What ever happened to "Winsome"?

[Tony]

She's earning a living, it seems:-
http://www.freedomdayboats.co.uk/norfolk-broads-pedal-boat-hire.php

The Guys at Swallow Boats seem a bit short of "mucking about" time right now (unlike yours truly) but if they ever get to finish those two sailing canoes perhaps they might like to return to the Winsome concept - and tweek it a bit!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvlS-4t54cc

Or (and I'd LOVE to see this at Sail Calidonia!) try doing to a BR what the Aussies have already done to the Laser ! (You might want to turn off the sound for this one!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIC1jlFIjtg

Who needs a spinnaker!

[David Hudson]

"Sporty as Grass"!

[Michael Rogers]

Tony, those aussie Lasers are something else!

[Tony]

Hi, Michael.
Not a new idea. As you know, Int. Moths have been around for years. What I like about the Glide Free system (http://www.glidefree.com.au/) is that you can retro-fit it to any old Laser you happen to have lying around (!) without modifying anything, just by replacing the center board and rudder. ... and, according to the blurb, the foils are retractable. 
Personally, I wouldn’t want to spend £3k turning a racing machine into something that is out of Class spec  and so can’t often race ....but if you could fit ’em to an old Topper...WooHoo!

What if  (Oh!...here we go!) Seriously, what if similar systems could be fitted to unballasted cruising dinghies?  I have no objection to travelling up wind at 10 knots rather than 5 - and without the outboard.  Have you? 
Think of the increased stability, range and light airs performance (as claimed by Glide Free) and think of the look on Bay Raiders faces  as a converted Trouper (with Junk rig, naturally) slips off its trailer and glides effortlessly past them,  Hobie Cats, RS 400s, and Musto Skiffs,  while brewing up a cup of tea. 

Here’s a foiling RS 600 – looks a bit too ..erm.. dramatic for me!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7sCTbO5Fc
You can see why some clubs ban hydrofoils. Quite like the M25 out there.

This is more my style. (Love them Shorts!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlQ95NL9QJQ

Sporty as Grass?
Huh?

[Michael Rogers]

I know it's not new, Tony, and I have gawped at the odd Moth in action. It's just that Lasers (which don't slouch, given a bit of wind) are two-a-penny, and the sight of one on stilts leaving a 'normal' Laser absolutely standing is pretty amazing - well, I thought so anyway! It does seem a neatly done add-on, as you say.

I think I'll stay floating normally - just as I prefer a boat you sit IN rather than ON. But I must say that, in spite of myself, I found myself intrigued by, and then hooked on, the America's Cup TV coverage last year. If I mention the naughty words 'match fixing' in that context I'll probably be sued for libel, so I won't mention them: but whatever, it was pretty compelling viewing. Whether it was sailing, at least as i've always understood it, is a moot point. And I still don't understand how they can do 40 knots in 20 knots of wind (no, don't try to explain, I'm past all that. Resigned sigh.)

What has this to do with 'Winsome'?

[David Hudson]

The Laser was introduced to the UK in 1972, some 40 years ago,
another great Bruce Kirby design. I was crewing one of his plastic
Int 14 Kirby 5's, at the time.

The foiling Moth is a child of its generation. Blink and it's over the horizon!
As in 1972, let's wait and see what comes around in 2050.

I will be watching.

A dangerous brother
(aged 66 1/2)

[Peter Taylor]

What has this to do with 'Winsome'?

Look at the "Winsome on foils" video that Tony found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvlS-4t54cc
I love it!

 On the other hand I've been looking at the foiling laser videos and you look to need a lot of wind - which is not surprising... a Laser weighs a lot more than one of those carbon fibre foiling Moths.  The makers of the foils say that they stabilise a Laser when "in displacement mode" but in light winds they must also slow it down given the extra wetted area. My Seafly is similar in speed to a (non-foiling) Laser but weighs about twice as much so I guess you won't see me on foils on the Seafly or Seatern unless I'm being towed by a rib!!!
Peter

[Michael Rogers]

Have looked (sorry, didn't do so initially) at 'Winsome-on-stilts'. Two comments - 1) Apropos your comments, Peter, about the wind needed for the foiling Lasers, I suspect that is two fit young men pedalling away in the 'Winsome'! 2) The manoeuvrability is amazing.

[David Hudson]

And here is a piece from today's Daily Mail..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2969930/Surfer-hovers-massive-waves-using-incredible-board-appears-defy-gravity.html