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The top
photograph shows the drawbacks of V-foils at high speed. The wing to the
left of the pilot has two white streaks where the V enters the water. The shallow
angle of the V-foil encouraged air to be sucked down the top of the foil,
reducing its lift and inducing instability in the boat.
The lower
photograph shows a sequence of main foils that were investigated before the final
choice of the small foil at the front of the group was made for the record
setting run. The rear foil is the V-foil shown in the top photograph.
Using
the straight main-foil configuration and two small front foils with
surface followers, Mark Drela established a new world record of 18.5 knots
(21.3 mph) on October 27, 1991. On the same day, Dava Newman set a new women's
world record of 11.41 knots (13.13 mph).
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