The problem is there is not a lot of bouyancy in the amas and certainly not enough lateral resistance in the foils at slow speeds. As you sheet in to sail up wind, the leeward ama goes under the surface of the water and creates a tremendous leehelm which can't be overcome with the rudder.
JenniferL
It's refreshing to hear an honest description that provides insight. Most owners are hesitant to share our boats' slight failings.
The Rave's self-leveling wands work really well and you can jibe the boat on the foils; literally a flying jibe. I don't. It's more stress than I want to subject to an out-of-production boat but it surely makes for good video.
I don't bother to connect my speedo every outing but I have hit 38mph. Later that same month I calibrated my speedo (Speedtech "Speed Mate") and the correction needed was 1.16 which translates to 44.08mph. Dr. Sam says to keep it no faster than 35. Rig falls down, goes "boom", after a little while at 45mph. At the limit the Rave makes zipping noises which is the sound of the foils approaching cavitation as they come too close to the surface. The rig hums and groans. Once you've maxed-out the tension on the bungees that keep the leveling wands on top of the water, you have to wonder if the whole boat is going to fly out completely. It can if you push it harder. It's a bumpy ride that is very much like the roll on takeoff in a plane; complete with the little jerks from side to side for steering correction. You have to make slight corrections with your feet on the pedals to the rudder. Once you've flown you just don't want to give this boat away but many have and that decision has more to do with assembly and disassembly time. An hour is realistic.
Buoyancy is a big difference between the Rave and TriFoiler. Each boat is at the opposite end of the design parameter. The Rave was designed for plenty of buoyancy for two people in relative comfort in their seats which is too much buoyancy for my (and my crew's) wishes. The central hull has a slow hullspeed in displacement mode so I'm looking to build a much slimmer and lighter hull, a la TriFoiler, for an improvement or a greater compromise; however you want to see it. A lighter boat lifts off sooner in lighter conditions. I'm hoping not build with a boat that has a problem floating! "It can fly but it can't float." I suppose a good long running start on the beach would be in order.
A smaller foil for the rudder was also part of Dr. Bradfield's original, ideal Rave design. The larger foil at the rudder, which is the same size as the ones at each ama, produces more drag and was a concession to manufacturing and economy for the boat that made it to market. That may change on my boat. All it takes is money and thinking, both of which I don't have in abundance.
