Stranraer's waters come alive again for fin and foil championships

THE Scottish Fin and Foil are back making waves at Loch Ryan next month. The wind sports event takes place just weeks after the town successfully hosted the record-breaking SkiffieWorlds 2025. Now in its third year dozens of the UK's finest windsurfers, wing foilers, hydrofoil sailors will descend on Stranraer from August 8 to August 10. Competitors will take part in four days of training, followed by three days of spectacular high-speed racing across multiple classes, including IQFOIL Olympic-class hydrofoils, Wing Foil, Race Boards, and the new addition of the WASZP class, a fast single-handed hydrofoil sailboat. Danny Hawthorn, chair of Scottish Fin and Foil is excited for the event to return to Stranraer, he commented: "Loch Ryan offers the perfect combination of reliable wind conditions, sheltered waters, and excellent shore access that makes it ideal for championship-level competition. The eight-mile sea loch provides consistent conditions while remaining spectator-friendly, and the support we receive from Stranraer Water Sports Association and the local community is exceptional." The event is being supported by Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA), Kevi Packer, Trustee of SWSA, said: "We are thrilled to welcome another world-class water sports event to Loch Ryan. The Scottish Fin and Foil Championships offer spectators a completely different experience to SkiffieWorlds, but an equally enjoyable one. The sight of these colourful sails and lightning-fast hydrofoils racing across our beautiful loch is spectacular. "The Scottish Fin and Foil Championships showcase the cutting-edge technology and athleticism of modern wind sports. We encourage everyone who enjoyed the festival atmosphere of SkiffieWorlds to come and experience something completely different, and to even have a go themselves!"