I`m sure this has been discussed before, but I have a few questions I`m hoping someone with some advanced knowledge on the subject can answer in a way that normal people can understand.
Foil design for cats should differ from the normal dinghy design due to higher speeds, I would imagine. I`ve always thought that higher-speed foils should have their max. thickness slightly further aft than the classic 1/3 aft of leading edge.
Recently fould this article on a skiff design for foils which confirms my theory http://www.activesportsboats.com/foil_design.htm, and looking at Hobie Tiger & Inter-20 rudders also leads me to believe this is correct - they seem to have concave surfaces toward the trailing edge.
Another question - I`ts widely accepted that high-aspect ratio has higher L/D ratio & is therefore more efficient, why then, does the Taipan have such short square daggerboards ? Even the Australian Mozzie sailors have gone for shorter daggerboards than allowed in their class rules, which puzzles me. It seems Australian design philosophy differs from the accepted norm in some cases, yet it seems to work for them.
My questions :
1. Does moving the max. thickness aft on daggerboards produce a foil with better upwind ability, as the article suggests.
2. would the Taipan & Mosquito have better upwind performance if fitted with high-aspect ratio daggerboards.
3. If you take a square daggerboard & make the tips elliptical, theoretically you reduce the drag & tip vortices, but you`d also reduce the area if you keep the length the same. Would the increased efficiency make up for the decrease in surface area and subsequent decrease in lift-producing surface ?

All those in the know, please answer !!