After disappointing results in Auckland and Sydney, the Black Foils bounced back to take second for the event, behind Canada. Although they led the pack at the end of Day One, light, flukey winds challenged the teams on Day Two and in the final the Black Foils squandered a good lead by falling off the foils. Nonetheless, second place was enough to see them back near the top of the leaderboard heading to San Francisco.
While the crowds in LA couldn’t quite match those in Auckland or Sydney, foiling has clearly captured the public’s imagination. Whether it’s the spectacular F50 and AC75 racing yachts, or one of the more modest foiling classes like International Moths, or else foiling wake, wind and wave boards – foiling is taking water sports by storm.
But it’s not just water sports where hydro-foiling is gaining traction. Recreational and commercial vessels of every stripe are harnessing hydro-foiling technology. Foiling boats are faster, smoother, and go further using less fuel/power.
With electric power also featuring more in marine applications – electric outboards, ferries, tourist hire boats, jet-skis, tenders and more – it should come as no surprise that innovative companies are successfully combining foiling with electric propulsion (see last month’s Boating NZ for the story on Fullers360’s latest ferry).
Sweden’s Candela is among the leaders in electric foiling technology. Candela’s latest C8 model was shown for the first time in New Zealand at the Auckland Boat Show in early March. It’s a technological marvel designed primarily for recreational use, but the company is also gearing up to produce much larger vessels for commercial applications, one of which will soon ferry power company employees across Lake Manapouri.
The C8 on display at the boat show has an Auckland owner and so is likely to become a regular sight flying over the waters of the Waitematā. Look out for our review of the C8 in the May edition. In the meantime, enjoy April’s magazine, filled with the usual mix of boat reviews, regular columns and special features.
Happy boating.
