Hobie Cat TriFoiler

Yowee! I was blasting across Miami's Biscayne Bay and the speedometer was hovering in the 30 knot range. Yet I was under sail! Unbelievable!

The new TriFoiler from Hobie Cat is the result of Greg Ketterman's quest for speed on the water, which resulted in a 1992 world speed record of 50.1 mph that Russell Long set using a smaller version of this foiled design.

A trimaran with a long main hull like an iceboat and two shorter hulls, or amas, on each side, the most distinctive feature is the biplane rig with twin windsurfer-like sails set on the outer hulls.

The foils that lift the TriFoiler off the water are the real key to the amazing speeds, since they reduce the drag to almost nothing. The "sensors" that skim the surface in front of each ama are a patented system that adjusts the two main foils for the proper height, raising the hull for larger waves but filtering out chop.

The main foils are fully retractable for beaching, and the rudder (with foil on the bottom) kicks up easily. Shoving off from the beach, the TriFoiler sails decently as you pull the pre-set foils into place using lines leading to an underdash array of cam cleats. Given a moderate breeze, all you have to do is reach off slightly and the acceleration will literally push you back in your seat as the TriFoiler lifts onto foil and surges forward. It's not difficult to peg the needle of the waterski speedometer at 35 mph, and the thrill of sailing easily at this speed is enough to render most sailors speechless. You'll end up grinning foolishly for hours afterward, however.

Construction is light but solid, with foam core to keep the main hull at just 90 pounds. The cockpit is like a bobsled, with shoulder-high sides and a fabric bucket seat for the skipper. Foot pedals are used for steering, and a second seat behind the skipper is for guests or training purposes.

The TriFoiler sails easily at twice windspeed, taking about 12 knots of breeze to get on foil with two passengers. Handling is remarkable and you can tack or gybe instantly, producing lateral forces up to 2 Gs in the process, yet the TriFoiler is almost impossible to capsize. Best on smooth water, it can handle moderate seas as well.

Most sailors have never reached the speeds that the TriFoiler can easily attain and, if you're looking for a boat that can humiliate many of the powerboats in your area, the TriFoiler is for you.