We have lift-off. Foils have revolutionised America’s Cup racers – now they’re about to shake up sailing superyachts, says Roger Lean-Vercoe
A straight white wake stretches out for 400 metres behind the Infiniti 46 Maverick, a 14 metre, carbon-hulled, canting keel, IRC race boat. She’s arrowing across a lumpy Bay of Palma at an astounding 25 knots, reaching under jib and main. In just 22 knots of true wind this is an extraordinary performance for a boat of her size, and it’s giving Trevor Silver – an experienced sailing boat racer and the owner of a 20 metre Oyster cruising yacht – goosebumps while being doused by solid waves of cold spray.