A sailboat for offshore races
The Infinity 52 is a semi-custom racing yacht with a retractable transverse DSS foil that provides significant righting torque. It was designed by Hugh Welbourn and built in the shipyard's U.S. factory for an offshore racing program rather than inshore racing between three buoys. The builder is also launching a European base for its customers living on the other side of the Atlantic.
Lift, but without flying
DSS foils are not intended to make the boat fly, as is the case on many small sailboats and some ocean racers, but to provide a greater righting moment, hold more sail and therefore higher speeds. This type of foil - Dynamic Stability System euros - takes the load off the hull and reduces displacement and drag.
Developed 15 years ago, the DSS foil remains the simplest and most reliable foil system, according to its developer, requiring no complex rake system or other mechanical controls. It deploys via a line and a pulley. The system has already been seen on the Baltic 142 Canova, Sailing Yacht of the Year 2020 at the 2020 Superyachts Award and the Quant 23 , elected European Yacht of Year in 2016 .
Optimal righting torque
The hull shape of offshore sailboats is generally voluminous, especially at the bow, to obtain maximum righting torque and ensure better longitudinal stability. Trim management with the foil and ballast tanks limits this need. The transverse stability gained thanks to the foil makes it possible to have a lighter keel bulb, which makes the boat lighter and more velocity efficient.
Averages in line with forecasts
The first unit launched and delivered to its Finnish owner achieved 28 knots during a test in the Solent. This performance was in line with the forecast of 30 knots. The designer expects a 15-20% improvement in performance over the next few months as the crew learns to sail the boat.
A unique transversal foil
Compared to the 46-foot model, which is equipped with the same system, the Infinity 52 is simpler with a single foil sliding sideways to starboard or port. The keel is fixed and 600 kilos of ballast are located on each side of the boat's stern, which provides a greater angle of attack to the foil and increases lift.
While the DSS provides more lift downwind and reduces heel, upwind it is less effective on lift, but reduces pitch by 40% improving stability and wind flow on the sails, which improves VMG.
State-of-the-art equipment
The mast is placed directly on the deck and does not pass through to avoid water ingress, the boat being designed for offshore sailing. The halyards pass under the deck in a chute before being brought back to the cockpit. The sail set was designed by Kiwi professional sailor Stu Bannatyne, while the mast, also from New Zealand, has three tapered spreaders and a carbon fiber ECsix rig. The bowsprit over the inverted bow is truly imposing - 3 meters long - and offers six tack points to adjust the position of the various downwind headsails, from the jibs at the end of the bowsprit to the J4/trinquette on the furler and the storm jib on the foredeck. This system optimizes the separation between the headsails when sailing under 3 sails.
The latter are made of Technora carbon/aramid and benefit from the "structured luff" technology which distributes the load between the forestay and the luff, reducing the overall load at the masthead.
One of the most important developments has been the push-button operation of Harken's Air 300 motorized winches (from which all deck equipment is derived) and the Diverse hydraulic system. This allows for faster adjustment via sealed switch units installed on the CZone monitors.
The first model of the Infinity 52 has a single rudder, but can be adapted to different crew configurations, including double-handed.
A busy program of ocean racing
The first Inifinty 52 was launched and tested at sea in the Solent. Commissioned by a Finnish owner, she has an offshore racing program. The season's schedule includes offshore racing with a crew of 6: RORC Channel races, then heading to the Baltic for the Gotland Runt and the new RORC Baltic 600 race before the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The RORC Caribbean 600 2023 is also on the program.
