Given the hydrofoil technology, does the hull ...
by Barney68 (2020-11-25 11:21:11)

In reply to: My once every four years sailing post.  posted by grnd

Post Reply Return to Back Room

configuration (mono, multi, length) matter at all? Given that it's not in the water when the boat is at speed, there's no displacement hull speed to worry about. The booms holding the hydrofoils to port and starboard change the stability question from one of a keel or multi-hull spacing to ... what? ... the length of a structural beam?

They are certainly incredible looking machines and, as an engineer, it's good to see technology moving forward. That said, as someone who has a teaspoon full (well, maybe a half-teaspoon) of sailing experience, is technology supplanting skill to an extent that it stops being a sport and becomes a design contest?

And then there's the question that those incredible pictures force upon me: what is holding them up? It looks like there should be at least one more hydrofoil at the bow!

Replies: