BOAT TEST
Words by Lia Ditton
SYZ Hydrofoil 
Catamaran
Like Alain Thébault’s trimaran ‘Hydroptère,’ built to break the 50 knot speed barrier,
the ‘SYZ & Co Hydrofoil Catamaran’ is a visual and engineering curiosity.
n early April this year,
Foils have been the future for some time. At the Dinghy Exhibition in
I
incredible images of
Alexandra Palace, London in March 2007, Australian International foiling
the ‘SYZ & Co Hydrofoil
Moth champion, Rohan Veal was discussing the potential of a catamaran
Catamaran’ began
on foils. On a Swiss lake, Patrick Firmenich, Jean Pfau, Jean Psarofaghis
cropping up in online sailing forums.
and Alex Schneiter were having the same idea and beginning a design with
From the images, it was possible
Charles Simone from VPLP. On the first of October 2008, the ‘SYZ & Co
to see a craft in flight, gliding solely
Hydrofoil Catamaran’ was christened. It was all a matter of time.
on it’s appendages- straight port
and starboard foils, ‘V’ shaped with
“With the SYZ & CO hydrofoil catamaran, we are determined to make an
side flaps and overall vertical and
attempt to beat every speed record on the lake,” comments Alex Schneiter,
dihedral adjustment and a central
owner of the ‘SYZ & Co Hydrofoil catamaran.’ “To take off, i.e. to lift out of
‘T’ foil rudder.
the water and settle on its ‘wings,’ the boat must be very powerful,” Alex
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  JUNE 2009 : MULTIHULL REVIEW  13
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