Boat profile
Formula Kite
| Type | Foiling kiteboard (board plus kite, not a boat) |
|---|---|
| Board | Maximum 1,550 mm long, 500 mm beam, minimum 2,000 g hull weight |
| Kite area | Up to 21 sq m (men), 19 sq m (women) |
| Typical speed | Around 30 knots downwind |
| Typical sailor | Olympic-pathway kiteboarders; part of the Youth National Team's six classes |
Formula Kite races riders on a foiling board about a metre long, stabilised by a foil system (mast, front wing, fuselage, and stabiliser) and powered by a kite rather than a rig stepped on the board. Equipment has to come from licensed manufacturers built to tight uniformity standards, which keeps the class close to one-design despite the range of kite sizes. Races run about 12 minutes, short and fast, which is part of why it reads as one of the more spectator-friendly Olympic sailing disciplines.
A short reference stub, expanded as the teaching material grows.