Foiling/Foil Assist: Martin Fischer A Class Cat

[Doug Lord]

Here are pictures of Martins experimental A Class Cat and some comments from him and the Catamaran Racing Blog guy:

I think this could be the ideal intermediate solution to generate more lift reducing surface drag to a minimum, but maintainnig some control even trapezing.
Till now we've seen too many hydrofoils beachcats flying too high that cannot be sailed on a course race, but this type of flying seems the beggining of a new era in catsailing.
Of course it will be necessary to match it against other As, but click the images and see how controled the platforms looks.
If someone could pull it off, Fischer is your man, in the above pics testing his own innovations.
SI new F18 will have a Flying version, that is going to be proposed as an Olympic boat for Rio 2016.
Photos are from his previous A-Class platform with the new flying rudders and daggerboards.

From Fischer:
"...Attached first photos of the flying A. Average wind speed was 16 knots, gusts above 20 knots. The boat feels good and trapezing downwind in these conditions was not too difficult – although occasionally a bit stressful ..."


----http://catsailingnews.blogspot.com/ (scroll down)

----May 2010 interview where Martin Fischer discusses foils and the future of catamaran/multihull sailing: http://catsailingnews.blogspot.com/2...n-fischer.html

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Just found this below the stuff above on the same site:

Udin's press release:
Sail Innovation is proud to announce the launch of the Phantom project.
After their F18 world title, Olivier Backes and Arnaud Jarlegan were looking for a new challenge for 2011.

We decided to develop a brand new 18' in close collaboration with Martin Fischer, in order to present a flying cat for Olympics Games selection for Rio.
The Phantom 18' is based on all the development Martin’s did on the foils on the A Class since several years.
After testing a lots of different foils and lifting rudders designs, Martin has find a brand new foils shape in combination with special lifting rudders which allows the boat to be really stable and fast while flying but also be very competitive in the light wind.
We are convinced by the fact the flying cats is probably the future of our sports in terms of performance but also for the show.
An F18 version of this 18” has been developed in parallel to test the hull in different configuration.
We are actually finishing the first boat in the F18 version in order to prepare the Eurocat. Olivier and Arnaud will be the first crew sailing on the boat.

I am already very proud of all the team for being so much involved in this challenging project, it is another fantastic adventure for SAIL INNOVATION.




see this thread: Racing Cat: Shared Lift/Curved foils

click on image:

[bruceb]

Doug, do you have any idea of the actual foil section and size that the cat is using? B

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by bruceb

Doug, do you have any idea of the actual foil section and size that the cat is using? B

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Not yet but I'm working on it. Have you seen the video of the Nacra F20 with curved daggerboards doing intentional "wheelies"? Don't know those sections either but read somewhere 63412 but I'm afraid that was a guess. Pictures look like maybe symmetrical foils?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82CDZ...ayer_embedded#

They don't use lifting rudder foils as, apparently, Fischer does(or will). Fischers boat seems to be dragging the stern so I'm not sure the boat in the pictures above has the lifting rudders.

The pictures below will give you an idea of the Nacra F20 foils length and enable a guestimate of area. Substantial lift for a relatively loose curve-Farriers* new foils have a much tighter, higher lift curve.
* Advantages/ Disadvantages of Curved Lifting Foils on Monohulls/Multihulls

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by bruceb

Doug, do you have any idea of the actual foil section and size that the cat is using? B

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Wrote to Martin Fischer and he said he would publish more info on the foils "in the coming weeks".