Launched the F-14 hybrid this morning at Florida's Dunedin Causway at the IceBreaker regatta. The boat really tries to go fast. I have left it with some issues that makes this tough.
Canted hulls are not necessary. The canting 12.2 windsurfing rig/sail lifted the LEEWARD hull enough that there was no heeling of the hulls even at 17 - 20 kts of breeze on a close reach. There is no trapeze. I just sat to windward, aft. Sweet! But with the hulls canted, both the boards and rudders are angled. Broke both boards, and the rudders were cutting a three-inch groove through the water, causing a pretty, but slow, rooster tail. Just as I figured out to take off the tiller bar and use the windward rudder on each tack, letting the other rudder follow, the rig came crashing forward. More strain on the "shrouds" of the A-frame than I had calculated.
So from here we make more modifications.
The hulls are going to be made upright, not canted.
New rudders with sharper leading edges and upright, not canted.
I have to open up the hull and fashion wider daggerboard slots to allow a thicker board to be used. Wonder if I should cant them for lift, since I'm making them stronger. Or how about leaving the existing wells using a shorter, windsurfing-style blade and putting in new canting board wells. Hmmm.
Also, I'll allow the mast to swing forward more when it is canted all the way to the lee hull. Was upright this time. The surface-piercing bows did not dig, but neither did they lift for planing.
Oh, and there was too much hull-racking going on. A different,(gasp)heavier forward beam will be fitted.
I think the canting rig and piercing/planing cat project has promise. Probably the next test will be in April.