Please select your home edition
Edition
V-DRY-X

Home Build International Moth Blog 10: Before and after! Valkyrie's new higher wings take shape

by James Sainsbury 23 Oct 2019 13:33 PDT
Valkyrie's new higher wings take shape © James Sainsbury

Okay, so she's nowhere near finished yet. However, the progress has been swift and drastic! After the chop and the tears, the first job was to mock the wings up to the new height that I was aiming for so I could measure the new angles for the wing sockets.

Using the measurements, I made up some wooden templates to make sure I was happy before using the expensive stuff. All was good and I was excited at the prospect of what she was going to look like. From there, carbon sandwich plates were made to replace the wooden templates.

To help hold the boat together it needs sockets to fit neatly into each wing and hull section. I formed a thin removable carbon tube from the inside of each section, joined each one to is partner using the carbon plates to gain the correct angles and then I bonded them together.

Now we have four neat sockets to give the boat its shape. However, these are not structural, so I laid up a whole load of uni directional carbon inside the sockets using a bladder mould to give them the strength required to keep the boat in one piece once under the loads of sail & crashing.

Next stage was to glue it all together and ensure she's strong enough with some Uni and Biax carbon laid up over each join in the wings.

Beautiful! She now looks like a boat again initial thoughts are she's looking pretty aggressive!

Next on the list of jobs was to fill in the gap between the deck and hull that had appeared from the increased angle.

After raking the wings up by a substantial amount the boat needed extending on the outer wing bars, so she now has an extra 60mm either side to compensate.

There are a couple of little bits to finish on the hull and the next step is to modify the rig setup to accommodate the new wing angles.

We are still on for a November launch!

Related Articles

Wetsuit Outlet Moth UK Championship overall
Three races held on the final day in Torbay After a day off on Saturday, due to huge swell in Torbay the easterly breeze kicked up, the Moth fleet were back in action on Sunday to conclude the battle for the UK Championship. Posted on 7 Sep
Carbon or Steel?
Moth Foil Evolution with Alex Adams Foils have been shrinking for years as sailors continually try to reduce drag and increase speeds, but designers were reaching the limit of what they could do with carbon, so the latest foils have turned to steel for some parts. Posted on 7 Sep
Unboxing the Bieker Moth with Kyle Stoneham
A look 'below decks' at the hidden control systems on Kyle's International Moth Why are all the ropes hidden on all the latest International Moths? It's all about aerodynamic efficiency as the boats get faster and faster. As we find out with Kyle, there are also some very clever systems under the carbon covers. Posted on 6 Sep
Wetsuit Outlet Moth UK Championship Day 2
Commit and send it in Torbay! The Moth fleet have had their fair share of bad luck over the past couple of years, with a lack of wind at some major events, but so far the UK Nationals at Torbay have been close to perfect. Posted on 5 Sep
Wetsuit Outlet Moth UK Championship Day 1
An extraordinary first day of racing in Torbay An extraordinary first day at the Wetsuit Outlet International Moth UK Championship saw four races held and some very tired sailors wondering how they were going to get through three more days of the same. Posted on 4 Sep
The Age of Steel in the Land of Rock
The International Moth class is never standing still This week the Moths have gathered in Torquay at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club for the UK Championship, and the discussion is all about steel. Posted on 3 Sep
Of Ospreys, Eagles, Falcons, and Moths
Birds of prey. Insects. All of them airborne? How does it all apply here? Time to find out! All are airborne. The first three are birds of prey. The last one is an insect. All are so completely different. The first three have also had their name, formidable qualities and fantastic reputations applied to fantastic aircraft made by Boeing. Posted on 27 Jul
The Curtain Falls on the 2025 Moth Worlds
A week of Wind, Talent, and Great Sailing in Malcesine After 6 intense days of racing, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially came to a close on Sunday. Hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine from July 6 to 13, this extraordinary event brought together 137 sailors from 25 countries on the waters of Lake Garda. Posted on 18 Jul
The International Moths are back in Torquay
For their UK Nationals in September The Royal Torbay Yacht Club is pleased to announce that the prestigious International Moth National Championship will be held in Torquay from September 3rd - 7th 2025. Posted on 18 Jul
Double Podium For Team Allen
Enzo Ballanger sailed fully equipped with Allen hardware to a Moth Worlds victory Representing Team Allen through its French distributor, XPO, Enzo Ballanger sailed fully equipped with Allen hardware to a dominant victory at the 2025 International Moth World Championship. Posted on 16 Jul
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangePalm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo S Series