World Sailing Recognizes the X-15 Class

World Sailing Recognizes the X-15 Class as the First Official One Design Wingfoil Class. Here's more from Starboard:

With World Sailing Class Status, the X-15 Class will crown five World Champions at its first World Championships in 2026.

Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, November 2025— World Sailing, the global governing body for the sport of sailing, on Nov 8th  officially recognized the X15 as the first-ever One Design World Sailing Wingfoil Class, marking a historic milestone in the evolution of sailing.

This recognition establishes the X15 as the benchmark class for competitive wingfoiling worldwide, uniting athletes, clubs and event organizers  under a standardized, globally governed equipment framework. The x15 class will serve as the foundation for innovative racing formats, from grassroots development to elite world championships.

“The X-15 Class represents a perfect blend of innovation, accessibility, and performance. It’s recognition as a World Sailing Class cements wingfoiling’s place within the global sailing community. It opens up for new pathways for competition growth and scalable eco action through the innovative plastic credit prize pool, introducing environmental purpose to sports. The class also calculates event travel and equipment production emissions, then plants mangroves with WIF foundation to draw down 2x the total emission. Our main objective is to grow sailing through engagement with the over 8000 sailing clubs globally. I wish class manager, Ava Hider, all the best for building the 2026 tour calendar”, Svein Rasmussen, the Starboard founder who has driven the X15 project since its first trial event at the 2023 foiling week in Lake Garda, Italy.

The Class was developed through collaboration between top athletes, America’s Cup designers, and high-tech industry partners. The X-15 is a tribute to Jim Drake who co-invented windsurfing, winging, who worked closely with Starboard and he is also the designer of the world’s fastest manned plane, the X-15.

The X-15 class association will work closely with World Sailing to coordinate global events, ranking systems, and youth development programs, ensuring the sport continues to grow in a sustainable and inclusive way.

About the X-15 Class

The X-15 Class is a one-design wingfoil class approved by the World Sailing Equipment Committee. However, unlike traditional one-design sailing classes, the X-15 is built around a forward-thinking strategy: to evolve in sync with advancements in foiling technology. While maintaining standardized equipment to ensure fairness and accessibility, the Class will see gear updates approximately every two years in line with the updated Class Rules, allowing athletes to benefit from new developments.

Website: https://x-15class.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/x15class/