[quote=bradinjax]I was on the fence about all this foiling technology also until I tried one. The sensation of breaking free of the surface of the water and accelerating without hull noises is unique. And yes, foiling is really sailing. If your using the wind to push a vehicle with a sail through the water you are sailing.
Even though foiling technology has been around for a long time it has been the use of lighter and stronger materials that have broken through the performance barrier relatively recently. It will only get better. It took a long time for multihulls to go from monstrosity, curiosity, then tolerance to acceptance. Foiling is in the same cycle. The sailing community moves very slowly.
There are new products that have massively lowered the cost barrier to entry like the UFO from the Clark family and foiling kiteboards. This will get all kinds of new people into a boat that foils. Once you try a boat that foils you will understand what the buzz is all about.
One more thing. Foiling monohulls for the AC boat is a huge step backward in my opinion. The Americas Cup should be about innovation, sportsmanship and international competition. Frankly, ever since the protest series in the late 1980's and the many years of rules bending and "winning by lawyer" since then have significantly lowered my interest in the Americas Cup. Except the 34th AC in 2013. Probably one of the greatest sports achievements ever....in any sport. Also, the last AC in Bermuda was an all-time low. The coverage was horrible, the racing was practically unwatchable due to light winds and I found it insulting that it was not in America even though USA was hosting. It was like having the Superbowl in London.
I now follow the Jules Verne, Vendee Globe, M32 series, Race to Alaska, and Volvo Ocean Race much closer than the Americas Cup.
Just some random thoughts,
Brad<!-- editby --><em>Edited by bradinjax on Jun 18, 2018 - 08:36 AM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
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