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Moths to the Flame

• By Chris Museler
• Updated: June 8, 2020

There is an eye-opening video clip posted online from the last day of the 2019 Moth Worlds in Perth, Australia. The drone follows Tom Slingsby as he tears across the finish line, winning the whole enchilada with two races to spare. In a class now populated with high-net, young professional sailors, to win 12 straight races is mind-blowing alone, but the most incredible part of this visual is the outrageous speed. Slingsby’s foils are just shy of perching the surface; there’s minuscule drag, there’s a slight twitch on the helm, and his go-for-it hiking posture is inspiring. In 20-plus knots of breeze, Slingsby, in this moment, and the entire week, is redlining his torpedo-shaped Exocet Moth. Talk about sending it.

This is a big deal. Slingsby and the rest of the top 10 at the worlds were doing nearly 20 knots upwind, a 2-knot ­difference from a year earlier. Downwind, they’re pushing 30. It’s hard to imagine so much progression can come out of such a small package, but the Moth—which has influenced modern foiling, from the America’s Cup to the little productions Skeeta and UFO, and even windfoiling—is still the highest-profile foiler on the planet. This, despite being crazy expensive at $30,000 for a new boat.

This is also a big deal because the class continues to push the high-performance fringe of the sport, from foil technology and design to sailing techniques. Incremental changes that have added up to the gains Slingsby and his buddies demonstrate have come from deck-sweeping sails, “aero packages” that reduce wind drag, and ever-shrinking foil shapes.

But let’s be real. Who can actually do what gold medalist and Cup winner Slingsby does? Very few. First, the cost of a new—or even a good used boat—is ridiculous. And the time commitment? From my two years of Moth sailing, I know the investment in time on the water alone. Simply learning how to jibe (for me, more than 21 sessions of extended lunch breaks and evening sessions) is impossible for most working folk. And don’t even mention the amount of time it takes to set up, tweak, and repair these intricate and delicate carbon machines.

Despite all these barriers, however, the class continues to grow internationally, with 122 competitors signing on to be part of Slingsby’s Southern Hemisphere Slaying. There are rank-and-file American sailors who have accepted that racing a Moth is worth every penny and minute they can muster to get around the racecourse. It’s just super-addictive, and yes, where there’s a will there’s a way to do it at your own pace and within your own budget.

Dan Flanigan, one of the few Americans to compete in the Perth Worlds, says, “If you sail once a month, it will take five years to get around the course.” He was 79th of 122 —and pumped with his finish.

Flanigan, 28, is an ­engineer and recently started his own engineering, design and build company called Kroova, in San Diego. He kept an educational and witty log of his first worlds experience in Australia. It was classic Mothie: “I had some control issues (read: multiple pitch poles and crashes)…I told my fiancé I was currently 32 out of 60 in the Silver Fleet, and from 34th on, it was DNFs and UFDs. ‘What a weird class,’ she said. I couldn’t agree more!”

Flanigan’s self-­deprecating tone is common language in a scene where the learning curve is so steep, so demoralizing, that to simply survive the process is a badge of honor. It’s entry into a community that knows the regular feeling of dopamine releases while screaming along on every downwind leg. Flanigan knew he was progressing when he reported he was 30th of 60—but ­remember, the DNFs started at 47.

Progression is a big buzzword in Moth sailing. It’s challenging to ­simply trim in the sail and get underway, then there’s perfecting your turns, there’s knowing your controls and shifting through those gears rapidly into and out of a tack.

“It was functionally too early for my first worlds,” says Flanigan, who since this past winter has been practicing after work and on weekends with 10 or so Moth sailors in San Diego. “For most people at their first worlds, the minimum sailing time has been two years. If I could let go of the feeling of being beat, I would improve quicker than the guys around me.”

Such an attitude allows him to keep an eye on the prize: progression.

Progression is a big buzzword in Moth sailing. It’s challenging to simply trim in the sail and get underway, then there’s perfecting your turns, there’s knowing your controls and shifting through those gears rapidly into and out of a tack, which, by the way, is the Holy Grail for those in the middle to bottom half of the fleet. “Once you get your first foiling tacks,” Flanigan says, “it’s a huge drug, a chemical reaction that ­happens inside you.”

About half of the silver fleet at the worlds had the “ability” to foil tack. Moth sailing is an endless progression, and Flanigan and others simply enjoy stumbling down the rocky path. “It’s easy to say, ‘Don’t focus on the results,’ but it’s hard to feel that. With the time you spend, you want to do well,” Flanigan says.

When he had a good race, he would round a mark with a whole new group of competitors. “I thought, This is a massive improvement . I made five foiling tacks the whole regatta, but it was huge gains.”

Flanigan’s goal, of course, is to “learn the boat as fast as possible, with having a job, a functional relationship—while being completely obsessed—and sail the boat as fast as possible.” He hopes five years of this approach will give him the skills to compete at the worlds each year, the rewards, he says, of hard work and commitment to fitness.

But Flanigan is not there yet. He’s on the steep end of the curve. His professional skills, though, make him a keen observer of the progression at the top of the worlds fleet. “Aero is getting more and more important as apparent windspeed gets above 30 knots upwind,” he says. Flanigan is using a Mach2, upgraded with the ubiquitous bow sprit that holds the wand out farther for steadier ride-height ­control in choppy conditions. The Mach 2.5 has no compression struts at the mast step, allowing deck-sweeping sails to take a more refined shape. Wing bars are now flared down at the back side to line up better with apparent wind while sailing upwind. “They’re playing with lift and righting moment,” he says, referring to the leeward wing bar lifting and the weather wing bar pulling down.

Although Slingsby and ­others in the top 20 raced their Exocet Moths, from Britain, and the once-dominant Mach2 is regularly in the hunt for titles, there are more new designs than ever, allowing for fine-tuning to the sailor’s weight and strength. Matt Chew, of Australia, was eighth in a Paul Bieker-designed Moth. Bieker is an innovator who has created a flush-deck Moth that has so little area for its width, many say it looks way too long to be class legal. There’s a lot less aero drag, but the new deck-sweeper sail also has no impediments such as a raised forward deck to get in the way of a perfectly fair shape. The Bieker’s flat top helps advance the deck-­sweeping concept. The effect of the new sail design is twofold: The end-plate effect reduces drag; and the lower center of effort allows for increased drive force for the same righting moment.

Because the boats are going faster, the foil shapes are changing too. Luka Damic has quickly dominated in this space with his Swift Foils, which were on the majority of the top 10. The chord lengths on the vertical foils are shorter and, especially where they meet the horizontal element, are much thinner. When you see Slingsby riding ridiculously high, he is ­trying to get every milli­meter of his vertical appendage out of the water—to reduce drag. When you’re going 30-plus knots, a few less millimeters of vertical foil in the water is a big reduction in hydrodynamic drag.

The breeding pool for American Moth sailors has been small and continues to be a moving target. Two winter series, one in Southern California and one in the Florida Keys, are really the only gatherings where racing Moths is a “thing.” But these and other pockets of Moths might be breeding something even ­better: stoked sailors.

“Personally, I had lost the joy in sailing,” says Helena Scutt, an Olympian who stopped a Nacra 17 campaign last year and then decided to focus on her engineering career. “Last year I started a journey with the Moth to put the fun back in sailing. I never want to lose that again.”

Scutt purchased an Exocet during her campaign, believing her foiling skills would translate to Nacra sailing. The campaign is over, and now she’s trying to get better in the Moth in the San Francisco Bay area. She’s an Olympic-caliber athlete, but even Scutt is on the same learning curve as every Moth sailor. “I’ve been knocked down so many times,” she says, “but I come out of the water with a grin and say, ‘That was an ­awesome wipeout.’”

Scutt, who is also the US Moth Class president, finished eighth overall in September’s North American Championship in San Diego. She is progressing nicely up the curve. “It was my first real Moth regatta,” she says. “I’m just analyzing where the gains and losses are. Boathandling is low-hanging fruit.”

The Waszp is essentially a production version of the Moth, and groups in the United States have had an easier time attracting females to the fold. Scutt points to a few Moth-specific challenges that favor the Waszp for some sailors. “The expense is a factor,” Scutt says, adding that a lot of other boats are cheaper than a Moth and “almost as much fun.” Experience in high-performance boats, like skiffs, is helpful in foiling but not prevalent among female sailors. Scutt says this has nothing to do with “capability.” It’s a matter of exposure. And being an equipment-based development class also doesn’t play into the current skills of female sailors. She adds that these factors are historical and that Moth sailing “exaggerates these factors.”

Scutt encourages all Moth sailors to reflect on the opportunities that got them into the class, and then spend a little time exposing new sailors, especially women, to the Moth. “Share your knowledge, give them a chance to try it and get hooked.”

Still, Scutt says the Moth is the tip of the spear in performance sailing. “The Moth came out of sailing; now foiling is more ubiquitous,” she says. “When I think of sailing and foiling, it’s a pretty cool time to be around and flying. A couple of years ago, we never would have imagined this.”

Moths are surely the most expensive bit of singlehanded monohull sailing kit you can own, though the price of recreational foilers is getting more reasonable. But in Mission Bay and Key Largo each winter, there will be 20 or 30 Moth sailors of every ability ripping around, tuning up, and helping one another tweak a gearing mechanism for the wand or repair a push rod on their main foil flap. Some will try to play with the likes of Slingsby, while others will simply enjoy their progression.

Flanigan’s last few posts from the worlds speak to the average Moth sailor’s attitude. “Missed tack, flipped at top mark…. When I say I have ‘good pace upwind,’ I understand fully that it is relative only to the bottom half of the fleet.” With his best race in the silver fleet being a seventh of 61 (DNFs starting from 36th), his closing comment is, “This was an awesome event.”

Slingsby, of course, would agree.

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Waszp – the new one-design foiling Moth that could make learning to fly a little less painful

• Matthew Sheahan
• September 14, 2016

As a development class, the International Moth has been a hotbed of foiling innovations over the past few years. Matthew Sheahan reports on a new accessible one-design version

Waszp on display at Foiling Week 2016, Malcesine, Lake Garda. Pic: Gilles Martin-Raget

If there is one class of boat that has turned more heads around the world in the last decade than any other, it must surely be the foiling Moth. Having started as more of a stunt than anything more serious, there is now no other way to race a Moth.

Fleets worldwide have grown and the experts make foiling look effortless, yet the reality is that mastering the Moth is even more difficult than carve gybing a windsurfer. Yet there is no doubt that the combination of speed, silence and extraordinary looks has been, and continues to be, a big draw.

With so few rules, the International Moth – as opposed to the ironing board-shaped British Moth – has always been at the leading edge of design and development. Famous for its laissez-faire approach, it has just a few simple rules that have resulted in some of the most radical thinking in the sport.

But not everyone is able or willing to play. For some, the pace of development got too hot when hull shapes became little more than a plank on edge. A boat that would only float the right way up if you were moving and required the balance of a cat on a fence from the helmsman was a challenge too far for many sailors.

But as we now know, there was another big hike in performance to come as the Moth took to foils. Once again, some found this a step too far, though plenty rose to the challenge and helped to create a completely new style of racing. Those who have learned to foil have left the rest of us green with envy.

One design Moth

But a new design of Moth might change all that as the long-awaited WASZP goes on sale. Conceived five years ago by Andrew McDougall, designer of the MACH2 Moth, the idea was to make a foiling Moth not only cheaper, but easier to sail.

So while the WASZP is based on the foiling Moth and conforms to the few class rules that there are, it differs fundamentally in that it is a strict one-design. But it has other advantages for the less daring.

The stern has greater volume to prevent sinking during low-speed manoeuvres and tacking. This also helps keep the boat on the foils. Pic: Gilles Martin-Raget

For starters, the wings provide sufficient buoyancy to keep the boat the right way up when stopped, and they are also adjustable to allow you to alter the angle by which they rise towards their tips – technically called dihedral.

Setting the wings flatter, that is with less dihedral, is like lowering the stabilisers on a child’s bike. The outboard ends of the wings touch the water and support you before things go pear-shaped.

Looking like a pro

As you get more proficient at keeping the kind of balance that unicyclists take for granted, you increase the dihedral to allow you to sail the boat heeled to windward.

At this point the daggerboard T-foil is hauling you to windward while you look like a pro.

Furthermore, the mast is unstayed, making it simpler to rig and, with no shrouds to act as giant cheese wires, considerably safer when you do take a tumble. The main foil and rudder lift like conventional daggerboards so it’s easier to get on and off the beach.

Fully fledged Moths have a fixed daggerboard and rudder, which are fitted when the boat is on its side, leaving you to swim out into deeper water with the boat in tow like a dog with a stick before you can right it and sail away. The reverse process is required when coming ashore.

Clearly, this is not for everyone. With delicate, expensive carbon foils, you want to get this right from the start. Few do.

The WASZP, however, has foils that can not only be lowered progressively once you’re under way, like a Laser, but are made of alloy with injection-moulded tips, making them far more robust.

A conventional daggerboard and matching T foil rudder make life easier getting afloat and back ashore. Pic Gilles Martin-Raget

Worth the wait

The hull is an epoxy, glass, carbon-infused composite so it is tough, but light, weighing 48kg including foils. And although that’s around 18kg heavier than a modern Moth, the WASZP is the same weight as the RS Aero, which I know from experience is light enough to carry down to the water.

And then there’s the cost. At around US$10,000 (£7,550) it is said to be half the price of a fully tricked MACH2.

The project has been a long time coming, but now it’s here with a fleet racing at the recent Foiling Week held on Lake Garda there’s a buzz going around that it was well worth the wait.

Design features

One of the keys to the WASZP is the folding wings. Set horizontally, they act as stabilisers and can be raised as you become more proficient, using different-sized wing supports. Pic Gilles Martin-Raget

Different sail plans for different sizes and abilities of sailor have become popular in modern single-handed dinghies. The WASZP has a choice of 5.8 sq m, 6.9sq m or 8.2sq m sails. Photo Gilles Martin-Raget

A wishbone boom system, like that on a windsurfer, dispenses with a conventional boom and kicker and makes tacking easier. Pic Gilles Martin-Raget

As with the Moth, the WASZP uses a wand to control the ride height automatically using a mechanical sensor system. Pic Gilles Martin-Raget

With its unstayed mast it is easy to rig, there’s no rigging to collide with when you take a tumble and it’s easier to get back aboard after a capsize. Pic Gilles Martin-Raget

Extruded alloy sections and the mechanical hinge systems make for a simpler and more robust system than the composite foils in a Moth. They are also cheaper to replace. Pic Gilles Martin-Raget

A concave profile bow allows better response in waves for the wand while providing greater volume forward to help prevent burying the bow during a bear away. Pic Gilles Martin-Raget

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INTERNATIONAL MOTH SPEED GUIDE

Moth Dinghy expert Rob Greenhalgh introduces this extraordinary singlehanded foiling dinghy and describes the keys to sailing one fast.

Who sails the foiling Moth Dinghy?

The Moth class is for everyone—it’s so exciting, you don’t need to race it. Club sailors can get a huge buzz out of foiling, going fast around the bay, and learning to foil jibe and tack. They might enjoy it so much they never need to join a race. At the other end of the spectrum, there are sailors who have been in Moth Class for a decade or more and love the challenge of racing this exciting, complex craft. 

Viewed from stern or bow, the foiling moth is a high-speed machine, clearly unlike other sailboats.

What kind of sailors enjoy this challenge?

Moths are development boats, not a strict one-design class, and that’s daunting for some. The technical and evolutionary side of Moth sailing requires a good understanding of how everything works—how the foils interact with the rig setup and how to balance both aspects. Over the last five years, there have been massive speed advancements, which will continue. To be at the top of the game, you have to enjoy the technical side. But you can buy equipment off the shelf and, if you practice and sail well, soon be up to pace. Though more technically oriented sailors often gain an edge for a while, there are also lots of people who will make changes that don’t help them, so it evens out.

How physical is the sailing?

When you are first getting into it, Moth sailing seems physically hard, but once you’ve done it a while, it’s not too bad. On a windy day with a lot of capsizing, it gets pretty tiring. But it’s a light boat, and the loads are not high. Anyone can do it if you can move quickly at times. There are plenty of Moth sailors in their 60s.

New boats or used, which are better?

My advice for the first-time or second-time buyer is to look for a good second-hand boat that you know will fly. This saves you a lot of effort, because even experienced Moth sailors need a few months to work up a new boat. Sure, it’s always a worry that you might not be getting good enough kit with a used boat, but in my experience, any modern Moth can be made fast. If you want to buy new, a standard boat from either of the two main builders—Exocet by Maguire Boats, or Mach 2 by MacDougall McConaghy—will quick enough for top 5. You can also have a look at the new Bieker Moth by LSF Composites.

The Moth is a development class. What’s happening lately?

The Vi-8 DS 3Di (on top) and Vi-8 LA 3DI feature the same sail area. The LA has more power in lighter winds to foil more quickly; the DS has less drag at high speeds.

What sails do you recommend?

8LA-3Di provides extra power to get on foil.

Which sails do you use?

The decksweeper (Vi-8 DS 3Di) creates an endplate and lowers aero-drag. It is slightly faster once foiling.

How does foil choice affect sail choice?

Moths have two foils, a larger foil for lighter winds and a smaller foil for stronger, and that’s a choice you have to make on the beach. In my case, if I expect to be on my foils all day, I’ll choose the smaller foil and the deck-sweeper sail. If the winds are lighter or less reliable, I will often choose the big foil and the LA sail. And if I expect light air to start but a building breeze all day, I’ll likely choose the big foil with the deck-sweeper sail.

Tuning the Moth Dinghy

What are the keys to tuning a moth.

Generally speaking, you should set up your boat to carry as much rake as possible. How much is that? You’ll know it’s too much if you can’t get under the boom in tacks and jibes. This is not something you do underway, and if the boom is making boat handling more difficult, make the rig more upright until that smooths out.

What other key adjustments do you make before launching a Moth?

Batten tension is one. For Batten 1 (the top batten) down to Batten 5, just take the creases out of the batten pockets—don’t over-tighten them. For Batten 6, remove the crease and then add two more turns by twisting the batten key two full revolutions in a clockwise direction. For Batten 7, take the creases out and add three turns. The outhaul is also non-adjustable underway. Rig the boat ashore with the outhaul loose. Pull on max vang and max cunningham, and then pull the outhaul tight. This will give you a good all round setting.

What other settings can you recommend?

Here some of the numbers from my boat, but don’t worry if your measurements are different. Comparing measurements boat to boat may not matter at all. The important thing is to start recording them and experimenting.

• Front Prodder 340 (adjustable +/-50mm)
• Side Arm 410mm
• Deflection 220mm
• Shroud Base 1500mm
• Mast Length 5100mm (excluding plastic plugs top and bottom)
• Back of mast to clew ring 2340mm

From mast length to shroud base, it's important to record all of your boat and rig measurements. You will change them over time.

How do you set up your foils, actuator wand, and gearing?

Sailing in rougher water requires faster gearing between your actuator and main foils. Foil gearing is a critical control for waves; make sure it can be adjusted for rough waters. To get through waves you need faster gearing. You’ll also change foil size depending on the wind forecast. I have two sets of main foils and use the smaller one on windier days. However, if the wind is light for the first race and predicted to build, I’ll go with the larger foil because the speed penalty of not being able to fly with other boats can trumps all other considerations.

Upwind Moth Sailing

What is most important when sailing upwind.

On any point of sail, the vang and cunningham are powerful controls, and need constant adjustment for different conditions. The goal is to generate power for low-riding and to get up on the foils, and then flatten the sail as the wind builds. One of the challenges of the Moth is it has a maximum 8.25 square meters of sail area, and upwind in most conditions, that’s more sail than you need. Downwind, you have the opposite problem; your speed reduces the apparent wind so much, you’re always starved for power.

What is low-riding mode and how do you sail fast in light winds?

In general you don’t race in winds when you can’t foil, but it may happen that the wind lightens up substantially during a race. Sailing in low-riding mode is an art in itself, something like balancing in a canoe because the hull is so narrow. I always recommend practicing sailing that way.

What does it take to fly a Moth?

Heel the Moth to windward to keep the boat more stable and reduce leeway.

Why do you tip the Moth to windward when flying?

We sail with the rig always tipped to windward because it keeps the boat more stable and reduces leeway on the main foil. Use very subtle steering and trimming of the main.

How do you trim the Moth sailing upwind?

Correct trim is the absolute key to good boatspeed. It’s very easy to over-sheet and stall the front of the mainsail. Always have the inside tell tales lifting. A common mistake is sailing under-powered and over-trimmed. As the wind increases, flatten the main by tightening vang and cunningham to accommodate the higher apparent wind speeds.

How do you adjust sail trim for gusty winds?

You need your rig set-up to be user friendly. That means having enough vang and cunningham to straighten the sail. If twisted, the center of effort can move up and down the sail. It takes a certain level of confidence to get to the point where you can let go of the mainsheet to tighten the kicker and cunningham.

Downwind Moth Sailing

What is the key to good moth speed downwind.

Sailing downwind, be sure to maintain a big entry angle in the lower part of the sail and avoid over-trimming.

What is your focus when trimming downwind?

I focus closely on my lower tell tales, keeping them flying 100 percent and making sure I ease enough to keep the sail ‘hooked up’ with airflow attached. I look for a nice big entry angle on the bottom part of the sail and clean up any horizontal creases by subtly tightening the cunningham. From there, it’s a matter of very subtle trim and steering. If in doubt, ease the sheet and be sure you have good flow going around the front of the sail. If you run into a light patch, just head up to keep the flow going on the main. If needed, power up the main even more. Get the gearing really slow on your foils to minimize drag. The boat will go faster and apparent wind will increase, moving the wind forward and letting you trim harder. Especially when it’s a bit lighter downwind, be sure to pre-empt a drop in apparent wind by easing main and bringing the bow up!

Moth Tacking, Jibing And Gear Changing

How do you foil jibe a moth.

When foil tacking or jibing, you need to flatten the boat. For jibing, bank into the turn to leeward. You’ll turn the boat more aggressively when your body is ready to move across to the new wing.

How do you foil tack a Moth?

When tacking you have to move quickly, bringing the boat relatively flat once head to wind. Start luffing slowly, taking the edge off your speed; make sure the boat is flat when head to wind. As my body moves across the middle to the new wing, I’ll increase the rate of turn, steering quite aggressively through the eye of wind, but my body has to be ready to cross the boat and receive the power on the new tack. You need to come out tipped to windward. Here’s how I break it down:

• Ten seconds before tacking, consider slowing the boat slightly and sailing slightly higher.
• Plan for a slow luff head to wind, followed by a faster turn rate once confident that crew weight can be positioned correctly.
• Heel to windward before the tack but flatten the boat once head to wind. Move your weight inboard. It is important here to sheet the mainsheet on centerline so that it is not over the leeward wing when you pass underneath.
• As you move across the middle of the boat, pass the tiller extension around the back and into a position halfway along the leeward wing.
• When you are confident you can move to the new side, increase the rate of turn, landing on a wider than close-hauled course.
• There are a lot of G-forces during this period, so expected to get ejected a few times!
• Don’t try to piece the whole tack together immediately. Practice the first phase of luffing head to wind, getting your weight to center, and switching the tiller extension across.
• Remember to ease mainsheet out of the tack and have your hands positioned so that the sheet can be eased quickly. The sheet is more important than the tiller on exit.
• I set my mast rake to allow 70 to 75cm between the boom and the deck where I cross the boat. Tacking is important, so make sure you have room under the boom! For tacking practice, I recommend having the rig more upright.
• Don’t adjust any control lines right before or after tacks, unless it is very light and foiling is marginal.

Name 5 key gear changes in a Moth

• To foil early in light air, power up by having the vang and cunningham as loose as possible. However, it is easy to over-deepen the front of the sail, requiring further bear-away to get good flow on the sail. Don’t overdo it.
• Downwind always requires a deeper sail shape than upwind, regardless of wind speed.
• Once foiling, immediately pull on vang to stabilize the sail and cunningham to clean the creases. Even though the wind is light, we are quickly doing 14/15kts. The AWS is high so we need to change sail shape to achieve good speeds.
• As the breeze builds, constantly increase vang and cunningham loads to achieve the desired sail shapes. Max vang should be achieved in 15 knots and max cunningham in 18 knots.
• The Moth gets overpowered quickly, and from 18 knots upwards a softer tip or different sail is required. North’s LA and DS designs have a slight variation in the luff rounds to cover the range, with the DS being aimed at 14 knots true wind speed. For lighter sailors, a softer-tip allows the mast to bend earlier and depower the sail.

How do you start a race in a Moth?

Starts are a bit chaotic. Even for long-time racers, a Moth start will be a new experience. People get up on their foils with about 25 seconds to go and do a big turn-up at about 3 seconds, crossing the lining at 20 knots. A key thing when you’re on your foils is to have the ability to slow down while maintaining control. You need to practice that. Getting to the pin too soon is dodgy, especially with boats starting on port tack.

Why do so many Moths start on port tack?

Moths travel at 15 to 18 knots upwind, so tacking is a very costly part of an upwind leg. Reducing the number of tacks during a beat is very efficient, although this depends somewhat on how well you tack and how confident you are in making your tacks.

How many ways can you capsize a Moth?

You will capsize a Moth every possible way when learning. But I can sail for days now without capsizing, unless it is windy and choppy. The key to recovering quickly is to get on the daggerboard and do a dry capsize, climbing back over the wing. Sometimes that’s hard to do, especially when you pitchpole and find yourself 20 meters out in front of that boat.

What is the most common boat-handling mistake in a Moth?

Capsizing! Foil tacking, in particular, is very difficult. A common mistake is trying to foil tack when it’s breezy. Drag is so high that as you go through head to wind, everything slows down and it’s easy to capsize. You may be better off planning to do a touch-and-go tack. 

FEATURED STORIES

North kiteboarding enters the race for olympic gold, tony rey joins north sails, north sails adds new loft in victoria, bc.

• Refresh page

• Constitution & By-Laws
• Measurement Rules
• Vintage Measurement Rules
• Racing Divisions
• General Racing Tips
• S Curb Jibe
• Improve Your Starts
• Sailing Glossary
• Racing Rules
• This is How I Do It
• Roll Tank Deck System
• Dorr Willey Project
• Charles & Paul Doing It Right
• Little Mae Too Plans 1943
• Louis Pillon Plans
• Cole Super-Moth Plans
• Some Building Tips
• Some Material Sources
• Europe to Europa
• Wax On or Off
• Sail Cleaning Tips
• Dotan Rudder
• Simple Knots

Classic Moth Boats

Classic Moth Boats are a class of small fast singlehanded racing sailboats that originated in the US in 1929 by Joel Van Sant in Elizabeth City, NC. The Classic Moth is a monohull development class using a modified version of the International Moth rule in effect pre 1969. With an eleven foot over-all length, a maximum beam of 60 inches, a minimum hull weight of 75 pounds, 72 Sq Ft sail area, and very few other restrictions a Classic Moth can be a skiff, pram, scow, skinny tube, dinghy, or any combination thereof. The Classic Moth Boat is an ideal class for amateur designers builders and tinkerers, and can be easily built from inexpensive materials.

If you wake up in the middle of the night with a novel idea for hull shape, you can leap out of bed, race down to your garage, build it and then find out at the next regatta if your idea is hot or not. Freedom of design sets Moths apart from the clorox bottle (one-design) crowd. Instead of the one design controlling who sails successfully, we design and build Classic Moths that fit our size, ability, taste, skills, artistic expression, and pocketbook.

To broaden the appeal to race all types of Classic Moths, we have created three divisons within the class. At major regattas, all Classic Moths race together but are scored in three different divisions; a Gen 2 division for full on narrow waterline, low wetted surface designs, a Gen 1 division for more stable, higher wetted surface designs, and a Vintage division for restored Moths built before 1950.

Presently, Classic Mothboats race in many locations up and down the east coast of the United States. Regattas are currently held in Brigantine, NJ; Portsmouth, VA; Chestertown, MD; Cooper River, PA; Augusta, GA; Norfolk, VA; Elizabeth City, NC; Charleston, SC., and St. Petersburg, FL. Please refer to the regatta schedule on this site for dates and contact information.

Latest News

2022 mid winters results.

2021 Nationals Results

2020 Nationals Results

2019 race schedule..

We have quite a race schedule for 2019.   

Check it out under Schedule. 

Happy Sailing  

Europe Dinghy in FL

Europe dinghy with

carbon fiber mast, aluminum Proctor boom,

wood dagger board, fiberglass rudder,

Cunningham, vang.

2 sails - practice sail and North racing sail.

Asking $1500.

early Ventnor

This is an early Ventnor with an unknown registration number. 

Sun Fun Sailor built from plans in Science & Mechanics Oct 1962

Hi, I wish to advertise and sell my Moth built by my brother in the 1960’s   For Sale : Sun Fun Sailor built from plans in Science & Mechanics Oct 1962.   Includes trailer and 2 sails. Wood construction hull, mast and boom. Hull bottom was fiberglassed when built in the 1960’s.   Located in Appleton Wisconsin.   Asking $900.00.      Contact Ron Aavang @  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloake4e2b59895a1c63ee836cf0daed32c10').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addye4e2b59895a1c63ee836cf0daed32c10 = 'raavang' + '@'; addye4e2b59895a1c63ee836cf0daed32c10 = addye4e2b59895a1c63ee836cf0daed32c10 + 'new' + '.' + 'rr' + '.' + 'com'; var addy_texte4e2b59895a1c63ee836cf0daed32c10 = 'raavang' + '@' + 'new' + '.' + 'rr' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloake4e2b59895a1c63ee836cf0daed32c10').innerHTML += ' '+addy_texte4e2b59895a1c63ee836cf0daed32c10+' ';  or call cell # (920)904-2167.

Member Links

• Mid-Atlantic Musings
• Europe Dinghy Moth
• John Shelley's Moth Boat
• Blackberry Boatworks
• Earwigoagin
• The Madmothist
• Classic Moth Boat Facebook Page

Upcoming Events

Welcome to the US Moth Class Association

North americans.

The 2023 Moth North American Championship was held September 14-17 at Sail Newport, RI. Check out one of the highlight videos from the event below and if youre hungry for more, go to Nick Bower's Youtube Channel

The 2024 Moth NAs will be in Southern California in the Fall. Dates and venue TBD

Regional Events

 west coast events 2024.

New Years Day Race:  Jan 1, SDYC, San Diego

Winter Series #1: Jan 13-14, MBYC, San Diego

Winter Series #2: Feb 17-18, South Bay, San Diego

Moth PCCs:  Mar 23-24, CYC, San Diego

Long Beach Training Week:  April 7-12, ABYC, Long Beach

Long Beach Spring Classic: April 13-14, ABYC, Long Beach

Ted Rogers Bay Area Championship: May 25-26, RYC, SF Bay Area 

High Sierra Regatta:  Jul 6-7, Huntington Lake

East Coast Events 2024

Summer Regattas in Newport RI, TBD

US Moth Class Newsletter

We send out a handful of US Moth Class newsletters per year to keep class members up to date on events and logistics. Below you can find the 10 most recent newsletters. To subscribe, open one of the links below and click the "subscribe" button on the top left corner of the page

Getting Into the Moth Class

Moth class usa facebook group.

Joining the US Moth Class's Facebook group is the best way to see what's going on and get involved with the class. Stay up to date with regattas, boat building projects, and general moth froth!

Used Boats For Sale

For many people looking to get into moth sailing, a well setup used boat is the best place to start. Check out the Moth Buy & Sell Facebook marketplace to get a feel for what boats are in your price range and feel free to reach out using to the contact us tool at the bottom of this page if you have questions about what to look for when buying a used boat. Keep in mind that international shipping is easy to arrange using out freight partner!

Shipping/Freight Logistics

One of the coolest aspects of the Moth is the fact it can be disassembled and packed into an 11 foot long box for easy shipping! If you're looking to send your boat to a regatta or buy a used boat and need it delivered, shipping is simple thanks to our freight partner, Saturn Freight Systems. They handle everything from regional ground freight to international air freight. Use the contact us tool at the bottom of the page to get put in contact with a Saturn Freight representative.

Interested in learning more about the US Moth Class? Feel free to reach out!

Thanks for submitting!

MACH 2 Price

Mach2.6 pricing information.

When you purchase a MACH2.6 Moth it includes the following:

• stunning carbon fibre clear coated hull,
• high modulus carbon foils (2.4/2.41),
• hi modulus 40mm mast,
• hi modulus bent stiff tapered boom,
• carbon gantry,
• 2.5 aero wings with no compression bars,
• KA MSH5.4 deck sweeper sail,
• all rigging ropes and fittings,
• foil covers,
• boat cover,
• wing tramps with foot straps and
• wooden indoor storage box (option to upgrade to a outdor fiberglass box for US$900)

Due to the wild fluctuation of currencies, cost of materials and shipping, pricing needs to be quoted. For a quote please email: [email protected]

Payment method: We accept payments in US Dollars, Euro, GBP and Australian Dollars. Payments can be made by EFT/IMT to the bank account detailed on the quotation.

Thanks for Visiting the MACH 2 Website

Before you go, sign up to keep up to date with all the latest MACH2 developments.

Swift Hydrofoils

Damic Design specialises in design and manufacturing of Moths and Hydrofoils for the International Moth Class. While Moth sailing is our passion, our main objective is to offer the fastest, most developed and best built boats and foils on the market.

Our involvement in the class started in 2004, exposing us to the world of Moth hydrofoiling technology since the early days. The initial period was quite experimental, but also fun and educational as it allowed us to learn and develop our design ideas. We made a lot of foils in this phase with the most successful being the Macita that won the 2013 World Championship. While this foil is not on offer anymore, it certainly paved the way for the foils we make today.

In particular, the Swift range which consists of a number of sizes, each with different lift and control characteristics designed to ensure optimal performance over a wide range of sailing conditions. This range has now grown to include: Two rudders hydrofoils (Small and Medium), three mainfoils (Super Small, Small and Large) and our super thin HM carbon verticals.

The Swift Hydrofoil range is a refined product line with the foils now in their 3rd generation of improvements. We are constantly looking to make gains that we first test, and then bring into production.

What this means for you is that every product in the range is on trend and offers performance improvements for your boat without the need to upgrade the entire platform. While this range is sold with our Swift Moths, it is also available to Bieker, Exocet and Mach 2 owners that are looking for a fast upgrade option. Our foils placed 7 out of the top 10 at Perth Worlds, won 2023 NSW and Australian Nationals and also got 2nd in the Waymouth Pre-Worlds regatta. Furthermore, all Damic Design foils are made in Australia and are constructed from solid carbon fibre, from market leading supplier, Toray. While this increases production costs we believe it is warranted as it insures superior quality and perfomance on what we consider as the most important part of the boat. We are also proud to be the only foil manufacturer that is solely focused on foil development and directly involved in design, testing and manufacturing of all of our products. That means that every foil that leaves our workshop has been hand finished by the designer and Moth sailor that truly understands the product and what is required to make it go fast!

Swift Mainfoils

Swift Super Small (v2)

Our latest hydrofoil, specifically designed for light sailors or as a strong wind foil. It features an innovative tip and bulb design that are optimised for reducing drag when going fast.

$3,350 AUD + GST

Swift Small (v3)

The ultimate all round medium wind foil, that has been winning regattas since the initial release. It is known for having great control features with a very wide performance window.

Swift Large (v2)

Excellent high lift foil that can be carried up range thanks to its thin section and very efficient profile. This foil is a proven race winner and a must for heavy sailors or light wind venues.

Swift Rudderfoils

Swift Small Rudder (v1)

The Small rudder is based on the same theory as our Medium. It is a high aspect low drag shape designed to minimise drag and maximise lift offering great glide though ability for ease of foil tacking. Unlike other small rudders, ours still makes foil tacking a breeze while being tiny in size and super fast.

$2,200 AUD + GST

Swift Medium Rudder (v3)

Our Medium rudder is a well proven design that is a result of many years of development. Its short cord makes it very low drag however it generates plenty of lift thanks to its high aspect ratio. This foil will help make your foiling tacks easy and repeatable. $2,200 AUD + GST

Swift Verticals

Swift HM Rudder Vertical (v3)

The v3 is our latest design to date. It further improves on the original v1/v2 designs with changes in the bottom 1/4 of the section. It is designed to be on the absolute limit of the materials to insure the ultimate performance from reduction in drag coefficient. It also includes a number of design features that combat the “all too common” rudder wash out problems. Made from pre/preg solid High Modulus carbon fibre construction, it is thermally stable and ultra stiff.

$4,100 AUD + GST

Swift HM Main Vertical (v1)

This is the thinnest main vertical on the market which offers significant reduction in drag by simply being smaller to reducing skin friction and displacement. Made from solid High Modulus carbon fibre construction, it is thermally stable and ultra stiff. Includes pushrod and bellcrank kit.

$4,500 AUD + GST

AOA Templates

These angle of attack measuring templates, are designed to fit our range of Swift main and rudder hydrofoils. With the help of this device, you will be able to determine the all important foil angle relative to waterline. $45 AUD + GST

Swift Vertical Covers

Tailor made to suit Swift HM Main verticals and HM Rudder Verticals. These premium quality covers are Australian made using quality Dimension Polyant sailcloth. They features marine canvas outer skin and felt lining inside. $120 AUD + GST

Swift Horizontal Covers

Suitable for Swift Super Small, Small and Large horizontal hydrofoils. These premium quality covers are Australian made using quality Dimension Polyant sailcloth. They features marine canvas outer skin, felt lining inside and Velcro closure to protect the trailing edges. $110 AUD + GST