[MHml] 24h record by small boat?

[Tom Speer]

Dave Culp wrote:
> 
> ...These boats are experimenting
> with angled daggerboard lift today; they will soon "back in" to
> becoming fully foilborne, IMO. At that time, boat length becomes of
> little interest...

I don't think so.  If you're talking about subcavitating foils,
the big cats are already sailing at the end point of what can be
achieved with foils.  Look at Longshot - Ketterman has never been
able to push her past the 40 kt mark because of cavitation. 
Supercavitating foils would not be so limited, but I have my
doubts as to whether they would be efficient enough for a sailing
craft.  I haven't tried to run any numbers, though, so this is
just speculation.  

I see hydrofoils as being of more value to turn a small boat into
a giant-killer in the right conditions.  A small boat that takes
off at 12 kt and goes 30 kt gains a lot more than a big boat that
takes off at 20 kt and goes 30 kt (150% vs 50%). But the big boat
is still going to be faster in light winds (less wetted
area/displacement, taller rig) and in heavy conditions when the
foiler can't fly.

At any rate, you're not going to create a supercavitating flying
foiler by evolving from angled dagger boards.  It's going to have
to be completely engineered as a whole system.

Cheers,

-- 
Tom Speer
tspeer at gte.net
http://home1.gte.net/tspeer
fax: +1 206 878 5269