Foiling Week, an international festival celebrating hydrofoiling watercraft, made its U.S. debut in Pensacola, Florida, from Feb. 24 to March 2, 2025. Traditionally held in Lake Garda, Italy, the event brought together sailors, designers and enthusiasts to showcase cutting-edge foiling technology.
The weeklong festivities featured races across various classes, including Moth, WASZP, A-Class Catamaran, BirdyFish and Nacra 15 FCS, as well as fast-foiling board classes like the X-15, iQFOiL and the Foil Surf Racing League. Beyond the on-water competitions, attendees enjoyed boat and board trials, clinics, a film festival and a vibrant race village at Community Maritime Park, offering a comprehensive experience of the foiling world.
The economic impact of hosting Foiling Week in Pensacola is significant. The event positioned Pensacola as a hub for maritime innovation, potentially attracting future investments in high-performance marine design and manufacturing. The successful execution of Foiling Week not only highlighted the city’s capacity to host international events but also underscored its commitment to embracing emerging water sports technologies.
FloridaWest, a hosting sponsor of the event, will allocate resources, expertise, and access to partners to support the development of a foiling marine cluster through industry recruitment, infrastructure and product development, and workforce training. It will also promote this partnership and its benefits to local communities, businesses, and educational institutions.
