Performance Academy partners with Magenta Foiling Team to introduce more women to foiling

Performance Academy partners with Magenta Foiling Team © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The Performance Academy is excited to be supporting the Magenta Foiling Team by providing a series of foiling clinics.

The Magenta Foiling Clinics aim to develop women in foiling boats, with groups of female sailors partaking all over the world. Clinics have taken place in locations such as Mumbai, Los Angeles, Dublin, Datchet and in Portland at WPNSA - with the Portland clinics led by coaches from the Performance Academy.

The Magenta Foiling Team is part of The Magenta Project, a UK-based charity that aims to create gender parity in our sport. The Magenta Foiling Team's aim is to inspire, upskill, and to change culture in foiling sailing and the foiling clinics provide fantastic training opportunities for talented female sailors, many of whom have never foiled before.

"It was a really cool experience because there were so many people from such different backgrounds of sailing. I have a strong background in board sports, especially windsurf foiling, and my sailing experience was limited. I had definitely never sailed a foiling boat before, so it was pretty cool going from that to getting foiling in the WASZP in one weekend. Being with a load of other passionate sailors was also just awesome." - Catrin Williams, IQFoil Windsurfer.

So far, the Performance Academy has hosted four clinics, which has seen over 50 women take part. This subsidised training has seen just over £9000 of investment from the Andrew Simpson Foundation, supporting women to get out on the water.

The Magenta Project and the Magenta Foiling Team's core values strongly align with the Andrew Simpson Foundation, aiming to increase inclusivity and accessibility in sailing.

"The supportive coaching team enabled me to go from a complete beginner to understanding the basics of foiling during the clinics. I left each day so motivated to work on my learnings the next time I was in the boat. Added to this, the community within each small coaching group was electric, women supporting women at all different levels of learning. We not only learnt how to foil but all about the WASZP [dinghy] set up and future opportunities for more coaching and racing. After our first day, sailors were already asking how they could find a boat; we were all hooked!" - Kate Jordan, Yacht Racer.

"Being part of The Magenta Foiling Team clinics is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had as a coach. I really enjoy sharing what I've learned, seeing everyone progress on the water, and just having a great time together. It's a privilege to help create a space where women can learn, support each other, and grow with confidence." - Ross Banham, Foiling Coach

"It's always so rewarding to coach at the Magenta Foiling Clinics! The community is so special, and the supportive environment always leads to some great progress from all the sailors. It's an awesome feeling to help people experience foiling for the first time." - Jaz Boote, Programme Coordinator & WASZP Coach, Performance Academy.

To learn more about The Magenta Project, the Magenta Foiling Team or to get involved in the Magenta foiling clinics, visit: themagentaproject.org/foiling/