Andy Rice hits stupid speeds on Lake Garda catamaran

The wind on Lake Garda does not gently whisper; it screams down the Italian alpine valley. This legendary body of water serves as the ultimate playground for high-speed sailing. During Foiling Week, the water transforms into a field of carbon fiber. Among the fleet, the ETF 26 foiling catamaran stands out as a pure speed machine. Stepping aboard is not a casual afternoon cruise; it is an invitation to adrenaline-fueled chaos.

Deciphering the Flight Controls

There is no gentle learning curve. The regular crewman, Sam, simply jumped off the boat and handed over the control lines. Suddenly, Andy Rice found himself responsible for the flight control system. The instructions from Graham and Kai came fast and thick. Pulling one line adjusts the rake setting, altering the angle of attack on the underwater foils. Negative rake lowers the ride height, while positive rake lifts the hull. It requires quick thinking and immediate physical response.

Shouting Through the Spray

When the foils catch, the transition is instant. The hulls rise above the choppy water, and the drag drops to near zero. Acceleration hits like a freight train. The catamaran surged forward at speeds that felt completely unnatural. The wind noise was deafening, drowning out everything but raw shouts of excitement. It was the fastest run on a sailboat in a lifetime, a blur of white water and carbon hulls.

Finding Order in the Chaos

Keeping the catamaran airborne requires absolute synchronization. A three-way communication dance plays out between the helm, the main sheet trimmer, and the foil trim controller. If one element slips, the boat crashes down. Though terrified and slightly clueless, keeping the foils balanced delivered a pure rush. High-speed sailing is not just about muscle; it is about trusting the physics of flight.