Along the shore of Key Largo’s Buttonwood Sound, sailing instructor Mari Perez explains the fine details of wing foiling. The equipment is straightforward; an inflatable sail and a board equipped with a hydrofoil.
Clutching the handles of the sail, or wing as it is called, the 21-year-old demonstrates to sailors at the Upper Keys Sailing Club this new water sport that is growing in popularity.
To hear Perez describe it, wing foiling is a rush.
“Actually you fly on the water once you get it,” she said. “I love it. It’s something that is out of this world.”
If you’ve never heard of wing foiling, you’re not alone. This is the latest way of harnessing the power of the wind to effortlessly slide across the water.
“I think the sport is gaining ground and I’m really excited that it’s going to be here,” said 63-year-old Bruce McCord. The Florida International University forensic chemistry professor has been windsurfing since 1983. McCord learned to windsurf in frigid Wisconsin, of all places.
“We would wait for the ice to melt and then we’d go out and learn to sail that way,” said McCord with a laugh.
On this sunny and warm December day at the Upper Keys Sailing Club, McCord gave wing foiling a try.
“Unlike kite sailing and some of those other extreme sports, if you drop the wing you just fall in the water. It’s much safer,” said McCord.
Besides having a detached inflatable sail, the board is equipped with a hydrofoil. The hydrofoil extends below the board into the water. With the help of a good breeze, the design causes the board to leave the surface of the water, levitating the sailor.
Foiling took off about five or six years ago, and has revolutionized the world of sailing. Windsurfing, which was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, has made a comeback and new sports like wing foiling are taking flight because of the exciting foiling feature.
“Anything that can move people on the water via sail, we need to be involved with,” said Rosa Lamela of her decision to offer wing foiling and windsurfing programs in the Upper Keys. Lamela is the executive director of the Mark Sorensen Youth Sailing Program at the Upper Keys Sailing Club.
In order to wing foil, a rider needs to adjust or maneuver the wing depending on the direction and strength of the wind. Having good balance is a must.
“It’s easy to foil on a wing foil board. It’s a little shorter so it’s easier to catch air and take off,” said Lamela.
Over the holiday break, MSYSP will offer two one-week winter camps geared at kids and teens ages 8-18. They will learn wing foiling, windsurfing and sailing. In the afternoon hours, lessons will be made available to adults. The location is ideal.
“We have flat breezy waters; it’s a perfect area,” added Lamela.
Retired electrical contractor Andrew “Kiwi” Burdett is an A-Class Catamaran sailor. Burdett was eager to give wing foiling a try.
“The wing is definitely light, it doesn’t weigh anything and to steer it, it doesn’t take a lot of effort, just balance and relaxing,” said Burdett.
“If the wind is too strong you can just hold it up in the air and you don’t have to worry about being overpowered, which is a problem on a windsurfer sometimes,” added McCord.
Perez says learning to sail anything requires a certain amount of intuition.
“You have to learn to feel the wind, learn where you need to have the sail,” she said. “I think it’s about connecting with nature and the wind,” added Perez.
The winter wing foiling, windsurfing and sailing camps will be held at the Upper Keys Sailing Club Dec. 19-22 and Jan. 2-5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The weekly rate is $395 for Monroe County children and teens and $525 for non-residents. Adult lessons will be offered during camp days from 3 to 6 p.m. More information is at www.msysp.org.
