The story begins when friends find an article published in 1984 in Voiles et Voiliers. A double-page photo with a red Foil Dart in action and titled: Affoilant! A few years later, three friends, including Maurice Gahagnon, the owner of the Dart in question, decided to use this name to create an event around foils. Thus was born in 2015, Affoilante Week.
The band of three is made up of Maurice Gahagnon - designer of hydrofoil multihulls for more than 30 years, former world speed sailing record holder -, François Lys - owner of 2 operational foilers - and Frédéric Monsonnec - Owner of "PK", a T-beam trimaran designed and built by him in 1992. These three friends are united around the same passion: speed craft, mainly hydrofoils.
The Affoilante week is precisely intended to bring together all those who sail on foils. While the first 3 editions took place on the Quiberon peninsula (ENVSN), 2018 will see the first edition in the Mediterranean. Foil lovers or simply lovers of spectacle and speed on the water will meet from June 14 to 17, 2018 in Port Fréjus.
While in 2015 there were 26 participants for the first edition, the organizers expect more than 60 for 2018. All types of hydrofoil craft are represented, from hydrofoil trimarans, to windsurfing or kitesurfing, to foil Moth. Even motorboats are invited to the party. All these beautiful people come together to share their passion.
A 500 m run will be installed to measure some speeds and it is even planned a coastal course depending on the weather. On land there will be stands with animations: presentation of equipment, manufacturers, conferences... The access for the public is free and the site of Port-Frejus with its pier and the beach should offer a beautiful view of the water to enjoy the passage of the machines as close as possible to the land.
