I can only imagine what the price is for this sucker, but wow...check this thing out:

http://www.catsailingnews.com/2016/04/a-class-dna-2016-f1-coolest-sailboat.html

It definitely looks good!

According to a DNA employee posting over at Sailing Anarchy ( LINK ), the price will be around 21,750 Euros which is about $24,800 USD right now with a boat that is "ready to sail" including all lines, etc. I find that a little hard to believe that it will be that affordable but that's what he said. I'm pretty sure the last iteration of the DNA cost that for a platform without a mast or sails.

I thought it said for a platform only no mast or sail?

what's with the stealth fighter front beam? Does foiling really impact significantly enough to run aerodynamic studies on the beam? I understand the trampoline part... just not the beam...

Hmmm. Possibly. He said:



I suppose "ready to sail" was tempered by "everything related to a platform is included"...only after you add a mast, boom, rigging, and sail.

I would think so. The wind as a power source is fixed so anything you can eek out of it would be significant at the pointy end of the fleet. In wild guess mode, I'm guessing they might see as much as a 5% bump in aero efficiency with the boat at 25 knots. Foiling upwind/cracked reaching is probably seeing close to 30 knots across the deck.

First off - way cool boat. I want one. Now! Just need to rob a bank.

On the importance of drag reduction, I think its a bigger deal than we think.

Check the simplified biking drag calculator halfway down the page here: https://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/aerodynamics1.html
20mph apparent wind yields 10.5N drag = ~2.4lbF (yes, dirty units)
30mph apparent wind yields 23.7N drag = ~5.3lbF

This is for a cyclist + bike. I know its apples/oranges for us, but still meaningful

From the article:
"On a flat road, aerodynamic drag is by far the greatest barrier to a cyclist's speed, accounting for 70 to 90 percent of the resistance felt when pedaling."

On a % basis, the aero beam figures might be small compared with all the other sources of drag. But all things being equal on an absolute basis over a 40min race, it adds up.

Maybe we should start wearing skin-suits?

That's how I interpreted it. But still not too bad considering the platform was close to that price before if I remember correctly.

yea but what happens when you bury the bows down to the front beam. does that drive you under?


And Wow is that sexy!

I'm going to need a towel.

Maybe. But you certainly won't appear on anyone's radar display with that carbon shape... So good luck seeing your nose-dive on radar/video

I'm a little awestruck at how this F1 DNA will probably redefine what a "modern catamaran" will be in the near future. They put a lot of thought into this boat. While I'm still not sold that foiling is everything it's cracked up to be (particularly on inland lakes), boats like this make it start to really look purposeful. The fact that Mischa was foiling this thing upwind and tacking through 105 degrees is impressive.

I bet the mast will see the next development step with a different profile. Although bend characteristics have changed quite a bit, the standard a-cat mast configuration has been relatively unchanged for several decades and it just looks "old" when it sits atop this boat.

I presume you guys also noticed that the trampoline has an upper and lower layer. The control lines that go through the top do not penetrate the bottom to keep the air flowing through the bottom smooth.

JC mentioned in his podcast about the benefit lower COE when foiling. perhaps this might indeed change mast/sail/wing design as well?

I've been thinking that front beam fairing needed to happen for several weeks now. It also helps solve the problem of the mast rotation bar which was less than ideal.

I love the boat, visually I think it obsoletes all of the current foilers. I have mixed feelings on that. Though I am glad the see the price is similar.

I've been wondering if the stability of foiling means a wing mast would pay now?

I want one. badly.

found a price list. Fully equipped in clear carbon with foil covers, boat yard cover, lycra trailering cover, mast, boom, standing riggin/trap, sail (decksweeper), etc....30.690 Euros ($35,000 USD) before delivery / taxes.

If you want it painted a color, it's an extra $1,100.

That's kinda what I was thinking about the mast development. Maybe not a full-on wing sail (weight) but a significantly larger (possibly structured) mast with a smaller fabric sail behind it. ...Something somewhat between both worlds.

Ben Hall talked about his in JCs podcast, too. Apparently with a few updates it would be ideal.