And now for something completely different: Introducing the Mothquito

Mothquito simulation © IFS Foiling Mothquito simulation © IFS Foiling

by Toni Blanc 19 Feb 2018 20:36 UTC

The IFS Foiling company has entered into the flying boat market with an innovative project that provides new systems and solutions to the high performance foiling sailboat world, thanks to the patented IFS (Increased Foiling System), that is the result of a hard work which see its first application in the Mothquito - a concept which was born in 2015 and is currently in development and manufacturing to carry out first sea trials next spring 2018.

The Mothquito, which is named in honour of the pioneering International Moth, and its close relationship in terms of size and appearance, is a high performance flying catamaran one-design with an innovative design and full carbon construction, where it's also possible to increase stability and dynamic performance thanks to the IFS system - a system that increases its dynamics length and beam, to achieve a significant increase in righting moment (reducing heeling) and a decrease in the risk of pitch-poling, which in turn enables an oversized sail area equating to that of boats of greater length, but with less weight, which promises high speeds, with the maximum control and safety. In short, it's a surprising foiling catamaran, fast and easy foiling for any sailor, regardless of their physical shape or technical knowledge, even for those who thought flying would be impossible for them.

Mothquito has an original and innovative hull design, with soft and organic lines, characterized by flat and curved bows upwards to minimize the risk of pitching that can cause a pitch-pole, favouring the bounce on the surface without losing speed, and a hydrodynamic planing hull with a high performance surf style, optimized to favour a quick take-off, facilitating the passage of waves under the hull, and a deck with an elevated forward and working area with longitudinal stops (forward/backward) for sure footing on tacks at high speed, which in turn serve to house inside adjustable extensor arms of the T-Foils rudders. This hull design favours and provides a fast and effective transition from glide to foiling mode.

But undoubtedly, the most striking point in this boat is the innovative IFS system (Increased Foiling System). A system that implements and combines a number of solutions to significantly increase the dynamic length and beam of the boat, improving longitudinal and transversal stability, to achieve increased performance with greater safety at high speeds.

The Mothquito incorporates long foils in V, facing outwards and providing 'double lift', whereby an increase of the dynamic beam up to 200% with respect to the sleeve hull is achieved, providing great lateral stability and a significant increase in righting moment, which translates into safer and more comfortable foiling with a considerable reduction in heeling.

The IFS solution to increase dynamic length is based on two advanced main V-foils and extendable arms that can regulate the working distance of the T-foil rudders beyond the transom. This increases the distance between dynamic lift points (main V-foils and rudder T-foils), extending the boat length in flight up to 50%, specifically from 3.05 metres hull length to 4.50 metres length overall in flight.

The V foils have the advantage of auto-adjustment of the height without flaps or sensors, since with higher boat speed, the wetted surface of the foil is reduced until the weight of the boat itself prevents the foils going out of the water, thus automatically adjusting the foiling height.

These V foils also have two sines, the main or conventional sine V, and a second sine in the wing-tip which is directed downwards called by IFS as double lift, which has the function of increasing the lift due to its design, to reduce the transition time to flight mode. This double lift also acts as a barrier to minimize vortexes generated at the wing-tips by pressure differences. This solution also increases the safety of the boat, since these sharpened points face down and pose less risk to the crew in case of a man overboard.

The Safe Foil System of IFS that is incorporated in the Mothquito, is an integrated box-foil with its lower outlet above the waterline. When hoisting the V-Foils, the wings are elevated above the waterline, allowing the Mothquito to beach without risk of damaging the foils by contact with the ground. This system also provides the possibility to launch the boat on the shore itself, without having to carry it to find enough draft, because it also allows you to navigate with minimal foils. Due to its small size and low weight, the Mothquito can be transported on top of a car.

Currently the Mothquito is in the manufacturing phase and will carry out its first tests in Spring. The IFS Foiling team is betting that this small minifoiler will be a true revolution, with a competitive price and capable of offering high doses of adrenaline and fun with maximum safety.

Seeing this boat, with the long V-foils facing outwards, the extension arms and T-foil rudders protruding from the stern, and wings as standard for hiking out, the vision of a mosquito comes to mind, hence how designer Toni Blanc gave it the name of Mothquito.