Class votes for smaller sails in an effort to widen pool of athletes. There's been a concern that current sizes of 9.0 (men) and 8.0 (women) prioritize higher than average weights (e.g. circa 95 kg/210 lbs for men) and make it difficult for Jrs to transition to senior sailing.
https://www.iqfoilclassofficial.org/_files/ugd/297cf0_bccba77349414b1292bbeb9c0d198e30.pdf
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More details below. While the class association passed the changes, they still have to be approved by World Sailing.
https://www.windsurfjournal.com/article,news,more-to-come-for-the-iqfoil-class-in-2025,10411,en
excerpt
"The purpose of the meeting was to deliberate on relevant issues, including concerns about the potential health implications associated with gaining weight to reach the typical iQFOil height and the challenges faced by young competitors in the transition to the senior circuit. In preparation for this Extraordinary General Meeting, a survey had been developed and widely circulated among iQFOil athletes from the U17 to Senior categories. In addition, the survey was sent to full members of the class with the intention of distributing it more widely among their respective members. In total, the questionnaire was sent to over 2,000 contacts, a total of 663 responses were received.
The aim of the survey was to address concerns about potential health consequences, particularly in relation to the weight gain required to achieve the iQFOil template. The reduction in sail size is intended to lead to a corresponding reduction in target weight, ensuring that the wind range of the competition will not be affected, as adjustments to the power-to-weight ratio will be taken into account. And with an overwhelming majority, 85% in favour of reducing the sail area for men and 92% in favour for women, the iQFOil class is clearly heading straight for a major change and new sail sizes from 2025, a change that will be validated by World Sailing. These changes will be presented at the Mid Year Meeting from 13 to 16 May and, if approved, will be implemented from January 1st next year..."
Nico Goyard posted this on a forum:
"A small [clarification]: it was actually voted by the IQFoil class, but the change has to be approved by World Sailing. So it's a good chance that it's done, but it's not done yet.
Weight level, it should actually decrease. We're going to go from a target weight around 93-95kg in 9m to probably 88kg in 8m which should make the series more affordable. It's going to be good sizes (the still is the 900 foil) but much more accessible.
For girls this should go from a target weight to 68-70 kg in 8m to 63-65 in 7.3 so also more accessible to more templates.
The difference in target weight between men and women in 8m comes from the difference in weight/power ratio which causes a man of 88 kg to fly as early as a woman 70 kg."
His "weight/power" comment is interesting and explains why I get off the water like a ... old man.