Skaw A: Construction of the first true cruising foiler has begun! ????

It presents itself as the first authentic cruising monohull with foils to be produced, and indeed, the concept of the Skaw A follows this direction: a boat featuring the classic bow volume of round-bowed racing scows, combined with super-cruiser interiors. For some time, the question has been whether it's possible to use the volumes of such hulls for cruising purposes. According to Skaw Sailing and designers Benoit Marie and Clement Bercault, this idea is feasible, to the point that the construction of the boat has already begun in France. The Skaw A is 11.95 meters long and 4.85 meters wide. Its hull shape strongly resembles that of ocean racing open boats, particularly the Mini 650 scows, but with some unique solutions for the waterlines. The submerged part of the hull narrows, taking on a shape that's not flat, almost resembling a slight V. This design reduces the wetted surface area when the boat is level, minimizing penalties in light wind conditions. At the same time, it makes the hull more forgiving when sailing upwind, with softer impacts on the waves compared to a flatter hull shape. The boat is equipped with C-shaped foils, which will provide moments of genuine flight, even though it doesn't feature elevators on the rudders (the horizontal component found on fully foiling boats). This is achievable thanks to a limited weight of 5,000 kg. Additionally, the boat will have a lifting keel that adjusts from a draft of 1.2 to 3.5 meters. Likely, the boat will achieve lift at wind speeds exceeding 10 knots, at angles that aren't too tight. The interiors are another standout feature, taking advantage of an almost 4-meter beam even at the bow-a true rarity in the cruising boat market. The interiors will be enriched by large windows on the deck and around the coachroof, offering a very high level of natural light. The true advantage of scows lies in their ability to provide nearly double the volume for the same length. The challenge, however, is to create boats that are also suitable for cruisers. One concern remains: the conditions the boat may impose on the crew when sailing upwind in wind and waves. The "slamming" of scows on waves makes these hulls very hard to endure onboard due to the violent impacts. It remains to be seen whether the measures taken by the designers will be sufficient to make the experience enjoyable, even in rough seas.