Flying tupperware
There’s been talk on the Moth UK list about
Linton Jenkins of Full Force retro-fittings hydrofoils to the
RS600.
Sounds like an interesting idea. A 12sqm sail area, single trap
foiler. It’ll be interesting to see how they go getting it to fly
seeing as there’s almost double the weight in one of those compared
to a modern foiling Moth.
Maybe I should start selling kevlar body-armour for these guys when
they start losing limbs in the shrouds… instantly going from 25
knots to a complete standstill when the foil breaks the surface…
and the resulting catapult into the rigging from trapeze… those
80kg RS sailors are going to need all the help they can get.
Fun times
So will it actually work? Probably. With full-carbon Moths
struggling with their relatively light loads, I don’t know how the
roto-mould chopstrand plastiche technology is going to last. Their
added wetted-surface is probably not going to help during lift-off,
though the extra sail will help them go deeper downhill - if they
can stay on board.
It’ll be nice to see an trapezing sailor foiling upwind with Veal
heel to windward… not sure which way the dynamics will be working
there… nice angle for the trap hook to automagically detach I
would imagine… let alone the fun sensation of losing traction and
slipping into a fast bearaway…
The more I think about it… the more I want to see one…
