Talador: “You are a much braver man than I am. I am terrified of starting a project without knowing exactly how to finish it.”

In all seriousness  (and jest), I'm sorry, just couldn't let that one go through to the keeper.  The usual rendering (and thus by implication) of the expression above is as follows: You are either a much braver or more ....... than I.  I wouldn’t know about the former, and I leave to posterity,  judgement of the latter.  To put a statement like this into perspective, many would consider it either brave or foolish (or both) to go to sea, let alone build a boat.  So these judgements are relative to some preconceived notion of sanity and normality.  Perhaps, to contrast this position, we’re all terrified of life just passing us by, of regret.  Fear that the bucket list wasn’t sufficiently imaginative, that we failed to tick off the real important stuff.

Lifting foils are an optional feature for DrawnOnward.  So not only do I know how to finish it, I can conceive of several ways of augmenting the finished product.  Fine, I don't know exactly how I will finish it, but I certainly do know exactly how to finish it.  As a starting point, tried and tested rudder and rig systems exist.  Foiling tech is progressing in leaps and bounds (excuse the pun).  In the same way that you wouldn’t buy computers (or lithium batteries and solar panels) 2 years before you require them, I won’t buy the latest foil tech as being the final word to influence design.  In anticipation of the possibilities, simply engineer the hull to withstand the expected loads.  Every other week some new foiling craft appears.  From foiling DSS keel boats, Solent Whisper, Eagle 20HF to the M20 Vampire ... the list goes on.

I treat the project as if it were a scientific endeavour.  R and D if you like.  The scientific method entails proposing a theory and seeking proof  through failing to falsify the theory.  In my case: how can the design fail (to perform)? how can the structure fail? how can the foils fail (to perform)?  Failing to challenge all my assumptions could result in confirmation bias.  To the greatest extent possible, the premises of an inductive argument should be challenged and strengthened, thereby strengthening the resulting conclusion.  In the .pdf link I discuss a set of functions that I sought (still seek) to maximise.  I am at all times mindful that these functions need to be maximised.

Did you watch the Battle of the Boats www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQoNYe2jFP8 video I linked to?  TNZ weren't terrified by the prospect of the unknown.  The UpTip foil was the result.  The learning curve for implementation of foils is becoming progressively shallower.