Hydrofoils are boats with wings, allowing them to fly over the water. This provides a smoother faster ride through the Greek seas. Some even offer a full bar and a movie.
Foil is a word meaning wing, and so a hydrofoil is a wing that flies in water, or more commonly, it is a boat to which wings are attached. Hydrofoils go fast because wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull lift the hull out of the water and so only the foils are submerged. As most boats speed up, a large part of their energy is expended pushing the hull through the water.
Hydrofoils left the craft out of the water, so the drag is only on the wings. The wings on a hydrofoil boat are much smaller than those on an airplane because water is about 1000 times as dense as air. This means the foils do not have to move nearly as fast before they generate enough lift to push the boat out of the water.
Hydrofoils are not hovercrafts. They do not float above the water, but use lift to move smoothly and quickly through the sea.
Most commercial hydrofoils are boats with ladder foils, wings stacked one above another with space between them, sort of like an old fashioned biplane. Ladder foils make the boat easier to control when the water is not calm. When the hydrofoil is moving quickly through waves, the wings generate lift in the crests.
When the boat hits a trough in the waves, the wings will leave the water and the boat can crash down. With a stack of ladder foils moving through the waves, chances are increased that some of the foils stay submerged thereby avoiding crashing up and down.
Early hydrofoils used U-shape foils. Hydrofoils of this type are known as surface-piercing since portions of the U-shape hydrofoils will rise above the water surface when foilborne.
Modern hydrofoils use T-shape foils which are fully submerged. Fully submerged hydrofoils are less subjected to the effects of wave action, and are therefore more stable at sea and are more comfortable for the crew and passengers.
Speeding across the Ionian or Aegean Sea http://www.toplink.gr/gr … index.html in a hydrofoil is a fast, fun way to get to the Greek islands. Before hydrofoils began being used to travel over the choppy waters, getting from one island to another was took a lot longer and a smooth journey was not guaranteed. But now these modern vessels cut travel time and can usually provide a smooth trip.
If you are familiar with Greece, you know the pace of life can be languid, with few people pushing the clock. Hydrofoils are exceptions. They depart promptly, so if you are planning to take one, plan to show up at least 30 minutes ahead of time. Make reservations if possible.
Trips may be canceled in rough weather. And if you have a tendency toward seasickness, be forewarned, traveling in a hydrofoil can be rough. Avoid sitting in the forward cabin, sticking instead to the rear cabin. Once the ship hits full speed, you may be at risk if you are outside.
Even when the water is calm, the wind can be strong. Larger hydrofoils may offer full bars and movies. Hydrofoils are often called to by the principal line's trade name, Flying Dolphins. There is regular hydrofoil service to nearly all the major islands, but remember that hydrofoils don't run in late fall or winter.

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