I can throw in my 2 cents. I've been a Rave owner for a year and have crewed my friends Rave for a year (so total of two seasons foiling). The Rave has a few small flaws - but fast, responsive sailing does not appear to be one of them.

I wish I could try the Hobie Tri-Foiler for a day, just to compare the two - I have no first-hand comparative analysis to offer.

However, I have enjoyed some very fast hydrofoil sailing on the Rave. Controling height with "wands" coupled to the bungies sounds goofy, but it actually works really well - and is totally automatic. They allow the boat to ride over chop like a fighter pilot on "terrain-following autopilot", the boat actually bounces up and down a bit in response to waves. Chop can slow you down to get up on foil, but once foil borne, you're flying.

Controling the rear rudder-foil via joystick works very well too. Despite only having a narrow trailing "flap" it is surprisingly responsive. I think it is an excellent system overall, for controlling a foil-borne boat.

One negative issue for the boat is lobster traps here in Maine. I like to call them "foil-mines". A hydrofoil craft is at risk of snagging these. At 20kts it's no laughing matter - my friend has done damage to his boat catching one by accident.

Pitchpoles happen too, usually at slow speeds with a loaded reacher. I'm not sure a rear foil would prevent a pitch pole - it certainly is no aid at slow speeds.

I have enjoyed watching this thread though and seeing links to other foil boats. I've always been facinated with foil boats (why I bought the Rave). Maybe foil-borne craft, in general, need a league of their own for racing? Hobies VS the Rave VS ?? - SHOW-DOWN! Bring on your foil craft.

We can settle this in the water.