One innovation leads to another >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

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The electric surfboards buzzing in harbors are the little winged insects of the boating world, disturbing the anchor fields as the pilot destroys the serenity. While providing pure recreation, there are now foiled ebikes that could offer a new solution for everyday commuting, as featured in this tech review:

“Any boss who fires someone for not showing up today is a bum.” Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke has often complained that he has made many important and intelligent statements, but his words of September 26, 1983 are his most famous.

Obviously Australia had just ended the longest streak in the history of the sport by beating the New York Yacht Club, which had defended the America’s Cup for 132 years. They did it all with a lot of hard work and an extra piece of technology called a winged keel.

A leap forward to 2013 and the America’s Cup rules had changed many times, but 2013 was the first time America’s Cup yachts came out of the water and raced on hydrofoils.

They are magnificent to watch with the underwater hydrofoil acting much like an airplane wing in producing lift as it flows through the water. Significantly reduces drag when the hull is out of the water.

The New York Yacht Club was beside themselves with lawyers and rule books trying to bring down the winged keel. I can only imagine what would have happened if Australia II really got out of the water. As often happens, one innovation leads to another. Combine sailing hydrofoils with modern e-bikes and what do you get? A company in New Zealand has just released a new mode of transportation when there is water between where you are and where you need to go.

The Manta5 seating arrangement is like a normal bicycle. Sit on a seat with handlebars and pedals. Instead of wheels, you have two hydrofoils. Start pedaling and a 460-watt electric motor uses battery power and leg energy to spin a propeller and lift the bike and travel on hydrofoils.

With an average effort, she will sail at 6.5 knots. Passionate cyclists can reach speeds of up to 12 knots. Stop pedaling and the 68-pound bike will drop off its hydrofoils and float on its flotation unit.

The rear foil is 6.5 feet wide with the front at 4 feet, so the bike is relatively stable in the water. I hear some people have apoplexy at the idea of ​​dropping a large battery and electric motor into the water, but don’t expect to hit all the fish (and yourself).

Unsurprisingly, the designers thought about it and created redundancy in battery storage away from water.

They are stable and can handle small waves, and as we move towards greener methods of transportation and reducing carbon emissions around the world, don’t be surprised to see hydrofoil bikes being used for everyday commuting.

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