FAQ

IS THE VORTEX POD RACER A BOAT?
The Vortex Pod Racer is half boat, half flying machine. Uniting the most desirable characteristics of both and adding foils into the equation, results in a vessel that ‘flies’ above the water at speeds of 30knots.

HOW DO I STORE AND TRANSPORT THE VORTEX POD RACER?
The Vortex Pod Racer is stored on a trolley and with the wings folded up, it requires minimal storage space in the boat park or garage.
You can transport the Vortex longer distances in its original box, and for local transport is can be trailered.

DOES THE POD RACER COME WITH A WARRANTY?
Every Pod Racer is sold with a one year structural warranty.

WHAT IS THE CONCEPT OF VORTEX POD RACER?
The inspiration was from watching the intense speeds achieved by iceboats, where a simple pod and a mainsail are balanced by two outriggers. Speeds achieved by these contraptions can easily top 40 knots in just 10 knots of breeze. Mark wanted to use a hydro foiling system to create a boat that could recreate those speeds in open water.

WHEN WILL THE FIRST ONE TOUCH THE WATER?
We’ve already built the prototype and we’ve been testing it for 6 months, we are refining the system and the first production pod will be tested in early June. The first production pod can leave  the factory by the end  June/July.

WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE THE FIRST BOAT FINISHED AND SAILING?
The first production pod will be tested in May, and test sail in Hong Kong.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SPEED TARGET OF VORTEX?
With the current set of foils we are expecting 20 knots of average boat speed in the correct conditions , with stronger conditions up to 30knots.

IS THERE POSSIBILITY TO PUT A SECOND SEAT BEHIND THE PILOT?
We have thought about a 2 seater version, but at this point, we are thinking to get the single seater version established in the market place first. It is in our plan to consider a Vortex being a twin seater in the future.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT THAT CAN BE LOADED ON VORTEX POD? (PILOT + BAGS + PERSONAL ACCESSORIES)?
The standard scenario is for an average pilot weight of 90kg, with a take-off speed of 9knots of boat speed.  Any implication in more weight would translate in faster boat speed for taking-off which this boat will have no problem doing. So in simple terms, you could have a 100kg+ person, and the Vortex Pod Racer would still perform.

DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE THE 3DI RAW SAILS? WHICH MODEL OF NORTH AILS 3DI RAW?
3DI 360 6, 300Dpi

IS THERE ONLY A MAINSAIL AND A SMALL JIB, OR IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT A GENNAKER?
Only mainsail and jib, due to the apparent wind speed, we have more than enough sail area. Any more sail area will only cause drag.

WHAT IS THE THEORETICAL POLARS OF THE VORTEX POD?
We are working together with North Sails in order to produce the polars of the boat.

WHAT IS THE THEORETICAL MAXIMUM WAVE HEIGHT? (OR POSSIBLY WAVE HEIGHT IN METERS AND WAVE PERIOD IN SECONDS)?
0.5 meters is about the maximum wave height, this was the constant wave the occasional large boat wash can be dealt with by slowing the Vortex. The foils are designed to be 300mm under the water surface. This would give us to hull bottom 800mm fly height and wave crest clearance of 300mm.The wand system can be adjusted for a lower fly height in bad conditions.

WHAT IS THE THEORETICAL MAXIMUM TRUE WIND SPEED (TWS) THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING ON THIS GREAT MINI TRIMARAN?
Low to medium wind speeds are ideal (8 to 15kn) with an upper limit of 20kn possible a little more if we produce smaller set of sails and foils.

COULD YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF REEFING IN THE MAINSAIL? HOW MANY?
No reefs are planned at the present configuration. For stronger winds we are considering is a second set of flatter sails with less surface area.

WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED ASSEMBLY TIME?
We will fully rig every Vortex in the factory, we will run every rope and where possible leave rigged in the Vortex. Where we have to pull ropes from the Vortex we will run mouse lines to make re rigging very easy and quick.
Rudder box and steering will be left together for shipping and foils together.
 It should be around an hour to fully rig Vortex together with someone to help hold items with you.
Wands and foil setup will be factory set so ready to fly.
Once initial rigging is done, and vortex pod racer is in boat yard, it will only take 10 minutes to re rig to go sailing.

HAVE YOU FLIPPED IT OVER? HOW DOES IT FLOAT ON IT’S SIDE? RESERVE BUOYANCY?
Yes we have gone over only once , this was because we used in prototype a set of foils out of one of our little moths . These foils we knew they were not up to the job and one of them failed , we lost the horizontal of the rudder which gave us no means to hold the transom in the water.
The Vortex slowly lifted then rolled very similar to a sailing cat going over.
The prototype had no reserve buoyancy at the time but the production version has built-in foam buoyancy both in fwd and aft compartments.
We have also added a self bailer between your legs to get rid of any water.