“Mummy, do those little boats on the sea have wings? ” Just as air helps cars brake, masts, sails and platforms help sailboats stop. To gain a few precious knots in key events around the world, technical race teams compete to achieve technological prowess. The latest innovation? Foils. Foils are the wing-like side appendages that raise the hull above the waterline, reducing hydrodynamic drag by up to 75%, hence the stunning pictures of modern sailboats barely touching the water. “Of course, my darling. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to float off over the horizon...” .