Max Maeder, Singapore's gold-medal hopeful, is the poster child of sailing's sea changes since the last Olympics. 'Foiling' classes, such as his Kiteboarding discipline, will make up half the 10 events at the 2024 Olympics, compared to only one event in Tokyo.

When the 17-year old world champion hits Med waters off Marseille in southern France, many will be astonished to see kitesurfers iQFoil windsurfers and Nacra-17 catamaran sailers 'flying above the waves' on hi-tech foils.

Kiteboarding is a great example of how classes have changed since the first sailing competitions in the modern Olympic period were held in France, in 1900. The craft has become lighter and faster.

Max Blom is the CMO at North Actionsports Group, and co-founder of Mystic. He said: "Young talents from Asia like Max Maeder are important in promoting Olympic racing and creating historical stories that could increase the sport's visibility."

Blom, a kiteboarder from Singapore, added that "Maeder will be the favourite going into the Olympics and winning a medal for Singapore would be historic - it has only happened once before in any sport."

Maeder belongs to a generation that has learned how to foil right from the beginning, as opposed to those who must adapt to changes in handling, manoeuvring, and speed, along with the associated dangers.

Helmets are mandatory for all athletes who compete in foiling classes. This is due to the dangers of crashing into other competitors, or with boards.

The 49er and the 49erFX skiffs, which are non-foiling, are at the faster end of the spectrum. Helmets are not required.

Tomasz Chaera, vice-president at World Sailing and president of the Polish Yachting Association, believes that the faster classes are a "big leap forward" for attracting more youth to the sport.

Chamera said in an interview that "we have suffered with the number young people coming to the sport... they needed something trendy, fizzy and something spectacular, and the events today are giving them the opportunity."

The Tokyo Games had five men's events, four women's events, and one mixed event. In 2024, there will be gender equality at both the event and athlete levels. (Reporting and editing by Peter Rutherford; Alexander Smith)