By Peter Stephinson, the Foiling Laser Guy
Despite all the hype, foiling is currently the preserve of the elite as foiling boats are currently limited to high-end, custom multihulls or expensive, delicate, difficult to manage dinghies.
There is now one very practical option available today for all sailors to try. A retrofit, clip-on kit for Lasers from Glide Free Design. Compared with all other foiling craft, this is much cheaper and is now readily available. You don't even need to buy a new boat!
We have been quietly developing and releasing this product around the world and believe it has the potential to give all sailors a taste of what only the elite have experienced to date.
Kudos to Peter for a neat product.
ReplyDeleteWhat points of sail and speed is necessary to get the Laser to foil?
We find that it is best in marginal conditions to bear away to a broad reach in order to takeoff. You quickly accelerate to 12-15kts boatspeed and will need to sheet in quickly. You can then point up and sail on a beam reach or higher, depending on how hard you want to lean. Peter
DeleteIn stronger winds above 12kts, you can take off on a beam reach and the boat will quite easily hit 17kts and over. Hang on for the ride!!
Is anybody racing foiling Lasers yet?
ReplyDeleteNot yet, but we all know were 2 or more are gathered together, there will be a race?Peter
DeleteBy the link to the US dealer on the Glide Free Design website is broken.
ReplyDeletethis is now fixed , thank you.Peter
DeleteThanks Peter. The link on your site for the US dealer now takes me to X Wing Sails. But then when I click on the Foiling link on their site I get another 404 (page not found) error.
DeleteI hope the foils perform better than these websites!