Tweaks for ultra-fast hydrofoil cat...
Following successful sea-trials during April and May, during which her foil concept was validated and huge amounts of test data was accumulated, the 9.8m (32ft) hydrofoil cat Syz & Co is undergoing modifications that will hopefully bag her various speed records on Lake Geneva by late summer/early autumn. Photo: Loris Von Siebenthal.
MAY 2009
Most of the work will involve removing weight, which will not only optimize her maximum speed potential, but also enhance her performance for light-wind regattas. She took her maiden ‘flight’ at the beginning of April.
Orginally she was intended to take part in the 71st Bol d’Or Mirabaud, which takes place over June 12-14, ‘09.
Basic Spec – Hydrofoil-cat Syz & Co...
LWL: 9.8m (32ft)
Air Draught: 16.5m
Concept: Patrick Firmenich, Jean Pfau, Jean Psarofaghis, Alex Schneiter
Designers: VPLP (Van Peteghem – Lauriot Prévost)
Structural Engineering: Clemens Dransfeld and the Polymer Engineering Institute of the Haute Ecole University, Northwest
Switzerland
Hydrodynamics: Giorgio Provinciali, Michel Kermarec
Construction: Chantier Psaros à Vésenaz (Genève) and ZR Concept in Echandens (Vaud)
Hull: Carbon/Nomex honeycomb
Mast: 15.4m (50ft 6in) Tilting wing, very high modulus carbon
Sails: North 3DL/3Di
Sail Area
— 85 square-metres (Upwind)
— 50 square-metres (Downwind)
Her sponsor is SYZ & CO, a Geneva-headquartered private banking and asset-management firm.
For more, www.syzfoiler.com.
© Phil Draper
