Relentless - Part II

Dr Ian Ward looks at the practical steps that have enabled foil development to add to rather than detract from the growth of the International Moth Class around the world

Managing change

The role of the International Moth Class Association (IMCA) in administering class development during the immense changes of the past five to 10 years also seems to be quite misunderstood, especially to those who have not so far been involved in the development of, nor yet even sailed, foilers.

Even in a development class it is important to provide some restrictions to preserve the class, competitive racing and a type of practical boat that people are prepared to build and sail. All development classes have found some restrictions necessary over time, so much so that 18 Foot Skiffs have now become a substantially one-design class and all but one of the existing development classes, including the A-Class catamarans, have banned lifting foils altogether.

IMCA by contrast has kept a close eye on the new innovations and has sought to encourage development in accordance with the class charter, the aim being to introduce foiling as simply one further stage of a natural development of the sailing dinghy, rather than the creation of a completely separate type of craft.

To manage this, it has been necessary to guide development in such a way as to produce a boat with the characteristics required for fair, competitive tactical dinghy sailing...

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