8 Conclusions and Recommendations

From the work carried out in this report it is clear that any analysis of loads and operating conditions is only as good as the initial assumptions that have been used to justify the design method. The quality of a design can be judged by the accuracy of these assumptions. There is no reliable data that can be used for design purposes and, even if there were, it would be impossible to design the optimum Moth equipment because the sailing conditions vary so much. A designer can only aim for a good compromise design that will perform well for most of the time. This report has given the author, and hopefully the reader, a good understanding of concepts, ideas and the factors to consider in Moth design. If an optimum solution is not obtainable, then it is important to understand the factors involved and how they interact, so that a design can be developed efficiently.

The way forward for Moth design is to combine empirical experience and theory. Tests, sea trials and measurements should be made so that designs can be compared on the basis of numbers rather than subjective descriptions.

Each subject that has been addressed in this report is worthy of more thorough analysis. Tests and scale models could be used to provide exact data rather than using the data from similar models. This sort of testing is not commercially viable so Moth design will remain for many years to come an increasingly more sophisticated empirical exercise carried out by a small number of enthusiasts. This is arguably the most enjoyable and challenging way to design racing craft and is one of the reasons why the Moth class has been around for 60 years.