An Australian foiler designed for lightweights
Distributed in France by Marçon Yachting and RS Sailing, we went to try the Nikki at the Cercle de voile de Martigues, one of the sites selected to host the Olympic Games in 2024.
This foiler is 2.9m long and weighs 27kgs. It is delivered with all fittings already mounted and ready to be used. Like its big brother the finish is excellent. The whole is compact, and finds easily its place in the trunk of a utility.
This reduced version of the Skeeta the self-supporting mast impresses by its ease of use. Fifteen minutes are enough to rig the mast and the wings, without any tools.
The assembly is easily done with the hull laid flat on its cart, no need to lay the whole thing down. The Nikki is offered with three sail areas, 4.3 m2, 5.5 m2, 6.5m2, to be chosen according to the conditions and the weight of the helmsman.
Thanks to this wide range of sail surfaces, the Nikki is capable of being steered by a helmsman weighing between 25 and 65 kg.
Easy to launch
Our test will take place in 8-12 knots of steady wind, and we rig the 6.5m2 sail.
The foils are made of aluminum, and can be locked in the down or up position with a small clip that is very easy to use. The feeler, which is used to regulate the incidence of the main foil, is adjusted with a small hoist accessible from the mast foot.
The centreboard and vertical rudder are fully retractable, allowing the boat to be launched directly with the launching cart, without the need to tilt the boat.
Unlike its predecessor, the Nikki is equipped with a handle on the front for easy handling.
Excellent stability
The departure from the beach is very easy. No need to swim for a long time with the boat lying on the water, as it is usual with a Moth.
Here, the stability of the Nikki's shape allows the helmsman to start calmly and to quietly lower his appendages as soon as the depth allows it.
Once the set is ready to fly, the helmsman finds easily his place on the wing. The length of the stick is well adapted. The whole cockpit is equipped with a non-slip pad, and the boom is covered with a foam protection to secure the helmsman.
With the height of the sensor being adjustable, the Nikki allows sailors to start flying low on the water and then gradually increase in height as the helmsman progresses.
Well set on the beam, the Nikki takes off progressively and settles quickly on its foils. The regulation with the mainsheet is fluid and the helmsman quickly finds his bearings. Despite the light conditions of our test, the Nikki reaches an impressive speed and offers its helmsman great sensations.
A very versatile boat
If the Nikki has been designed to facilitate access to sailing on foils to a helmsman with some experience in dinghy sailing, it can also be much more versatile. It is indeed designed to be used in archimedean world, like a normal dinghy. The foils can be unclipped very quickly and are replaced by a small plastic profile. The Nikki is then able to adapt to different programs depending on the level of the helmsman and the conditions encountered
Pricing
The Nikki is delivered with a deck plan already installed and ready to sail. With a sail and a launching cart, it is available for 11 850euros TTC.
