The newly announced F70 from Carkeek and Persico Marine looks to be an absolute weapon drawing heavily on America’s Cup and IMOCA 60 technology. Rupert Holmes takes a lookThe latest collaboration between designer Shaun Carkeek and Italian yard Persico Marine is astonishing by the standards of any monohull. The images of the new F70 show what will clearly be a very cool full foiling yacht, but it\u2019s only once you start calculating key ratios that it becomes apparent just how radical this design is.
\nA displacement\/length ratio of less than 30 makes IMOCA 60s look heavy and, once crew weight is taken into account, makes foiling International Moths look positively staid.
\nEqually, sail area\/displacement shows a power to weight ratio a little lower than that of IMOCAs, but broadly equal to an AC75 and streets ahead of the Moth.
\nYet this is conceived as a dual-purpose boat that will be just as suitable for day sailing with friends as for inshore racing! The set-up is intended to allow for a seamless transition between these two modes.
\nThere are also crew berths, toilet, shower and other amenities, allowing the F70 to compete in typical 150-600 mile offshore races. In the right conditions it could storm round a course of this length, with every likelihood of lifting monohull line honours trophies ahead of 100-footers in the world\u2019s most iconic races.
\nRudders are fitted with T-foils, which help the boat to maintain a stable foiling attitude over extended periods. Calculations show the F70 transitioning to full foiling mode in as little as 10 knots of wind, which will be ideal for racing in the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n
The F70 is a design intended for owner-drivers wanting to sail with a small team of just two to four people. Foil control systems originally developed for both the America\u2019s Cup and the IMOCA fleet are employed to automate precise flight control. As a result, Carkeek says the boat will be easy to handle and drive, enabling it to be pushed hard without risk of losing control, while offering \u201cunprecedented acceleration, response rate, control and safety.\u201d
\nSailing with a small crew means a large cockpit is not needed, which allows more of the hull\u2019s length to be given over to accommodation below decks. Air conditioning is offered as an option, while other extras include retractable sun shades, easily deployed ground tackle and an electric hybrid drive system.
\nCareful consideration has been given to minimising weight. Construction is of full pre-preg unidirectional IM carbon with a Nomex Kevlar honeycomb core. The deck geometry, with its reverse sheer and chamfered bows, creates a shape that has enormous inherent stiffness, which further reduces weight in the structure.
\nFor easier berthing in crowded Mediterranean harbours the main foils can be fully retracted, but skippers will still need to take account of the IMOCA-style deck spreaders for the custom rotating wing mast.
\nA lightweight boom with a deep section featuring many cut-outs helps to further underscore this boat\u2019s distinctive style and, of course, shaves off even more weight.
\nCreating a dual-purpose boat of this size and nature is a brave move, but if there\u2019s any combination of expertise that can pull it off then Carkeek and Persico have to be at the top of the list. They have the background that enables them to apply state of the art knowledge from different disciplines in the sport, including IMOCA 60s and the America\u2019s Cup.
\nThe result is a boat with a blend of innovation, engineering and design promising a level of performance that it has never previously been possible to buy.
\nF70 specifications:
\nLOA: 21.4m \/ 70ft 2in
\nBeam: 5.2m \/ 17ft 0in
\nDraught: 4.5m \/ 14ft 9in
\nDisplacement: 10,000kg \/ 22,200lb
\nPrice: POA
\nBuilder: www.persicomarine.com<\/p>\n
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The post First look: F70 \u2013 Carkeek and Persico join forces for foiler appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The newly announced F70 from Carkeek and Persico Marine looks to be an absolute weapon drawing heavily on America’s Cup and IMOCA 60 technology. Rupert Holmes takes a lookThe latest collaboration between designer Shaun Carkeek and Italian yard Persico Marine … <\/p>\n