Abstract: Canard configured hydrofoil sailboards which are normally operated rolled to windward and without yaw and which employ a canard hydrofoil that tracks the water surface are of proven practicality. The present hydrofoil sailboard improves on previous designs by replacing the conventional canard hydrofoil by one of supercavitating type (30), operated in freely ventilating mode. This leads to markedly better surface tracking. This hydrofoil sailboard further improves on previous designs by employing a canard hydrofoil hinged (50,60) so that it can be rolled to one side or the other and locked into the rolled position. The use of a locked, hinged canard hydrofoil leads to a new hydrodynamic force distribution having significant benefits. Among these are improved sail balance which allows conventional sailboard sail and harness arrangements to be used. Additionally, steering by means of board rolling is much improved.

Abstract: A body 20 includes a support structure 30 in which is formed monolithic aerogel 32 and has terminal insulating properties or other desirable properties. The body 20 can be enveloped in an impermeable membrane 34, 36 so as to allow a vacuum or another environment to be contained in the aerogel 32. The support structure 38 can include individual cells 22, each of which can support its own independent environment which is unaffected by the accidental or planned interruption in the environment of any adjacent cell 22.