All Female Crew to Kick-off the 2023 ETF26 Circuit

Squad Announced for Ouest-France ETF26 Event

Squad Announced for Ouest-France ETF26 Event

Since last autumn, Athena Pathway have been busy out on Portland Harbour upskilling on the ETF26. With two new coaches to the team, Nikki Boniface and Tom Phipps, the female and youth sailors have been able to make great strides in their foiling abilities.  

© C.GREGORY/INEOS BRITANNIA

After a successful ETF26 event at the end of 2022, Athena Pathway will take part in all five events in the ETF26 2023 Season: 

  1. Ouest-France / April 7th to April 10th 2023 / La Trinité sur Mer, France
  2. Raid Quiberon / May 31th to June 3th 2023 / Quiberon, France
  3. Foiling Week / June 28th to July1st 2023 / Malcezine, Italy 
  4. Grand Pavois Foiling Event / September 20th to September 23th 2023 / La Rochelle, France 
  5. Grand Prix Foiling Mar Menor / October 4th to October 7th 2023 / Murcia, Spain 

In March, two selection camps were run over two weeks. Despite challenging weather conditions the camps were a great success and sufficient time was spent on the water to make a good assessment of the sailors abilities and potential. After assessing the abilities of the sailors as well as weight restrictions of the class, the squad for the first ETF26 event has been selected. 

The following athletes will be representing Athena Pathway:  

Helm - Emily Nagel  

Trim - Nikki Boniface  

Bow 1 - Kate MacGregor  

Bow 2 - Eilidh McIntyre 

An all-female team will represent Athena Pathway at the first event in the ETF26 circuit. Helmed by Moth sailor and data analyst Emily Nagel, with Nacra 17 legend Nikki Boniface on mainsheet and Olympic gold medallist Eilidh McIntyre paired with all round sailing superstar Kate MacGregor on the bow.     

The teams selected for each event will be under continuous review, in order to select the best teams for the ETF26 events and to generate a team to take part in the Women and Youth Americas Cup in Barcelona next year.  

To follow the first event, please be sure that you are following us on Instagram, Athena Pathway Programme (@athenapathway) • Instagram photos and videos