The biggest issue I see with foiling an AI TI is the retractable rudder, pins and hull in that area, I doubt they would withstand the increased leverage forces of a longer/deeper rudder.
I tried making a rudder blade that was 900mm long and only 70mm deep with a fine taper to the bottom tip, for when sailing in large white capped swells to see if I could get better control as the waves passed under and the stern and the rudder broke clear of the surface. I found the retractable system loaded up with the force and begin to pop out from the correct position. As my AI is an 07 model but with the cable upgrade lift control fitted, I had to also use the old screw set up that was on the 07 model as well as the cables pulled tight to get it to hold, then the pins started to fail, I used (and still do while my supply lasts) the black soft pins as they protect my hull the best but only use the supplied large blade rudder.
I never calculated actual rudder blade surface area for a comparison but doubt there would be a lot of difference from the standard large blade that comes with the AI, I believe it was due mostly from the extra leverage of the longer length.
I looked at foils for amas mounted on cross braced forward akas and (if you could get it to hold) a foiled rudder blade to lift the rear but I think forward leverage from the sail would be to great and the foils at the front would need to be forward of the mast not even to help counter act that forward leverage.
I read on a few foil sites that planning does not begin until you reach speeds of (depending on craft,weight, draft etc) 9 to 11 knots, these speeds are almost impossible to reach in light winds how ever foil lift would begin from the start and may actually make it feasible, just who will be the first
not me
. Would be cool
though.
Login
Register
FAQ
