Innovative scanning technology set to enhance 'level playing field'

The introduction of 3D scanning technology by World Sailing has been hailed as crucial to ensuring races are “decided on the water rather than the boat park”.

The innovative equipment, which sees foils in each of the Olympic classes scanned prior to racing in order to create a level playing field, is being trialled at the Paris 2024 Test Event currently taking place in Marseille.

Athlete feedback will be crucial to the ongoing implementation of the technology and World Sailing’s Director of Technical and Offshore, Jaime Navarro, is excited by the possibilities which lie ahead.

“Sailing, as we know it at the Olympics, is a competition between athletes,” he said.

“They are all supposed to be using the same equipment and ultimately, every athlete should have the same opportunities.

“What this allows us to do is make sure we can credibly confirm if all the equipment looks the same and make sure the competition is not at the boat park, but on the race course.

“We all realised this was a must for World Sailing. We are talking about a technical sport where athletes are very reliant on the equipment they use and we needed this enhanced inspection equipment.

“The athletes are encouraging these steps and welcoming the direction we are going in. They have been asking for this and we are now reacting and making sure we are there for them.”

Among the athletes pleased with their first impressions of the technology is Aruba’s Ethan Westera, who will be competing in the men’s iQFOiL competition this week and believes the rollout will have both short and long-term benefits.

“It’s a very good process,” he said. “Many people are trying to find ways to get faster, of course, so to keep it fair is the best way for everyone to maximise their skill in the water, so the best wins.

“It is going to increase the fairness and how professional you need to be as an athlete with the details.”

World Sailing will work with manufacturers as well as athletes as the rollout of the technology continues, helping to improve the quality at production and reducing the amount of equipment purchased for athletes. The result will be a greater sustainability and reduced costs.

Leonie Meyer (GER), who has made an impressive start in the Formula Kite Women competition in Marseille, has also welcomed the increased scrutiny equipment will now undergo prior to racing.

“It’s the first time we’ve had the scanning and it’s a really cool thing,” she said.

“The goal is we have the same equipment on the racecourse and have fair racing, so it’s really nice we are on the way to having that soon.

“Everyone is happy that we will have a fair sport where we all have the same equipment.”