In with the new..

Well, it’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally swapped 4048, the very first boat to have production foils from Full Force, for a newer, younger and better looking model. Please welcome, all the way from Banwell, GBR3192 ‘Paranoid Android’. Maybe I should have learnt my lesson about having the first of a new design, but she’s the first customer Axiom 4 to come from Aardvark. Finished in a splendid Saab Fusion Blue Metallic, she certainly looks fast!

Mike has spent long time thinking about this boat, and has really concentrated hard on the detailing. As expected from someone who develops his designs at a faster rate than anyone else, he’s also taken on board lots of lessons learnt in Garda, to bring together a package which is lightweight, strong, and fast and should be very reliable! A few great examples are the through deck control rod – not a new idea, but now neatly recessed into the board box so it is impossible to ruin one’s sail before it has even started with a well aimed kick! The integral Gantry support is nice, and a neat step keeps it away from the water at marginal foiling speeds.

The foils are Aardvark’s own design, with a cool 3D profile including neatly swept winglets on the flapless rudder – a design Mike had been using when the Bladerider was but a twinkle in Amac’s eye! The main foil has an interesting shape, and should have plenty of power thanks to the long lever arm on the flap – which is very neatly hinged, and has a nice free range of movement.

The standard manic last minute rigging completed at Aarvark HQ (after a hearty steak dinner courtesy of the Sidcot arms!), and a good nights sleep the Android was treated to a Champagne launch at a very chilly Axebridge. A crowd gathered, of course, doing little to ease the stress for owner, or builder, as the rig goes up for the first time and all the parts are asked to fit in anger!

Not to be put off, everything went together perfectly; with lessons learnt from Mikes own Axiom put to good use. Emma duly performed as Mistress (no, not one of those Weymouth based ones) of Ceremonies, sprayed the champagne and we were off. Capsize recovery is laughably easy – the geometry means the boat genuinely almost wants to right itself. Things were not looking good as I drifted in 4 knots of wind, but luckily the breeze humoured me, and piped up to a more reasonable 7-10 knots. The boat flew well in this, ride height was incredibly positive – she would rise to a set high, and no amount of idiocy by the pilot was going to upset that. As expected, Alan’s prowler seemed to have the slight speed edge when lowriding, and possibly early take off, but that could easily have been technique as much as anything else. However, the low centre of gravity, light rig (the Hyde sail is notably lighter than a KA – now if only they could sort out their Cam supply!) and flat wingbars of the Axiom 4 made manoeuvres an absolute breeze, and sailing in the marginal conditions a lot more fun than usual.

The ForeTrex suggested a top speed of 14.9 knots, which while far from the 23(!) Mike hit on his first sail, is pretty good going considering the breeze never topped 10 knots.

More wind is needed to truly evaluate the performance, so “I'll tell you tomorrow...but it's looking good so far.”