Computerized Foil on a Tri

[poopdeckpappy]

I talk to the owner yesterday, this is all run by computer and there's only 3 in the world ( so he says )








In the first photo the wind is out of the west, the second photo, it turned as the wind came in from the NW

[Hyperion]

I've always believed that computers could optimize trim better than a human. Irrespective of whether the computerized trimming would improve speed by a few knots, I'd do it by hand anyway. Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but that looks hideous.

[labatt]

Thank GAWD there are only three in the world. That has got to be the UGLIEST piece of !#$% I've ever seen! I'd rather sail slowly and inefficiently. I wonder how it does in a breeze.

[Joel73]

Originally Posted by labatt

Thank GAWD there are only three in the world. That has got to be the UGLIEST piece of !#$% I've ever seen! I'd rather sail slowly and inefficiently. I wonder how it does in a breeze.

Definately not aesthetically pleasing to me either but very interesting.

[CapnHand]

Yes it's ugly, but you sure could put a lot of solar panels on those foils!

[USCGRET1990]

It would be a nightmare if the wind came up and the computer crapped out now wouldn't it?!?

[Hyperion]

Nah. They'd have back up manual winches to turn everything. LOL

Come to think of it, though, they must have a pile of batteries on board driving those things, too.

[Sapperwhite]

Time to reef the main.....oh wait a second.....uhhhh.....

[poopdeckpappy]

To be honest, I think a combination of an adjustment to the main flap and the trailing foil, would take care of the reefing issue

[tdw]

This is a pic originally posted on the SetSail site by Michel and Jane de Ridder, of a wing sail cat that was hit by some freak winds while at anchor.

The text with the pic was "Tahiti wingsail catamaran Te Marama after the July 10 Extreme Storm whose carbon fibre wing sail flew off the deck, leaving the people in the cabin unscathed, and landing on shore, where it exploded."