The basic idea behind Vortex is to make foiling accessible to a wide range of sailing enthusiasts. With their extravagant Pod Racer, sailing on hydrofoils should therefore be particularly easy and suitable for everyone. The sailor no longer has to climb around on the boat, but sits in the central fuselage like in a racing car, steers with their feet using pedals and adjusts the flight attitude with a control stick between their knees, just like in a glider. Crazy? Absolutely yes!
The T-foils are located in the short side floats. In order to take off completely, the rudder blade is also equipped with additional wings, so-called elevators. Using the joystick and a complicated system of sheet pulls, the sailor can determine the immersion depth of the foils and thus the heel of the pod racer himself in his cockpit. The maximum possible performance potential can be utilised with a slight heel to windward. The Vortex developers have calculated speeds of up to 30 knots.
The sails and the rotating profiled wing mast are trimmed using lines, which are also led directly to the sailor in the cockpit. The Pod Racer is also equipped with a fairly extensive range of on-board electronics from the shipyard. The special design is built by McConaghy Boats in China, entirely from carbon fibre, down to the smallest detail. The exciting lightweight weighs in at 150 kilograms empty, including sails and rigging.
The outriggers to the stabilising side floats are equipped with a complex hinge and can be folded up. The rudder blade with the elevators can also be completely raised. This means that the Pod Racer can be easily launched and retrieved on the beach or via a slip ramp. The device can be easily dismantled for transport in a trailer box. The carbon fibre mast can also be split down the middle.
The first pod racer is now under construction and the first tests will soon show whether it can fulfil the expectations placed in it. The shipyard has not yet drawn up a concrete price list. However, the basic price for the boat without additional equipment should be around 40,000 euros.
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Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
