This was in Scuttlebutt:
HIGH PERFORMANCE SAILING
(Following is a brief excerpt from a feature on The Daily Sail subscription website presenting an update on the International 14 class from the UK perspective.)
Like the Moth class, the International 14s are entering a 'period of consolidation' after inclinable rudder T-foils became de rigeur a couple of years ago transforming the performance and the necessary technique required to sail the boat. After attempts at putting foils at the bottom of the rudder, the class norm is now to fit the foil half way up and there is a general trend towards thinner foils. At present there are still essentially two systems for altering the pitch of the rudder T-foil: the Paul Bieker set-up which contains an internal push rod, the foil moving independently of the rudder blade and the RMW Marine/Morrison system where the foil and rudder are one part that is inclined in its entirety relative to the hull. Bieker it seems may be moving towards the RMW system as at the Worlds he was trialing a one part system - the advantage of this is that with no moving parts to squeeze in and the foils can have a thinner section.
At present 'period of consolidation' does not equate with the 14s following the Moths in going fully foiling. At the Dinghy Show we spoke to the class' Dave Spragg who in fact has successfully tried fully foiling his 14 using the exact same gear as the Moths (lifting foils and the wand made by John Ilett's Flatacraft company in Perth) but all of it 50% bigger. "I've got one. I've flown it, but I don't think it is way forward for the class in the short and medium term," says Spragg. - The Daily Sail, full story and pictures:
www.thedailysail.com