Hydrofoil windsurfer

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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9,033
Just a short video I took while on holiday a couple of weeks ago in Rhodes, of a hydrofoil windsurfer.
Things appeared to have moved on a bit since I last did it 30 years ago!

 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
The hydrofoil surfboards are impressive too- very popular here. Seems a pushing vertically action is required to propel them once you’re out of wave.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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9,033
Hydra foils aren't new just suprised they aren't used on other watercraft more widely. You see them on fast ferries etc but why not on smaller craft, like speed boats.
Maybe they are available but just not popular.
 

CatmanV2

Member
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48,547
Hydra foils aren't new just suprised they aren't used on other watercraft more widely. You see them on fast ferries etc but why not on smaller craft, like speed boats.
Maybe they are available but just not popular.

Draft issues I understand

C
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
Good point, but today I could imagine servo driven hydro foils that drop down automatically at speed, and retract up automatically when coming off speed.

Yep, I can imagine that would work, possibly. But then expense, weight. I know nothing about boats BTW :D

C
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,759
They look impressive but all I can see is further to fall which is something on water that I am extremely skilled at
 

Scaf

Member
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6,512
All very impressive but I don’t get how the paddle / surfboard works, it just not seem to have the speed to get up there especially when heading into the waves -
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
All very impressive but I don’t get how the paddle / surfboard works, it just not seem to have the speed to get up there especially when heading into the waves -

You're not. You're heading down the hill of the wave, or the wave is pushing you,. depending on the physics visualisation you prefer.....

Also there's lot less drag....

C
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
You're not. You're heading down the hill of the wave, or the wave is pushing you,. depending on the physics visualisation you prefer.....

Also there's lot less drag....

C

Clearly there is the science behind it, I am just not clever enough to understand it :confused: