aardvarkissues

Feb 272013
 

We’ve launched a brand new International Moth, which we believe will be even faster than the very successful Ninja design. The first boat will be turning heads at the RYA Dinghy Show this weekend, showing off the latest in Moth design and technology.

The Rocket, which is being built here at Aardvark HQ, is an innovative new design that will stand out from the rest. Its distinctive bow-sprit wand and flashy paint job will be sure to catch the eyes of visitors to the International Moth stand (Stand C34).

The bow-sprit wand, teamed with a mast and centre foil position that is much further forward than other designs, will improve the boat’s longitudinal stability. This should improve control and reduce drag, making the boat easier to handle around the course.

Mike Cooke, who heads up Aardvark, launched the first Rocket in January. With its profiled hiking bars and striking metallic paint job, it certainly looks the part, and he is confident that the boat will perform as well as it looks:

“The launch of the Rocket is really exciting for Aardvark Technologies. We’ve been working on the design and thinking about improvements to the build process for a while now, and its brilliant to see the new boat on the water.

“The hull design is a step on from the Ninja, with more buoyancy in the bow. We tested the bow-sprit wand on an adapted Ninja last year, and feedback was good. The boat was first at both the German and Swiss Nationals, so it made absolute sense to take this feature through to the new design.”

The Rocket has a great race pedigree, with its predecessor, the Ninja, winning the UK National Championships twice, as well as the Europeans in 2011.  And with top 49er sailor Dylan Fletcher having already placed his order, it seems certain that the Rocket will build on that success.

Mike will be on hand both days of the Dinghy Show to answer any questions and talk boats.

Feb 102013
 

Rocket Moth rigged for her maiden voyage

The new Rocket Moth design has taken to the water, with a tune up sail at Queen Mary against the Ninja death squad followed by the Tiger Pursuit last Sunday. Early impressions are great and it’ll be good to start getting some air miles in.

Order book is fast filling up and it’s looking like a busy season!

Sep 132012
 

After several good years with the Ninja design it’s time to move things on at Aardvark HQ. We’ve had some ideas as to where we’d like to take the Moth to move it forward and after some successful experiments this season we are launching a new design over the winter.

The Rocket will be an evolved version of the long-footprint Ninja that Giovanni Galeotti has been trialling over this season with a new hull shape and improvements all round with the aim of improving reliability and repeatability of setups. The hull plug is being machined in the next couple of weeks along with some new prototype foils and the Rocket will take to the skies in the Autumn….

Mar 232012
 

From the UK Cherub Website…

This week the town of Santander in Spain has played host to ISAF and the trials of six skiffs, one of which will be chosen as the boat for the Women’s Skiff event in the 2016 Olympics and possibly beyond.

Two E6 UK-Cherubs designed by Kevin Ellway, built by Aardvark Technologies and beautifully liveried as Arup Skiffs have attended the event as one of the six entries. You may recognise these as the boats as “Eleanor” and “Marmite” displayed at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show, Eleanor winning the 2011 Concours D’Elegance Award.

Accompanying the boats are a team of UK-Cherub sailors headed by Roland Trim and he is supported by his employer, the engineering firm Arup.

Photos and reports from the event show the boats performing fantastically well, and although there have been days of poor weather there has also been sufficient time for the Olympic sailors to trial the Arup Skiffs, which offers a much lighter alternative to the other five contenders.

The ISAF are expected to make the decision on which Skiff will be used in the 2016 Olympics during May 2012. We wish everyone involved with the Arup Skiff Project the best of luck with the selection.

The UK-Cherub class is proud to be associated with this project and to have lent its support, boats and expertise. You can read more on the Arup Skiff website, and read the Arup News here.

We wish everyone a safe trip home.

Feb 292012
 

This year the UK International Moth Class Association stand at the RYA Dinghy show looks set to be as busy as ever with an exciting 2012 racing season fast approaching. As usual there will be an enthusiastic group of ‘mothies’ manning the stand ready to answer any questions you might have about the boat. These could range from questions about getting started in the class to more technical questions on setup, technique & construction – there will be a cross section of sailors more than happy to help.

This year there will be two leading designs on display in the form of the National & European Championship winning Ninja by Aardvark Technologies in Bristol and the World Championship winning Mach 2 design from Australia. As ever throughout the winter innovation has continued and some of the latest enhancements such as the latest iteration KA & fibrepath Hyde Sails will also be on display.

Mike will be at the show both Days to answer questions about the Ninja – you’ll probably find him on the Moth or Cherub stand or looking for good tea… Bring cake!

Sep 222011
 

I’ve updated the BR upgrades page to add the new replacement BR mainfoil vertical and pricing.

We’ve recently found that our vertical sections will fit the Bladerider with very little modification to the daggerboard casing so we are now offering replacement standard modulus foils and upgraded high modulus foils for improved stiffness.

More info here

Aug 212011
 

Another excellent result for Team Aardvark with Graham and Eddie Bridle taking the UK Cherub Nationals in their Banshee down at Lee on Solent. Going into the final day it was all to play for and the Bridles went out in style winning the last two races.

Full report and results over at Yachts and Yachting’s website

Aug 012011
 

Chris Rashley, sailing a Ninja with the 2011 Elite foils has just won the Moth Europeans in Travemunde, Germany.

Chris put on a dominating display with 7 first places in a mixed condition event with light airs races to 15+ knots and big waves! Ben Paton, also on the new foils finished in 3rd place – winning race 6. Other Ninjas in the top ten were chief Aardvark Mike Cooke in 5th and Jason Belben finishing in 9th place, despite counting a rtd in his score after a shroud failure on day 2.

Things are looking good for Team Ninja and with the worlds in Europe next year we’re stepping up a gear at Aardvark HQ…

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