Cultivating Simplicity
Paradox Version 2.0 Foil Concept The new foil concept is simple, easy to use and low drag. After lots of R&D to validate theoretical predictions, it seams that for most sailors the benefits of ease-of-use outweigh those of ‘trick’ configurations that need to be learned, tacked, and trimmed to suit changing conditions. The brief for […]
Orange on Blue
Some more images before a detailed update…
Version 2.0
Details to follow…
A Cat Rule – Is It Broken?
Many have asked me to comment on proposed changes to the A Class Catamaran Rule. Questions fall in two areas: is a change necessary, and what should the revised restrictions be?My position is that, as a manufacturer, our task is to work within the rules, not to influence them. Therefore CarbonicBoats will comment publicly when […]
Update
With the A Cat Europeans and Australian Nationals coming up, it is a very exciting time in the class. Paradox will not be at these events as we are well into finalising the production design that, as you will see very soon, is a totally new boat with most key concepts re-visited. Looking back at […]
Moving Pics
Another video of Paradox starting to properly exploit new stable foiling setups. Stability is heavily influenced by the relative lift contribution of rudder winglets and main foils. We now set up the rudders to provide some upward lift when the boat is at neutral trim. If driving force from the sail increases, causing the bow […]
Pilotcam
A short video from a recent testing session. Our understanding of the settings necessary for sustained stable foilborne sailing is steadily improving. It is worth re-iterating the definition of stable flight with reference to the feedback loop that arises when external forces upset pitch angle and ride height. A stable setup settles on an attitude […]
Setup
As already mentioned, we have spent lots of time on the water recently, with different foil concepts, testing, evaluating and tuning. Some tests with Paradox sailing alone and some in the company of other known fast A Cats. It is safe to say that we are getting a handle on key issues and how they […]
Evaluation
Lots of testing in the ‘off season’. We completed some very productive sessions over the past few days and have more planned. As some of you may have observed, we went through some different concepts to the initial S foil setup. We are working on several areas for both numbers and feel, testing initially alone, […]
FAQ: Optimum Altitude
Q: “You seem to be just ‘skimming’ above the surface. Why not fly higher?” A: Altitude control in the current (initial) foil concept is supposed to come from the change in foil curvature just below the hull exit point. As the boat rises, the radius of the part of the foil immediately under the water […]