foiling chasing UFO
It is an american startup project from fulcrumspeedworks.com.
Weight 50 kg! , 2.70 x 1.70 meter, sail 7.8 sqm
8 kts wind speed gives 15 kts speed
https:/
Here's another more conventional cat with the wand foil adjustment system, called the Stunt S9.
https:/
Here's what I've been wondering ever since this foiling thing came to the A Cats, once you are up on the foils, hull length no longer applies for speed, so the real challenge comes to be how much sail area you can control, and how efficient your foils are, right?
Perhaps once all cats start foiling, a new measurement rule will evolve that only looks at total sail area, total foil area, and minimum weight?
Hull length, and maybe even beam, won't matter as much once you are up out of the water.
But that's exactly the genius in the design of this new UFO.
It's a very small and short craft with no other purpose than flying as soon as possible on foils.
It doesn't sink like a Moth and also doesn't have all the rimram of a full size cat.
Besides that, you can lift it single-handed and it has the price of an old second car.
It's more or less a
folk foiling boat
.
look here http://www.s9team.eu/ or facebook page
price 16600 euros full optional
24.7 knots top speed
80 kg

The Stunt, Stunt 9, and S9 are all terms for the same model boat. I sailed one at Foil Week in Newport in early September and enjoyed it. I sailed in marginal foiling conditions (maybe 8 mph) and was told when we got to shore that it would be priced at $22K in the U.S. (boat, originating country tax, trailer, and delivery to U.S.) I looked at Mark Batchelor's Exploder A Class cat and learned from him that they are available for $25K. I would spend the extra $3k for that boat over the S9 if I was in the market for a foiling cat. I would also wait to see how the production UFO turns out as all they had at that time was the prototype and were anticipating selling it for $9K and that would be way easier to transport, rig, launch, retrieve, store, and pay for if you just wanted to go foiling.
whether I win or lose in a race is not as relevant to my interest as ease of foiling/control and the
fun
factor (not complicated setup/breakdown, easy moving on land, storage, transport)
Heck, Hobie Waves aren't exactly the fastest low-riders on the market, but they are a hoot to sail due to their ease...
These foiling boats are turning my H-16 into the equivalent of a hard-wired dial phone!
And the problem with that is....>? What's wrong with
classic
tech if it still works reliably and is enjoyable for you?
I enjoy driving manual transmission vehicles
I like hardwired phones
I still write letters
I sail a low-rider
Here is the latest foiling entry and the price of 15,000 Euros would be under $16,000 U.S. thanks to the strong dollar. Looks very promising! http://www.foiling101.com/
The explanation is that by having it behind the foil where there is a smoother ride (less elevation variation compared to nearer the bow) and therefore less trim variation from the wand moving less, there is less
porpoising
from reduced trim tab movement. Makes sense and seems pretty clever.
Fulcrum Speedworks put this out on their Facebook page.
BIG Website update including a thorough FAQ and detailed description of the stuff that goes into the UFO. Check it out
http:/
Their Facebook page is https:/
Hint the price for the UFO is under $8,000
The UFO won this award from Sail magazine: https:/
It is also nominated for an award at Sailing World magazine.
And a genius design!
Here's a nice vid including the comparison with a wasp.
https:/
The UFOs seem to been beaten to the finish by boats like a Butterfly (for people outside the USA, it's a heavy 12' scow that is much slower than a Laser) in their first regatta, in light winds. The Waszps aren't as fast as Moths, but that still mean they are a lot quicker than the UFOs in such conditions.
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