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I have been following the WA foiler developments with interest and quietly participating with some of my own. I thought I should share the latest developments.
About five years ago I started my first foiler development with a copy of the Ketterman Trifoiler principle. This consisted of 3 Tee foils. The two outer foils on the wing tips being controlled by surface ski sensors. The mechanism allowed non-linear control of the foil angle whilst sailing. On a reach at Balmoral in 12 knots I was able to go just a little faster than the Australian champion, but it was not good upwind and completely impractical to manage on the beach.
I then decided to try for a much simpler bi-foiler design with T foils on just the centreboard and rudder. The main foil on the centreboard also had a very small integrated trailing control sensor which maintained a constant level when foiling. This worked well enough to get me going and to get me hooked on this.
Some interesting and unexpected things happen when you get foilbourne. The noise of slapping waves is replaced with a silent, smooth ride and a small swishing hiss as you glide above the water.
It is also amazing when you race into a lull, the boat actually accelerates and lifts higher as all of the forces pushing it down are reduced. It then glides ever so sweetly back into the water.
Tacking is also incredible as there is no resistance to pivoting, you can actually turn 90deg in less than a second…hang on tight as it can be a handful to stay onboard.
Here is a photo of my first bifoiler, from some 3 years ago, which I am pretty sure was the first sailing dinghy to ever sail on rudder and centreboard foils alone!. You may also note the experimental rig, which is a real winner too.
My major dissapointment with all of the current foiler developments are that they still appear to be "contraptions" with huge foils creating a nightmare to rig and launch. I have therefore begun a project to build simple retractable foils in a standard centrecase. A new tall narrow aero rig is now completed and will also be a feature.
It would also be good to hear of some real details on how the current foilers are really performing. Top speed is of interest, but more importantly, how do they compare with a Hungry Tiger on all points of sailing?. Foilers will not be proven until they pass the ultimate test of beating a skiff in all conditions. This will not be easy, I remember it took at least 15 years before a Skiff finally beat a Scow convincingly in a breeze to win the 1986 Worlds in Adelaide. I expect it to take much longer before a foiler can really beat a current skiff in all conditions.
The Moth is the ideal craft for testing foils while comparing with the most advanced monohull designs available today.
Wishing all Moth sailors lot of fun experimenting.
Dr. Ian Ward
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