ALTERNATIVE BOATS
Waszp
One of the first production one design
foilers to hit the market. This class is, in
effect, a de-tuned International Moth,
aimed at amateur foilers and youths.
Whisper
The White Formula Whisper has been
designed to foil on four foils. This makes
it rock solid in the air but far removed
from the foiling monohulls like the Moth.Above
Incredibly, this
botched foiling
gybe attempt
didn’t result in a
swim and I could
set off to try againBOAT TEST F101
about to capsize to windward, removing
another barrier to the uninitiated.
Officially the target weight for
someone wanting to foil in the F101 is
60-130kg and this seems reasonable. At
65kg, I could certainly get her foiling
and didn’t feel dangerously overpowered
in the breezier weather. I was also aware
that another 15kg or so would have been
handy. But that I could foil around in a
boat that can also take two adults and foil
is impressive testament to the design.
VERDICT 9/10
I mentioned at the start of this piece
that the F101 must be considered in
the context of its aims. And there are
a number of points worth making.
This is a boat principally designed for
hassle-free foiling and blasting around.
The headsail is not self-tacking
(though this could be considered
if jib size were reduced) and this in
combination with the three hulls makes
tacking slow and foil gybing with the
headsail up unlikely – though furled
away in 10 knots, it’s more than possible.
The Tribe are arranging some racing
but this is not the round the cans or
windward-leeward racing familiar to
most. For some the idea of a bay race or
slalom racing or any of the other variants
taking place will be exciting, but this is
not a boat to purchase if you are looking
for out and out conventional racing.
It seems likely that the target
purchaser of an F101 wants to go foiling,
doesn’t want the hassle of a Moth and
doesn’t have the time to commit to it.
Foiling is changing how many sail and
it is not unusual to see Moth sailors out
for fun when no racing is on. The F101
delivers on this level and while it could
be raced I suspect the former would
be the more satisfying experience.
Ultimately, I stepped onto the F101
having struggled to foil consistently
and was able, over the course of two
days, to get to a level where I felt IANSWER BACK
Alan Hillman of Foiling World says:
It’s testament to the concept of the F101 that after two
sessions Toby was attempting foiling gybes, flying the hull
over the photography platform and adjusting foil controls
sailing around the Mar Menor. Weighing in on the lighter
side saw Toby foiling in six knots and furling the code 0
at 10 knots, which demonstrates the variety of payloads
the F101 will carry. Toby thought ‘conventional’ racing
would not be part of it: he is correct. We believe the F101
concept is more than the boat. Tribe members buy into a
training ethos, which is an integral part of the event circuit- involving sailing a great boat in amazing locations with
like-minded people. We believe those new to foiling need
a level of knowledge to use and care for their boat. All our
F101 dealers will have a foiling school attached to them
to ensure that our clients all start off on the right foot.
could try gybes on foils and do flybys
of the photographer’s boat without
that being reckless. No doubt there are
those skilful enough to do that on day
one in a Moth, but for the rest of us
mortals, the F101 puts foiling not just
in reach, but serves it up on a platter.April 2018 Yachts & Yachting 63