I'm a big fan of the design evolution in sailboats that's ongoing. It's exciting and boats are continually going faster.

But the hype of individual items has been blown out of realistic proportions, I think. It tends to say things have really changed dramatically in individual parts like this years, "foil design".

I think it's the sum of all the new parts that are making boats go faster. Taken individually, breakthrough ideas are not that dramatic in sailboats. Performance increase has been steady, but not neck breaking.

When I see something about the same size as this DH 20, designed 80 years ago(and going to weather despite a full keel, attached rudder, hobby horsing overhangs, etc etc), with so much "lift" it goes by, circles it, then disappears to windward, then I say, "this changes everything". I'm not holding my breath.