The State of Freaky Fast Sailing

[Gunni]

The Edmond De Rothschild - 60ft IMOCO class race monohull. This badboy is just out of the shop preparing for the transat Jacques Vabre. France to Brazil. Next year the Vendee Globe.

See it here trialing in classic Bay of Biscay conditions. Two guys sailing a boat freaky fast. I'm not even sure what I 'm looking at with those foils and running stays, this boat is bleeding edge.

 

[Jackdaw]

That's badass.

The foils act as trim tabs, generating more lift the more the boat heels. Result? Flatter and faster. Jib reaching upwind on a plane with reefed main and solent. Its the new world order.

An outfit called Infinity Yachts created (bought) an automated system that is designed for use by mortals. They call it DSS. Downside is only on their boats. Boo-Hoo.

http://www.infinitiyachts.com/technology/

 

[Gunni]

I think the Frenchy's have taken the foil way beyond the DSS thing. And they threw in the canting keel for good measure. Will this make all those guys who said foiling catamarans aren't real sailboats happy?

 

[Jackdaw]

I think the Frenchy's have taken the foil way beyond the DSS thing. And they threw in the canting keel for good measure. Will this make all those guys who said foiling catamarans aren't real sailboats happy?

The foils on the IMOCA60 provide the same function as DSS: more righting moment due to lift on the leeward side. DSS is just complex, heavy and needs hydraulics. IMOCA says all trim is manual. The rest of the boat is standard IMOCA; they have been canters for years. This boat drawn by Guillaume Verdier / VPLP Yacht Design; the current darlings of the IMOCA/Volvo/Open40 set.

 

[Joe]

Ooh.... that looks like fun. But I would so much like to see them jibe that beast.

 

[Jackdaw]

Ooh.... that looks like fun. But I would so much like to see them jibe that beast.

How about accidentally??

This ends up being a real ****-show because the canting keel is on the WRONG side and the boat just falls over. All sorts of alarms (auto-pilot, water sensor, etc) start going nuts to add to the work of getting her back on her feet.

 

[shemandr]

That's pretty cool. The fact they they had it back together in 2 minutes or so is amazing. We've had trouble getting our whisker pole set up in that time - that's not bragging! I'm not sure the alarms help since the crew already knows they're ####ed - even if they start out asleep.

 

[Jackdaw]

That's pretty cool. The fact they they had it back together in 2 minutes or so is amazing. We've had trouble getting our whisker pole set up in that time - that's not bragging! I'm not sure the alarms help since the crew already knows they're ####ed - even if they start out asleep.

They?? He. ;^)

Staam is the only one on the boat. Most of the recovery time is due to the keel being wound to the other side so the boat can stand up. The alarms sound loud because sometimes the poor buggers actually have to sleep.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Those deck spreaders are crazy!



Q: Has anyone seen foils for sale for a small boat like a laser?

I saw a few youtube videos but nothing for sale. yet...

ie; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIC1jlFIjtg

 

[Brian S]

Looks like it had 2 accidental gybes, the second after he gets the boat righted and under way again, but only briefly. Guess it just didn't want to sail that heading on port tack?

How about accidentally??

This ends up being a real ****-show because the canting keel is on the WRONG side and the boat just falls over. All sorts of alarms (auto-pilot, water sensor, etc) start going nuts to add to the work of getting her back on her feet.

 

[Brian S]

These sled boats are crazy. I always thought those broad, flat aft sections were all about planing, and that the boat would sail more flat. I learned watching some VOR footage this year, that a sled like that actually goes faster when heeled, because it lifts so much of the hull out of the water, significantly reducing drag. And the thing still planes heeled over like that!