Australian A Class Members
Hydrofoils
There is an international debate ongoing regarding the rule prohibiting hydrofoils.
The debate is one of a number of interesting threads on the A Class online forum
advertised on our website. It is worth a look.
As it is written, the rule depends on the definition of “hydrofoil”; point #8 under IACA
measurement guidelines says,
8. Hydrofoils are not permitted.
On face value, a clear and simple rule which prevents the use of hydrofoils in IACA
events. So what is the problem? Well, for a start, aren’t centerboards and rudders,
hydrofoils? Sure, that’s a technicality, but I think we risk technical arguments
damaging the class sometime in the future.
Most of the forum participants, including myself, regret the introduction of a rule that
limits development of the class. That is too bad because a majority voted in favour of
banning devices designed to lift both hulls out of the water. I guess we collectively
imagined A Class scooting around on skis and were fearful of losing the current
balance of cost and competition.
However, what if someone developed a device that generated vertical lift and this
device was not the ski type hydrofoil we imagined? Far fetched? We already have
seen angled boards which test the definition. Have you seen the “banana” boards on
the latest US C Class? Would they be legal? I imagine arguments could be
presented for and against - I believe it is unreasonable to ask our measurers to
decide on the eve of any regatta – and I imagine the arguments would rage on if
such a device won a major regatta.
I believe a revision of the rule is pointless. My proposed solution is for the AIADCA to
lobby other nations to have IACA delete the rule as unworkable. I hope we can get a
consensus at the meeting in Hervey Bay at our next championships.
I look forward to the discussion.
Regards,
Hamish Sinclair
AUS 797