3
-Planing upwind
The large planing surface, along with a large sail area and wide powerful wings, produces a dinghy with the amazing
ability to “plane upwind”. Normally the preserve of trapeze driven high performance skiffs, the boat is fast, exciting
and fun to sail on the plane both upwind and down. There is no need any longer to slog to windward, leaning hard
for little result as with displacement dinghies, you plane all around the course!
It is really a whole lot of fun to sail in any safe conditions, especially on a reach in a solid breeze where it is much
faster than similar sized dinghies.
-Planing downwind
The hull is very light and easily driven, especially with its wide wings and large sail area. Just like a sailboard, the
planing surface has a flat run aft, making it very fast in planing conditions, skipping across the water in as little as 8-
10 knots of wind. The wide, stable hull makes it easy to handle, even in boisterous conditions.
Launching
Once your boat is rigged with the sail raised and foils retracted it is
ready to launch. On the trolley, wheel it into knee deep water and
gently slide the boat off the trolley.
Take extra care with the foils and the wand.
Push both centerboard and rudder down slightly, using the clamp
to hold them in position. Leave the wand fully retracted. Hop
aboard and sail away from the shore, just like a normal dinghy.
Once clear of the shore and in deeper water, ease the sheet,
release the clamp and lower the rudder by pulling the pull-down
rope and insert the retaining pin into the hole in the side of the
rudder box. Push the centerboard down fully and insert the
centerboard retaining pin as mentioned in the Rigging Guides.
Now attach the pushrod clevis to the bell crank on the centerboard
with the fast pin, and you are ready to go foiling!
Returning to Shore and Unrigging
When returning to shore;
1. Retract the wand fully.
2. Pull out the centerboard retaining pin and the clevis fast pin.
3. Raise the centerboard and rudder part of the way, leaving enough centerboard and rudder in the water for
steering. Apply the foil clamp to hold them in place.
4. When in shallow water, carefully get off the boat. Stand next to the boat and undo the halyard and lower the
sail.
5. Remove the wand from the bow mechanism and store in a safe place on the cockpit –you do not need to
unthread the wand rope at this stage.
6. The centerboard and rudder can be removed in the water.
Alternatively, you can leave them fully raised and the wand in the fully raised position, then gently place the
boat on the trolley. This enables the boat ready to sail again, simply by launching and hoisting the sail.
