C-Tech's technology makes a successful push forward at the 2024 Moth Worlds
by Anna Merchant|C-Tech 5 Feb 00:51 NZDT
Mattias Coutts - Day 5 - 2024 PredictWind Moth Worlds - Manly Sailing Club. January 9, 2025 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz
As the dust settles from the recent Moth Worlds at Manly Sailing Club, C-Tech takes a moment to reflect on its latest advancements in our carbon fibre solutions and technology, which continue to push the boundaries of performance in the Moth class.
In collaboration with Mackay Boats and sail lofts, C-Tech has developed an optimised and premium package to cater to the Moth Class.
It has been just over six years since we last explored the speed developments in the Moth class, and it's astonishing how far the boats have come in that time. (Read the Moth Speed Uncovered article here.) While the topics discussed in that article remain highly relevant, the magnitude of the performance improvements over the last six years has been truly transformative.
In 2018, sailors averaged around 18 knots upwind and peaked at approximately 30 knots downwind. At the recent Moth Worlds, competitors averaged an incredible 22-23 knots upwind and exceeded 36 knots downwind. These staggering improvements are the result of fine-tuned refinements across all aspects of the equipment—critical when dealing with apparent winds exceeding 50 knots.
Through these developments, C-Tech has worked closely with sail lofts to refine our mast and boom offerings even further. According to Rob Greenhalgh (North Sails), "The skinnier C-Tech masts are definitely proving faster - less frontal area = less drag. The overall aerodynamic drag of the Moth has reduced substantially in recent years - hull aerodynamics as well as rig aerodynamics. The rigs are working better and have a larger range, which has led to a wider competitive weight range encompassing females."
Masts and Boom
The Moth class has a rule stipulating you can only register two masts in for a contest. To optimise mast options for this rule, C-Tech offers a two-mast quiver (stiff and soft, relative to sailor weight) that also allows for a third hybrid combination using a stiff tip and soft base.
C-Tech's Mast Sales Manager, Tim Willetts, explains: "We've further reduced the diameter of our masts from 42mm to 39mm OD. This was achieved by reducing the mandrel size by 3mm and refining the laminate. We now also offer UHM (Ultra High Modulus) carbon fibre masts for an even smaller OD and reduced weight."
The boom has undergone significant advancements as well. Tapered at both the front and back, the new boom design is lighter and more aerodynamically efficient. Its transitions and sail fit have been improved with refined geometry, layout, and levers.
Mattias Coutts, Moth World Champion, adds: "The aero package has been improved by C-Tech due to the small mast area and boom width allowing for a much more efficient direct deck sweeper shape and a better sail entry profile."
Additionally, the introduction of the continuous outhaul system has been transformative, allowing on-the-fly adjustments to sail depth. Moth sailors, who previously relied on a fixed pin system at the clew for adjustments, can now control sail shape in real-time. Mattias highlights its impact: "The adjustable outhaul setup has been a game changer being able to power up and depower the bottom part of the sail upwind and downwind."
Dynamic Rig Adjustment and Flex Curves
Today's Moths are incredibly dynamic and demanding. With the boats now consistently sailing almost 5 knots faster, the requirement for less twist in the sail has increased, the goal to be able to dynamically adjust it.
Adjustable Forestay on Prodder
A key refinement in sail control is the adjustable stay front spreader, a system that has existed for some time but has been further developed with our masts for greater usability and effectiveness. The adjustable forestay prodder allows sailors to fine-tune the forward or aft position of the draft, optimising sail performance across varying conditions.
This adjustment can also impact the twist of the sail. By managing forestay tension, the adjustable prodder helps maintain an optimal balance between the top and bottom of the leech, giving sailors more control over the amount of twist and efficiency of the sail.
Seb Menzies shares, "The adjustable prodder is a game changer over the last 2 years. I use it all the time—it's a super quick way to power up and depower the sail."
Mattias Coutts, adds, "The adjustable prodder is a very useful and fine adjustment to change the draft position over the sail. Being able to pull the prodder forward pulling the draft further forward in the sail has allowed the sail to be more effective downwind. The cavities C-Tech have put into the mast make it easier to set up and easier to rig up for an efficient, effective system to help us go faster on the water."
Flex Curves
All C-Tech masts are now designed with 2mm more flex in the top quarter compared to the bottom. This even flex curve is crucial for evenly flattening the entire sail, delivering peak performance. With the reduction in allowable sails—from four to two—this design ensures maximum efficiency across a wider range of wind conditions. This makes the stiffness and flex of the rig more important than ever.
Jake Pye, Moth World Championship Runner-Up, emphasises the significance of the flex curve; "The twist and leach tension are heavily influenced by the stiffness of the rig. Across all the different mast section stiffnesses I've used, they bend evenly and support the sail with a dynamic twist and bend profile. This consistency makes it easy to achieve predictable results across all sections and allows seamless changes between rig sections, as they are all compatible with each other."
Two Sail Sizes
With several sailors choosing to carry two sails sizes, there was a lot learned over the worlds. The shift to using the smaller sail is significant as it changes your sailing angles, and dialling in the balance and rig with a different sized sail is challenging. Essentially, it's like sailing a completely different boat, and sailors need time on both sails to switch effectively.
The majority of sailors who were heavy enough to carry the 8.25m sail stayed on their big sail all week at the Worlds despite the high winds, with the rig design and outhaul adjustment being crucial to allow them to set up and twist as needed. Those who invested time training with smaller sails and adjusting settings to achieve balanced rigging reaped significant benefits. Standout achievements included Nicole van der Velden (Spanish Sail GP strategist) and Female Moth World Champion Hattie Rogers. Despite being on the lighter side, both sailors demonstrated competitive speeds across the racecourse.
Hattie further dives into the setup she used: "I really liked the C-Tech 05E mast base and 05D tip. I actually ended up using it in all conditions at the Worlds. I would just switch from the 8.25 to the 7.5 North Helix sail and leave the mast as 05E base and 05D tip. I found that keeping my kit as simple as possible eliminated some decisions before sailing. I'd just have to choose a sail and between foil sizes."
Nicole van der Velden, reflects on her debut in the Moth Class. "I noticed a big difference when I changed from my 0,5 mast to my 0,5F C-Tech mast being able to get a much flatter profile but especially the mast, being able to depower easier in the big gusts which was very handy in Manly! I was surprised to see I could still get quite a powerful setup with my 7,5 sail and the soft mast. I could get it super flat as soon as the wind was up.
The week was a huge learning process, it was nice to get pushed by such a high-level fleet and improve everyday learning to race well in these boats."
(Improved) Materials
Innovation in materials has been key to staying ahead in the competitive Moth class. Our recent shift to titanium end fittings on the boom outhaul and exit box ensures that our components can withstand the increased loads as the boats get faster. The vang strut remains equipped with anodized alloy end fittings, which are also durable and robust. The vang is crucial, taking on extra load from sailors maxing it out, with our working loads checked against a maximum of 1,400 kilos (40% higher than in 2018). This change ensures our equipment remains relevant with the new higher loads. Titanium fittings are lighter and stronger, capable of handling the increased loads without adding unnecessary weight.
Sail Battens
C-Tech's battens have also been instrumental in stabilising sail performance across a wide range of wind conditions. Our split batten development with North Sails resulted in the battens being the only option with the Helix sails. The split tip has improved the aerodynamic flying shape of the luff pocket and drastically improves how well the sail 'pops' through on tacks and gybes for efficient and seamless manoeuvres. In recent months we have been supplying stiffer battens to cover more range.
These have been especially effective at the upper wind range where sailors are looking to blade out the sail and further reduce drag upwind. The compromise being downwind where you are looking to put shape in the sail. Our split battens provide the necessary stiffness for high-speed runs without compromising power in lighter winds, allowing for fewer changes while maintaining peak performance.
Jake adds "The X stiffer battens flattened the sail a lot and I definitely noticed a difference with them in overpowering conditions as the general sail shape was significantly flatter."
Foils
We have worked closely with Mackay Boats on the developments of the horizontal foils which have mostly returned to the uncambered section design used a few years ago. This change marks a shift away from the thinner sections with camber that had been more recently used, resulting in a boat that now boasts enhanced high-end capabilities with a top boat speed of over 38 knots at the Worlds. The transition from cambered to uncambered foils has been crucial in achieving the perfect balance of lift and drag. Cambered sections, while beneficial in providing lift, were found to generate too much lift at high speeds. The updated foils, now featuring a bigger flap, enhance lift efficiency without the excessive drag, allowing the boats to maintain higher speeds with greater control.
Future Developments
C-Tech is dedicated to making the Moth class more inclusive by developing equipment that caters to a broader range of sailors, including female and lighter sailors. The introduction of the 05F mast, specifically designed for sailors weighing around 60-70kg, has been a significant step toward this goal. By collaborating with Jo Aleh and Mackay Boats, we have provided a setup that ensures these sailors can compete more competitively in medium and stronger winds, paired with smaller area sails, thus expanding the class's accessibility and inclusivity.
Simplifying where possible and reducing rigging time with our new developments is always a bonus. "Rigging is something that takes quite a long time in the Moth, and there are details on the C-Tech rigs, in particular, that make this a lot easier compared to my other rigs. At the hound shackle, the carbon fibre plate fitting protrudes further out, making it easier to attach the shrouds and forestay via the shackle. The C-Tech rigs also fit together on an angle, reducing movement, and ensuring everything is in perfect alignment, unlike my last mast." - Hattie Rogers, Female Moth World Champion
The 2024 Moth Worlds showcased the advancements and success of C-Tech's cutting-edge technology where 17 of the top 20 sailors used C-Tech spars and 24 of the top 25 used our battens.
With continued support from our talented team and invaluable feedback from our sailors and our inhouse sailor and head designer Riley Dean in collaboration with our sales manager Tim Willetts, we remain at the forefront of Moth class development. We are committed to advancing the Moth class and supporting sailors at every level.
For more information about C-Tech Moth products, please mail .
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