Hydrofoils on a 15?

[Martin Searle]

Folks,

Just wondering if anyone has wondered what would happen to a 15 if you put a set of hydrofoils on each hull and rudder blades? a la Hydroptere. I guess if it could get properly airborne it would be pretty fast.

Purely a pie in the sky thought neither having the resources, boat building talent or technical know how to do it myself.

Martin S.

[Steve Sawford]

It will go as fast as a 15 on 2 launch trolleys down the beech
Proberbly out of control

But I know a boat builder who could do it

[Kevin Dutch]

Best speak to mr Dewhurst about how fast a sprint goes on two launching trollies as he has already done that a few years back at a nationals.

[George Stephen]

I think that some years ago there was quite a few cats on hydrofoils at the speed event at Weymouth - I recall this being an annual event but things may have changed.

There was certainly a Catapult on foils, but I don't recall anyone trying to put foils on a Sprint 15.

I think that a Sprint 15 on foils would go faster than one on 2 trolleys on a beach.

The problem with a Sprint 15 on 2 trolleys is that you can't steer.... so you can't head up into the wind to slow to a stop..... It was a good thing that on his fastest run Nick crashed into a stream in a gulley in the sand at Saundersfoot before he reached the harbour walls..... He did go quite fast, but measuring speed from the speedometer of a 4x4 being driven almost alongside at almost the same speed is not the most accurate of assessments....