hydrofoil laser sailboat

• +613 9585 3585
• [email protected]

What Makes FOILSZ Unique?

The foilsz kit.

• fixed using top to bottom bolts through case - fit in 5 minutes, no holes!
• includes hydrofoil with articulated flap.
• including hydrofoil
• with integrated tiller and twist grip extension.
• includes cable to connect to front foil.
• top rudder gudgeon spacer
• guaranteed fun!

Some of the FOILSZ kit parts are interchangeable with a WASZP. These are the parts maked in bold . If you already have a WASZP, you can use the parts marked in bold. There is an option in the store just to buy the extra bits needed for the Laser.

Also, we will have an option for the WASZP to buy a boat without the parts you already have.

FOILSZ Kit Components

• Category Title

Horizontal Foil Section

The horizontals are a hybrid of high speed sections proven in the Mach2 and low speed, high tolerance sections used in the latest low wind Mach2 foils.

Vertical Foil Section

The vertical sections have come from proven low ventilation sections used on the Mach2.

Rudder Stock & Tiller

Down Position

Both the centre and rudder foils are fully retractable meaning launching is easy and safe.

Up Position

FOILSZ Storage and Transport

Your FOILSZ kit comes in a specially designed box that makes it very easy to transport safely. Each component fits into a padded slot so that your precision engineered FOILSZ components are safe from accidental damage when you go sailing.

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Home » Blog » Sail » Hydrofoil boats for the rest of us

Hydrofoil boats for the rest of us

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: August 18, 2023

Glide Free Foils Laser on foils. Photo credit: sailboats.co.uk ,

Watching foiling boats fly around the America’s Cup race course, is enough to quicken any sailor’s pulse. But unless you’ve got a spare few million kicking around, most hydrofoil boats are still very much out of the average boater’s budget . There are however a few ways to experience the magic of foiling without racing towards bankruptcy.

HOW DOES HYDROFOILING WORK?

Much in the same way that air flows over and under aircraft wings to create lift, water flowing around a hydrofoil lifts a boat’s hull out of the water . Once the greater part of the boat’s surface area is out of the water, friction is greatly reduced and the boat can “fly” at faster speeds .

How fast? The 2021 America’s Cup AC75s are expected to reach top speeds of 40 to 50 knots!

Like sails, foils are not a matter of “set it and forget it”, instead the foil-attitude must be adjusted to keep the boat in flight . On the 2017 America’s Cup boats these adjustments were made by the skipper/helmsman but powered (via a hydraulic system) by crew grinding winches (or in New Zealand’s case, pedal bikes ).

Because we don’t all have Jimmy Spithill ‘s magic touch, developing highly sophisticated flight control systems is key to bringing foiling into mainstream boating. Candela, a new 25-foot production e-foiling powerboat (and 2019 Best of Boats award winner) offers such a solution with foils that change position 100 times per second! Still, at ~$240,000 it’s well beyond most boating budgets. 

Fortunately, smaller foilers (dinghies and boards) don’t require high tech flight control systems and are far less expensive . Here are a few options for (more) affordable foiling:

HYDROFOIL DINGHIES

Laser foiling kits.

Clip a foil onto your Laser and fly over the surface of the water. Two Australian based companies, Foilsz and Glide Free Foils , offer Laser foiling kits. The Glide Free kit doesn’t require any permanent fixtures, so you can easily remove it (for those days when you’re in a displacement mode mood). They say that speeds of 18-25 knots are possible with their kit, which sells for just under $4,530 AUD (~$3,00 USD). 

UFO foiling multihull

For a few bucks more you can buy a foiling catamaran. The UFO was launched in 2017 and can fly at 15-20 knots. With a price tag of $7,000, it may be the most economical multihull foiler on the market.

Take a foiling course

Some clubs and community sailing programs are adding foilers to their fleets. For example Nantucket Community Sailing offers a 3-hour semi-private class for $100 per person . Or if you’re looking for a more exotic locale, the Provela Foiling Centre in Spain offers a range of foiling classes from beginner to advanced. Their two-day “Try Fly – Foiling” class costs 200 euros and their fleet includes Foiling Moths, White Formula Whispers, WASPZs, and F101s.

HYDROFOIL KITEBOARDS

It’s not like kiteboards are sluggish to begin with, but hydrofoil boards take the sport to a whole new level, delivering speeds of 40 miles an hour ! By using a foil to lift their boards out of the water, foiling kiteboard enthusiasts get an exceptionally quiet and smooth ride – so much so, that   kiteboard riders in Silicon Valley have been spotted taking calls on their cell phones. Set up costs start at around $1,000. Take a foil boarding course and buy protective gear, this extreme water sport is not for the faint of heart.

HYDROFOIL WINDSURF BOARDS

Foiling is taking off in the windsurfing world with world champions like Robby Naish and Atoine Albeau leading the charge. It has been confirmed that windfoiling will be a class at the 2024 Olympics in Paris . Set up costs start around $2,500. 

With foiling technology trickling down into the mainstream, you can expect to see more and more high speed foiling boats and boards on the water .  Is foiling the future? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

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FOILSZ Laser/ILCA Foiling Teams Up with S1D!

February 16, 2022 by Sail1Design Editor 2 Comments

We have lift-off! S1D is pleased to announce that we are the North American dealer for FOILSZ, an Australian company focused on foiling at all levels and with a great deal of success doing it. These foiling kits will have your ILCA/Laser up and foiling in no time! Interested? We have kits on the way right now, and plan to rig up soon with 2 Lasers dedicated to foiling at our sailing center. These kits are completely compatible with your ILCA/Laser as it is; no modification needed to boat or rig, prices are reasonable and vary with exchange rates and shipping!

Contact us at:  [email protected] to learn more and order yours!!

The development of FOILSZ didn´t just happen over night. It has been the culmination of over 20 years of sail, hull and foil development from the people behind KA Sail, the Bladerider & MACH2 Moths and the recently released WASPZ foiling dinghy. Everything learnt over these years in making the world´s fastest and most reliable foiling dinghies has been used to create the FOILSZ kit for Lasers. So when you buy a set of FOILSZ, you know you have many years of successful foiling pedigree backing the performance of your foiling Laser.

The essential design elements were –

• simple fitting to a standard Laser with no modifications to the boat or rig
• high performance foiling in all sailable weather conditions
• the ability to launch in shallow water from a standard Laser beach trolley
• foils that can be fully raised or lowered from within the boat
• an inexpensive foiling solution for all sailors
• precision engineering and high quality components

The foiling kit had to be ready to go “straight out of the box” so that users can go foiling as soon as the kit is fitted. Everything is just right, from the foils that are designed at exactly the right angle, to the sophisticated wand system.

The design brief was also to make a kit of great quality that would give owners many years of pleasure. It had to dependable and as a result great care has been taken over the tooling, material selection and method of construction of the various FOILSZ components.

If you have ever dreamed about foiling on your own boat but thought it would cost too much, the FOILSZ foiling kit is what you need. The FOILSZ kit attachs easily to a standard Laser dinghy. Fit the foiling kit in 10 minutes, rig your Laser and off you go. It really is that simple.

The development of FOILSZ follows a natural progression from what AMAC has learned over 10 years designing and building the MACH2 Moth and WASZP foiling dinghies. Countless hours of computer aided design and real life testing of foils and the foiling systems has resulted in the best solution to enable a standard Laser to foil. When you buy a FOILSZ kit for your Laser, you are benefiting from everything AMAC has learnt creating the championship winning MACH2 Moth and the multi award winning WASZP foiler.

Main Features

• fits to any Laser in 10 minutes
• no modifications to hull or rig required to go foiling
• dynamic sensor wand for automatic ride height adjustment
• rig and launch using a standard Laser beach trolley
• fully retractable foils for ease of launch and retrieval
• fine trim adjustment through rudder trim
• go foiling in just 10-12kts of wind
• premium grade aluminium vertical and horizontal foils for durability and long life
• inexpensive entry to the world of foiling – maximum fun, minimum cost

Reader Interactions

February 19, 2022 at 12:41

How much for the laser foil kit?

March 20, 2022 at 07:59

They are around $2370

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FOILSZ Foiling Kit for Laser

£ 2,818.00 (ex. VAT £ 2,348.33 )

Take Flight

Description

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FOILSZ full foil kit for Laser.

Related products

FOILSZ M6 X 38 Binding Barrel Nut Flathead Allen

FOILSZ Laser Case Top Insert

FOILSZ Laser Tiller Extension with Grip

FOILSZ Front Foil Horizontal 104 Flap

The development of FOILSZ follows a natural progression from what AMAC has learned over 10 years designing and building the MACH2 Moth and WASZP foiling dinghies. Countless hours of computer aided design and real life testing of foils and the foiling systems has resulted in the best solution to enable a standard Laser to foil.

When you buy a FOILSZ kit for your Laser, you are benefiting from everything AMAC has learnt creating the championship winning MACH2 Moth and the multi award winning WASZP foiler.

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"Simple" hydrofoil addition to a laser II

Discussion in ' Hydrodynamics and Aerodynamics ' started by mar.ste , Sep 3, 2016 .

mar.ste Junior Member

In order to experiment with hydrofoils I was willing to construct some structure to attach to my Laser II dinghy. The structure I have in mind would include 4 surface piercing foils, one on each corner, 45 degree in the water, similarly to hydroptere but 4 instead of 2 plus rudder. The reason to have 4 put in this way is to "auto-stabilize" the boat, meaning the section (front, back, left or right) that will go more in the water will be the one with more push from the foils, so trying to revert this movement. Moreover (again similarly to hydroptere) I was thinking of a decreasing section from the top to the bottom, in order to have at the top a powerful lift in slow speed while at the bottom minimizing the drag to increase speed when lifted. Again this should also increase the auto-stabilizing mechanism (the more in the water the more the lifting force). As last design point I would maintain also the vertical end (45 more degree from the foil) to increase efficiency of foil (minimize parasite drag as I understood) and to use it as a rudder/daggerboard surrogate help. But I would discuss this point after the initial design. Considering that Laser 2 all equipped and with 2 people on board should weight around 250-300kg, each foil (fully inside the water) should give an initial lift of 100kg (300/4*sqrt(2)) at let's say 4-5 knots of speed. Said that, to more easily build them I was thinking to use the ones with profile that will have one of the side flat (like e.g. ag35-il), so that shaping would be required mainly on one side only. The questions for the experts are: which ones would be the best top and bottom sections? and what proportions to keep between chord and top-bottom distance, and which approximately will be then overall dimensions? Thank you!  

Doug Lord Flight Ready

470 I'm no expert but one of the things that helps Hydroptere to work is her oversquare beam -getting the forward foils as far apart as possible. Also seems going to four foils is just adding drag-a rudder T-foil ought to be plenty with two widely spaced forward foils and a moving crew. Good Luck! 470 on foils years ago: Note distance between main foils:  

Also might want to consider retractable surface piercing foils similar to those developed by Hugh Welbourn for the Quant 23 and Flo 1. The unique thing about them is that they do not provide lateral resistance* for the boat like most other hydrofoils-but they do provide vertical lift and substantial righting moment. * a boat using these foils needs a keel or a daggerboard/centerboard. Flo 1 Quant 23 with (I think) Benoit Marie sailing her:  

tspeer Senior Member

mar.ste said: ↑ In order to experiment with hydrofoils I was willing to construct some structure to attach to my Laser II dinghy. The structure I have in mind would include 4 surface piercing foils, one on each corner, 45 degree in the water, similarly to hydroptere but 4 instead of 2 plus rudder.... Click to expand...

David Cooper Senior Member

You might want to try it with a model first rather than spending a lot on something that may not work. Most foilers balance the bulk of the boat's weight over a single foil or pair of foils and then use the horizontal foil on the rudder to control boat pitch (in addition to moving crew weight fore and aft). With a foil on each corner you may need to have an automated system for controling their pitch - if they're set at a fixed angle you'll likely suffer from porpoising with the boat making sudden jumps upwards or crashing down violently, and that will probably happen because any change in boat pitch will lead to all foils generating more or less lift at the same time. Experiments suggest that having 80% of the lift generated by the main foils and the rest coming from the rudder foils is as far as you can go without running up against this porpoising problem. To get round the problem, you may need to use wands to measure the height of the front and back of the boat over the water and feed that mechanically into a system that increases the pitch of all four foils if the boat tips forwards or decreases the pitch if the boat tips back so that the lift remains fairly constant. An alternative to wands might be to use a damped pendulum or go for electronics and accelerometers, though keeping the boat level in waves may not be as good a solution as keeping it parallel to the water's surface. There is a small motor-powered foiler with four main foils which is very stable, so they must have solved the problem in some way (no sign of wands), but I have yet to see any explanation of how it works. It may be that there's a simple solution, but you don't want to spend a lot of money building something that doesn't fit with any available solution, so you want to be very sure that it'll work before you build it. Models are the way to go.  

Thanks for the comments! I'll try to reply to them: Doug Lord said: ↑ 470 on foils years ago: ... Note distance between main foils: Click to expand...

mar.ste said: ↑ Sure will be better a model, but anyway if I can have a sections with one surface flat also target ones should not be very difficult nor very expensive to build, and while I do have a laser 2, I do not have a model boat! Click to expand...

Test model Fully got your points!! Like this model will be just reduced size foils attacched to a simple structure (some tubes) with a boat dragging it! Now need just to understand what to prototype!  

When towing the frame, you want the line attached to the middle rather than the front, so leave the front of the frame open (no crossbeam there). The other end of the line can be attached to a pole sticking out sideways from near the bow of a boat so that the model is to the side in relatively smooth water, though if it works as well as you hope it will, it should work in the wake of the boat too. I'd also think about putting a handle in the middle of the frame so that it can be held with that and lowered into the water without being towed, and then you can apply a twisting force through the handle to push either the front or rear foils down to see how well they handle the pitch changes, but if the model's too big for that, you can still push either end down with a stick while towing it.  

Testing I think if you test the four foil concept as a model it should include the hull and be carefully done and as large as possible. The model should be towed with a line attached at the Center of Effort of the sail plan(to simulate the pitching moment of the rig) with the line led at an angle from the model to the towboat(to simulate leeway). This requires a controllable rudder(done via RC). Or just sail the model via RC. See the video below at 22:50 AND 28min in to see how TNZ rigged their large(1/3rd scale) test model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQoNYe2jFP8  

For later testing that's good advice (which I'll make use of myself), but if there's a major problem with the idea it should show up before you go to the trouble of building a model hull. If the thing has to float, I'd just use plastic bottles to begin with because the most important thing to test is how stable it is when up on the foils. A fixed rudder on a pole some way out the back should keep it on course. If its behaviour is too wild, there's no point in building anything more complex.  

Skyak Senior Member

David Cooper said: ↑ For later testing that's good advice (which I'll make use of myself), but if there's a major problem with the idea it should show up before you go to the trouble of building a model hull. If the thing has to float, I'd just use plastic bottles to begin with because the most important thing to test is how stable it is when up on the foils. A fixed rudder on a pole some way out the back should keep it on course. If its behaviour is too wild, there's no point in building anything more complex. Click to expand...

Doug Halsey Senior Member

Skyak said: ↑ There is one topic I think we all need that I have never found -characterization of the lift and drag of hydrofoils near the surface (less than 1 cord deep). Click to expand...

Design Build Fly One of the best guides around for the designer of small hydrofoils is Ray Vellingas book "Hydrofoils Design Build Fly".A small amount of stuff on the Moth as well. Lots of good reference material. I think it's still available from Amazon.  

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DouglasEagleson Junior Member

foils and top speed I have a dilemma concept that troubles me also. How to get up above 30 knots. Using intuition I have a design concept. Absolute square footage of foil is a top speed issue. Something that rises up on foils at 10 knots is going too have more square footage than wanted at 30 knots. A vessel mass to square foot of foils might be a critical design variable. An all sail vessel/just nets is the obvious design maximizing this variable. The concept of low end foiling as needed is backward in my thinking. I would use a step system of foiling. Get the vessel up to planning speed, about 20 knots and engage the foils. Size the foils for this start speed and then the drag of foils will not have a 30 knot barrier. The Americas Cup catamaran foils are tipped to rise out of the water as speed increases. On a monohull it would be an inverted U foil. Or an inverted T foil sized to 50 knots plus. Foil drag is this dramatic. The chord length of a foil is a personal choice I consider. An aspect ratio of foil length to chord could be varied. The goal would be a foiling sailboat heeling dynamics, intuitionally. Low speed foiling is like using a flat plate representation of the laser in the first place. If the foils are angled and sized flat plate equal the top end is lost.  

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Discover the Magic of Hydrofoil Sailboats

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 11, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

• Hydrofoil sailboats blend speed, stability, and innovation for a fun sailing experience.
• Their design lifts the hull above water, reducing drag and enabling high-speed travel.
• Advanced control mechanisms maintain stability in varying wind conditions.
• Sails and hulls are meticulously engineered for optimal aerodynamics and lift.
• Ongoing innovations in foil technology continue to propel hydrofoils to new heights.

‍ Based on their innovation and nature, the world of hydrofoil sailboats are magical, to say the least. But what exactly makes them so exceptional?

The magic of hydrofoil sailboats lies in their extraordinary speed. They can achieve remarkable speeds that were once thought impossible for sailboats. Their unrivaled stability and cutting-edge technology redefine sailing, offering a thrilling blend of innovation and performance.

Over the years, I've dedicated myself to mastering the intricacies of the yachting world, not just as an observer but as an active participant in the hydrofoil sailing community. My knowledge extends beyond the surface, encompassing the technical aspects of hydrofoil design and the thrill of high-speed sailing. As such, I’ll provide a comprehensive and engaging exploration of what sets hydrofoil sailboats apart, making them truly magical on the waters.

Table of contents

‍ Discover the Magic of Hydrofoil Sailboats

Hydrofoils saw their early development as a concept for enhancing speed and efficiency on the water. From Alexander Graham Bell's experiments to the application of foils on sailboats in the 1950s, the quest has always been for greater speed.

But it wasn't until Russell Long championed these designs with the CEC foiling catamaran and the development of the Hobie Trifoiler that hydrofoils began to carve a distinct niche in the sailing world.

This sailboat operates on a simple yet ingenious principle: as the speed increases, the foils submerged beneath the boat generate lift. This lift thrusts the boat's hull above the water, dramatically reducing drag.

It’s similar to how air flows around the wing of an airplane, only with water's denser environment offering a different dynamic. This revolutionary foiling system allows boats to glide over waves, offering an incredibly smooth ride.

The variety of hydrofoil sailboats is astounding, from the foiling catamarans that have revolutionized the America's Cup to the twin sail trimaran designs. The fastest production sailboat, the Hobie Trifoiler , showcases what hydrofoils are capable of.

Additionally, boats like the innovative Emirates Team New Zealand vessels continue to push the boundaries of technology in competitive sailing. Whether for recreational purposes or high-speed racing, the range of hydrofoil sailboats caters to different sailing experiences and preferences.

Now, let’s explore the various aspects of hydrofoil sailboats that make them truly magical.

The Thrills of Hydrofoil Sailing

When I first stepped onto a hydrofoil sailboat, I knew that sailing would never be the same for me. Harnessing the power of the wind to achieve remarkable speeds while hovering above the water was nothing short of revolutionary.

It's an adrenaline-infused blend of sailing, flying, and innovation that promises high performance and stability with a significant reduction in wetted areas.

The allure of hydrofoiling is not just about the speed; it's the sensation of flying over the waves, defying the conventions of traditional sailing. With each gust, my hydrofoil sailboat becomes a silent, swift car, slicing through the air rather than merely sailing on the water.

When sailing with hydrofoils, you get to experience the following benefits.

• High Speed: With hydrofoils, I've seen and achieved speeds I never thought possible on water.
• Less Wetted Area: As the hydrofoils lift the hull out of the water, drag is reduced, further contributing to the craft's efficiency and speed.
• Stability: Surprisingly, the flying sensation is accompanied by stability once airborne, making the ride smoother.

The America’s Cup Competitive Foiling

Over the years, I've witnessed first-hand how hydrofoil technology has radically altered the landscape of competitive sailing. The introduction of hydrofoils has not only redefined what we consider possible in the sail area but has also brought a fresh surge of excitement to the racing circuit.

The most illustrious event in sailing, the America's Cup , underwent a transformation with the embrace of hydrofoils. Emirates Team New Zealand, a frontrunner in hydrofoil innovation, redefined the America's Cup racing in 2017.

Alongside them, the US team and Luna Rossa played pivotal roles in reshaping the landscape of America's Cup racing.

With their AC50 class catamarans soaring above the waves at top speeds that defy traditional sailing limits, they clinched the title and shifted the focus of competitive racing toward technological prowess.

The spectacle of these vessels racing is not just about the crew's capabilities but equally a testament to engineering marvels.

Also, the advent of hydrofoils in racing has certainly led to a spike in performance metrics. Here's a concise table highlighting the before and after impact of hydrofoiling in competitive Sailing:

This table illustrates just how much the racing landscape has shifted; it's not only sailing anymore.

It’s similar to piloting a high-speed aircraft, with each crew member playing a crucial role in harnessing the raw power of the strong winds in harmony with state-of-the-art technology. Watch this video for a more detailed explanation of hydrofoil sailboats and their magical power.

Technical Aspects of Hydrofoil Sailboats

In diving into the technical aspects of hydrofoil sailboats, I'll give you an insight into the intricate designs that enable these marvels to glide above the water, as well as the cutting-edge foil technology propelling them.

The design of a hydrofoil sailboat revolves around its capability to elevate the hull above the water, reducing drag and enabling high wind-speed travel. Control mechanisms are central in maintaining stability, especially when the sailboat interacts with varying wind conditions or maneuvers through shallow waters.

The hull's length and overall design are calibrated for balancing aerodynamics with hydrodynamics. In designing sails and hulls for foiling, one must carefully balance the need for power with the propensity for lift.

The sails are tailored not only to harness the wind's energy effectively but also to match the unique mechanics of a vessel in flight. Meticulous engineering ensures that the sail configuration works in harmony with the foils to propel the sailboat forward swiftly.

Additionally, the foil technology, which is pivotal to modern hydrofoils, has undergone significant further development over the years . From the materials used to the manufacturing processes, every element incorporates the latest in technology to yield extreme performance.

Advancements have led to foils that can automatically adjust to sailing conditions and speed, which is instrumental for achieving and maintaining high speeds.

Currently, the future of hydrofoil technology seems bound for even further breakthroughs. Customization and refinement of foils for specific water conditions, such as the challenges posed by shallow water, are ongoing.

Each new iteration builds upon the last, consistently advancing the field and informing the next leap in hydrofoil sailing. This persistent innovation in foil and hull technology is a testament to the potential that lies ahead for hydrofoil sailboats.

Are Hydrofoil Sailboats the Right Options for You?

Hydrofoil sailboats offer a unique and thrilling sailing experience, but whether they are the right option depends on your preferences and goals. These high-performance vessels are known for their exceptional speed and stability, making them ideal for thrill-seekers and competitive sailors.

If you're passionate about cutting-edge technology and want to push the boundaries of traditional sailing, hydrofoil sailboats could be a perfect fit.

However, they may require a learning curve for beginners and are typically more expensive than traditional sailboats.

Consider your skill level, budget, and desire for speed and innovation when deciding if hydrofoil sailboats align with your sailing aspirations.

The Future of Hydrofoil Sailboats and Their Transformative Potential

Over the years, I've been captivated by the evolution of sailing and the recent advancements in hydrofoil technology, which promise a thrilling future for these marine crafts.

The technology supporting hydrofoil sailboats is rapidly advancing, bringing us closer to a world where boats gliding above the water's surface is a common sight.

These boats use 'wings' or foils submerged in water to lift the hull above the surface, reducing drag and allowing for greater speeds. This innovation is not just limited to racing but is expected to influence recreational and transport vessels in the future.

Today, we see hydrofoils in action with hydrofoil kiteboards, which have become popular among thrill-seekers. This is due to their ability to harness wind power and achieve impressive acceleration and agility on the water. This same principle is being applied to larger sailing vessels, where performance and sustainability converge.

The further development of hydrofoil technology involves intensive research into materials and design optimizations that can handle the challenges of varied sea conditions.

Electric and solar-powered hydrofoils are on the horizon, poised to significantly impact our world by offering greener alternatives to traditional boats.

Notably, the trends in hydrofoiling indicate a shift towards more sustainable sailing, utilizing advancements in electric propulsion systems to complement the inherent energy efficiency of hydrofoil designs.

The goal is a fleet of sailboats that are not just faster but more eco-friendly, promising an exciting future where the joy of sailing is in harmony with the health of our oceans.

Related Articles

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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FOILSZ Foiling Kit for Laser

FOILSZ Front Foil Horizontal 104 Assembly

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Laser Performance

Laser Performance builds the classic small sailboats we all know and love - the Sunfish, Laser, and C420.

Classic look hydrofoiling electric boat debuts in Moscow

A team in Russia has developed this sleek hydrofoiling electric boat with a retro-tech classic runabout look, both inside and out.

The boat is called the Molniya – Russian for ‘lightning’ – and uses fixed surface piercing (SP) foils rather than the retractable inverted-T fully submerged (FS) type on boats like the Candela 7 .

The Molniya prototype was built by Artem Markov and a small team he assembled in Moscow. Markov is a graduate of the Moscow Automobile and Road Construction Institute, where he was part of their Formula MADI electric car racing team that competed against other universities from around the world.

Hydrofoiling electric boat idea started in 2016

Like many other electric boat developers he is also a long time sailor and says “ I have never been able to understand what is the beauty of going on motor boats with a lot of vibration and noise. So, I decided I wanted to find a way to transfer the silence and comfort of a sailing yacht to a boat. The idea came to me in 2016, and from that moment I started working on the project .”

He is a big fan of the work that the team at Candela has been doing, and is well versed in their reasonings of why hydrofoiling is the way to reduce drag and increase efficiency and comfort. So he knew foiling was the way to go and began to design his dream boat.

It is one thing to know exactly what one wants, but b udget realities quite often make inventors adapt. So he found a classic fibreglass-and-aluminum hull and went to work redesigning and converting it. The team had to strengthen and reinforce the hull to handle the stresses from the front foils. At the stern of the boat they designed  protruding half-wings that would help lift the boat onto those front SP foils as it accelerated.

80kW motor mounted to stern drive unit 

That gives the 8.9 m • 29 ft boat a cruising speed of about 20 kts • 37 km/h and maximum speed of 36 kts • 66km/h. As for range, the Molniya can go for 135 Nautical miles at 5 kts, 17 Nm at 25 kts and 20 Nm at the top speed. 

For the battery, they have taken stock lithium-ion cells and developed the modules themselves. The size is 160kW and there are some creative and useful ideas incorporated into the charging and battery management systems. One is the ability to connect a warning system to a GPS route so if you are driving at a speed that is taking yo u beyond range of getting back to shore the motor will automatically slow down. When you do get back, a full 0-100% charge takes 3.5 hours and you can check status through SMS.

One of the intriguing things about the Molniya is that all of the electric boat technology has been incorporated into a striking overall retro look. The dashboard looks like it might have been taken from a 1950s luxury car catalogue, but of course the actual meters are all digital. The interior of the entire boat harkens back to an earlier day, appearing ready to whisk 6 passengers off to a swing era supper club.

From prototype to production

Having built and tested the prototype from an existing hull, the goal of Markov and the team is to move to production mode and use the materials he always envisioned in his dream boat. While the aluminum and fibreglass of the original have been useful for testing, speed and range will benefit from materials like much lighter carbon-kevlar.

The adapted stern drive was useful for proving the hydrofoiling electric boat concept, but all of the designers and engineers are keen to see the improved efficiency they will get from a motor, drive and battery system they have designed from scratch for the Molniya. As for the foils themselves, the production model will use lighter, thinner composites instead of stainless steel.

Obviously the spring and summer of 2020 has not provided the best opportunities to introduce the prototype at boat shows and stir up interest with consumers, the trade or investors. It seems, though that the Molniya is the type of boat that should appeal to peopl looking for the same thing Artem wanted for himself: a classic motor boat experience but one that is quiet, odour free…and smooth sailing.

You can find out more on the Molniya website, lightning-foil.com .

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New hydrofoil ship may revive Russian shipping

The new project widely uses wireless communication connection and management, and passenger comfort is better than on passenger airplanes. Source: Sergei Ptichkin / RG

For the first time in 20 years, the Russian shipbuilding industry has introduced a new project: the high-speed hydrofoil ship, Comet-120M. This was announced last month at the International Maritime Defense Show held in St. Petersburg .

The arrival of these ships could revive passenger and freight service between major Russian cities and the regions, which practically ceased after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Paradox of a large country

Many Russian cities on the Volga River are not bound by regular passenger river routes, and some locales—Kaliningrad Region, Kamchatka and Sakhalin—are practically or physically cut off from mainland Russia. A decrease in transportation has led to the degradation of the economy of these regions.

Water taxis to relieve St. Petersburg jams

The development of a high-speed transportation system would not only bring these regions closer to the mainland, but also significantly contribute to their economic development. The only problem is that, until recently, the construction of hydrofoils was prohibited in the country.

Lost leadership

Not so long ago, Russia was considered a leader in the design and construction of high-speed boats and ships. In Nizhny Novgorod, there is a construction bureau for hydrofoil vessels. At one time, the bureau was designing and building a large series of well-known river vessels in Russia and abroad.

In the Soviet Union, the first high-speed passenger hydrofoil was the Rocket project commissioned in 1957—five years after hydrofoil pioneers in Switzerland, and five years ahead of United States hydrofoil projects.

Next came Meteor in 1959 (capacity of up to 128 passengers), Comet in 1961 (capacity of up to 118 passengers) and Voskhod-2 in 1979 (capacity of up to 71 passengers). The so-called Alekseevsky ships are known worldwide.  They were bought for the U.S., the U.K., Italy, Greece and the Middle East.

Aquabike gets urban: International Cup in Saint-Petersburg

Of course, in parallel with the civil vessels, military ships and hydrofoils were also built.

One of the last civil projects involving hydrofoil river vessels commercially under construction in the Soviet Union was Polesie. These vessels were made between 1984 and 1996. The last hydrofoils that were built on the territory of Russia were for fulfillment of Chinese orders in 2000 and 2005, and they went along the Yangtze River.

On the domestic Russian market of high-speed vessels, ships built at the turn of the last century are still operating.

More comfortable than aircraft

The current head of the Nizhny Novgorod bureau for hydrofoil, Sergei Platonov, said that the new Comet-120M is designed to carry 120 passengers; it was also designed in two models, for use in fresh water and salt water, with different corrosion protection and wings size.

The vessel’s top speed is up to 60 knots (about 70 miles per hour). The control room of the Comet-120M is similar to the cockpit of a modern airliner. The new project widely uses wireless communication connection and management, and passenger comfort is better than on passenger airplanes.

According to developers, the vessel is very economical. The payback period is five years, and the life of the vessel is at least 25 years.

Andrew Tretelnikov, an analyst at Rye, Man & Gor Securities, notes that the market segment of the hydrofoil in Russia today is limited to hiking trails, primarily in St. Petersburg and Sochi. On the international market, Ukraine is even competition for the Russian producers of the Comet vessel, as well as the Japanese company Kawasaki, which currently delivers such vessels to the Asian market.

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The expert is skeptical about the idea that the market is "moving along the waves."

“It is necessary to understand that these ships are made for speed: When compared with other vessels, they are less economical to operate. This load is reflected in the price of the ticket,” Tretelnikov said.

“The fate of civic projects largely depends on the support of the state,” said the editor of the Moscow Defense Brief, Mikhail Barabanov. “Military ships are built in the framework governmental programs, under the civil market demands. What is it today? Who are your competitors? What is the volume of traffic? These are questions that, so far, have no clear answer. So, the fate of all projects in the field of civil high-speed shipbuilding is vague.”

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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