From:                              Mike Drummond [mikedrummo@gmail.com]

Sent:                               Tuesday, 24 March 2009 8:45 p.m.

To:                                   'Murray '; 'Fleur Simpkin'; daarons@dml.co.nz; patrick.ashby@righthemisphere.com; steve@riggingshop.co.nz; blochbm@igrin.co.nz; kerry-c@xtra.co.nz; gregcathcollins@yahoo.co.nz; paramata1@xtra.co.nz; daveygj@clear.net.nz; Bruce.Davy@Forestresearch.co.nz; hamish@a-class.org.nz; sales@ericksenhonda.co.nz; bmharsant@xtra.co.nz; pyhooper@axtrix.co.nz; thekerrs@farmside.co.nz; rick@LambourneArchitects.co.nz; john.lindsay@silverfernfarms.co.nz; boatworksnz@gmail.com; 'John & Karen Marshall'; w.muntz@xnet.co.nz; marknissen@gmail.com; mikenorton@woosh.co.nz; kevin.percy.electrical@xtra.co.nz; chrisnlee@xtra.co.nz; dsenn@ihug.co.nz; clear-ridge@xtra.co.nz; fdthomson@xtra.co.nz; 'Ken and Shirls'; kitchensbykevin@xtra.co.nz; Benefieldsteve@xtra.co.nz; mncates@xtra.co.nz; samcross@xtra.co.nz; mark.d@xtra.co.nz; zeovitnz@paradise.net.nz; KAYEMANN@ihug.co.nz; tvcam@xnet.co.nz; dana-tenacity@usa.net; kev.mel@xtra.co.nz; e-statics@e-statics.net; Barham@xtra.co.nz

Cc:                                   'andy landy'; 'luc dubois'; 'stefano sirri'; 'John Goldsmith'; 'thomas paasch'; 'pieterjan dwarhuis'

Subject:                          RE: AW: IACA Ballot on hydrofoils

 

Hi,

I think Murray and myself have similar views about the A-class direction, but we differ on the problem and how to solve it.

 

The major problem is that ANY canted centreboard or rudder produces vertical lift, therefore it has a hydrofoil effect. If the class is serious about banning Hydrofoils then it HAS to ban canted and curved centreboards. Otherwise, what does a measurer do when someone turns up to a regatta with vertical boards and a protest flag? It will be a mess.

 

" a. No part of each hull or hull appendages below the waterline shall be less than 0.75 meters from the centre line.  " 

This is VERY restrictive for foiling - read Luc's technical analysis. With this rule you can foil, but the boat will be slow. Similarly to the Canadian C-class on foils - it was half the speed upwind, and 3/4 downwind of a regular boat. The photos looked good though :)

 

Murray wrote:

"If you can fit the parts of the tee foil down through the centre board case there is no reason you couldn’t assemble them back together again under the hull. "

This is incorrect  - a yacht can't be raced in a different condition to the way it is measured.

 

Fixed hydrofoils are allowed as are hydrofoils attached only to the beams.

Hydrofoils attached to the beams arenot allowed due to rule 1: "A catamaran is defined as a two-hulled sailing boat..."  

 

If you take this literally then transom hung rudders are not allowed as they don’t meet either criterion. "

No problem, transom hung rudders are inserted from the top onto the gudgeons.

 

In summary,

- boats can't realistically fly with the Rule 8a and this was shown at the Belmont worlds where no curved boards flew.

- the reality is the class has allowed hydrofoils for many years now - either change the boats, or change the rule.

 

I'm happy to answer any questions,

regards

Mike

NZL 245