Friday, October 31, 2008

R Class foiler-the boat has foiled!


R Class foiler-the boat has foiled! Here are some numbers:

Hull weight 63lb(29kg) plus a min. of 20lb(9.1kg) for rig and foils(probably not possible at this weight)=83lb ready to sail(nice if you can do it!)

Sail Area upwind: 140 sq.ft.(13sq.m)

Hull beam at wl(ESTIMATE) 3'(.9m)results in a L/B ratio of 4.33/1

crew ESTIMATE=320lb.(145.5kg)

sailing weight=403lb(183.2kg)

W/SA=2.87

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This ratio would allow the boat to foil upwind but in marginal conditions /light air it probably would foil after the Moth,RS600FF,M4 and Foiling 18. To bring it to the 2.558 number of the Moth either SA would have to be increased to 158sq.ft(14.7 sq.m) or the weight would have to be reduced to 358lb.(162.7kg)-leaving a 275lb.(125kg) crew.

A probable negative factor that would suggest lowering the W/SA number further is the sloop rig
Another negative factor suggesting a lowering of the number even further is the relatively wide hull at the waterline(compared to the ideal).

This boat could foil well downwind even in light air-in heavy air downwind it would need a smaller much flatter spin.

It could foil upwind in all conditions a Moth with a 180lb crew could as is. But light air /marginal conditions performance would be improved if the negative factors above are addressed by less weight and/or more upwind SA.

If only it had pods, a sliding seat, manual control and dual midship wands.

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Monday, October 20, 2008

crime against humanity

There is a rumor on the blogosphere that a 16' foiler, described as a "Monster Moth" by Phil S. exists and I don't have any details.



It is a crime against humanity to keep the fantastic development work he is doing to himself. Please-for the sake of all thats good and holy-please can someone ante up with the story and ideas! The only other alternative will be to send the foil police to deal with the situation.

Ok, perhaps I'm being too "demanding"-yeah, thats it. So how about posting the pictures and info one week from tomorrow? Is that ok? Thanks.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Kiting is kiting-sailing is not kiting-kiting is not sailing.

The magical 50 knots barrier fell as the outright sailing speed record fell twice in 24 hours at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge over the weekend, with French kitesurfer Alexandre CAIZERGUES recording the fastest speed of all at 50.57 knots, subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). - sailing.org

If a kiteboard is a boat then so is a waterski-absolutely ridiculous! A "boat" has to support it's load with buoyant lift at rest. But nothing can take away the kite guys accomplishment-so far(if ratified) it appears they hit 50 first-congratulations. But it is NOT a sailboat record-it is a kiteboard record.
And a kite is not a SAIL-it is a kite! In the same way an airplane is not a helicopter!

A kite can be moved independently of the"craft" it is powering to increase apparent wind enhancing power. A kite produces much more vertical lift than a sail. There is no "put-down" of kites or kiteboards in what I'm saying: it is a recognition that these two forms of harnessing wind power ARE different and should not be confused with each other in my humble opinion.

A kiteboard-carries one person only when moving -requires wind close to or higher than its top speed.
hydroptere-carries 11,000 lb of carbon + 8 people at 52knots in wind significantly less than its top speed.And it carries the same load at zero knots!

So I sent of an email and got this interesting reply from John Reed:
----------------
Dear Doug,

The categories which can make attempts on sailing speed records are decided
by ISAF.The WSSR has no responsibility to decide whether kites can claim
the outright record.

Regards,

John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
-----------------------------------
Guess I have to raise hell with ISAF. Right.... time for another email.

"I'm curious why ISAF considers kiteboarding to be "sailing" ? I think what the kiteboarders have done is phenominal but how can it be placed in the same category as a sailboat speed record?
No way is a kite a "sail"; no way is a kiteboard a boat.
So what is the rationale?
Thanks!
Sail Fast,Doug Lord"

If you have a board that is not a boat and a kite that is not a sail and yet you want to be able to claim a "sailing" speed record?! Listen, what kites have done is tremendous-but they are not "sailboats" and do not deserve a "sailing" record!!

Kiting is kiting-sailing is not kiting-kiting is not sailing. End of message.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

They REALLY don't know what they're talking about!!

The Bradfield planing wand has been around 8 years longer than the bow wand( which was copied from the Bradfield system) and can be adjustable-with the ratio of wand movement to flap movement completely adjustable with variations of the system including a wand clutch, adjustable bungee tension AND adjustable bungee responce.

Also, "cam" like adjustment set ups that allow variable RATES of flap movement for a given wand movement-and more-all developed by the Bradfield team years ago. And things like simultaneous fore and aft flap movement with 100% mixing adjustability, manual/wand instant switchback, manual only fore and aft systems,athwhartship angled midship wand pivot axis are being developed now(among other very interesting technical tidbits you will hear about in a while).

1) from seahugger mode to flap neutral the wand tip moves 62.5% of its max travel
2) from flap neutral to max flap up the wand moves 37.5% of its max travel

That gives much finer flap control from 10 degress flap down to 2.5 degrees flap up with much quicker reaction above 2.5 degrees up-something that is required on the Rave since the foil pulls down as well as up and is symetrical set with a 2.5 degree positive angle of incidence to the static(design) waterline.

So, you see, it pays to think(or at least check out the facts rather than guess) before you speak........

And,oh yes: a high priority on jumping with 100% successful re-entry.