25 February, 2026

Returning foiler flies high after taking time out

Back on board… Patrick Haybittle in action at the recent New Zealand iQ Windfoil national championship off Milford.

PHOTO: INSIGHT MEDIA

Patrick Haybittle won 13 races in a row to take the Open Gold division at the recent New Zealand iQ Windfoil New Zealand champs off Milford – despite not competing seriously for two years.
Haybittle, who competes from the Milford Cruising Club, put in a solid campaign a couple of years ago in attempting to gain New Zealand selection for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but lost to Josh Armitt who went on to place fourth at the Games.
Haybittle took a break from racing and switched to coaching intermediate to elite youth sailors in a programme at the Wakatere Boating Club at Narrow Neck Beach. He took yachties to world championship regattas in 2024 and 2025.
He was delighted to “dust off” his gear for the recent iQ champs held over Waitangi weekend.
“It was the first event I’d entered for a year… I did three days training,” the 27-year-old said.
“It was definitely enjoyable to get out on the water and we had great weather.”
The racing may have stirred his competitive drive. He’s looking to enter the “unofficial Oceania Championships” to be held off Manly Sailing Club this month.
Haybittle started as a young yachtie before swapping to windsurfing aged around 13. He competed for New Zealand at two world youth championships.
In 2018-2019 he “jumped on the foil” and has been windfoiling since. He won the 2019 national champs and has been a regular placegetter since. One of the appeals of windfoiling is the speed – sometimes over 50 km/h.
Haybittle is a corporal in the Royal New Zealand Air Force based at Whenuapai, where he works as an avionics technician – “an air force sparkie”.

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