to combine resources and ideas on sustainability working closely with the automotive industry.
Pierrerick Cassin from Agiplast, who produce marine and sports equipment with the re-use of plastics, encouraged the audience to look at regeneration rather than recycling.
Chris Ballen from event sponsor Torqueedo explained the value of using efficient electric sports boats for running races.
Luca Rizzotti, the founder of The Foiling Week, spoke about race management and reducing the carbon footprint at events. A specific initiative mentioned by Rizzotti for race management is the use of mark set floating drones. Another idea used at the 2017 Foiling Week is car pooling using BMW e-cars & use of BMW e-bikes for competitors attending the event.
The sustainable theme continued into the afternoon with test drives of the BMW sponsored 100% electric i3 car. Parts of the frame work and doors where made of recycled carbon fibre from the same process presented earlier in the day by Luca Torlaj from Polynt Group.
New Zealand 470 Olympic gold medallist Jo Aleh was the first to test drive the i3 and was thoroughly impressed.
“We use our cars way to much in New Zealand, this is just such a great car with incredible acceleration”
John Downey a self proclaimed ‘wing nut’ gave an update on his latest wing development for a custom A+ catamaran. Downey used the forum as an opportunity to seek ideas on the future of the C Class catamaran and the Little Cup. As John explained,
“The C Class and Little Cup has been somewhat eclipsed by the latest format at the America’s Cup”.
Marc Menec, Tanguy Le Bihan and Bruno Andre presented on their new company Foil & Co who manufacture foils for a number of pleasure craft projects including kites, windsurfers and surf paddle.
Menec pointed out that there are an estimated 25 million users in surfing and SUP foiling taps into that as well. Menec also gave details of a new market with huge potential. ‘Surf Paddle’
Tanguy Le Bihan explained how hydro foils are opening up new areas for windsurfing and kites and that there are now new users on new lakes and now surfers are surfing in new spots on new waves.
The third day of the Gurit Foiling Week Forum carries the core them of ‘Accessibility’.
