Hi Sam, The J foils are self levelling … anything with a VEE or JAY configuration will lift when it is going fast enough and drop lower in the water if the speed drops.

L shaped foils do need flight control.

However, to make things easier some attitude control is needed .. so you can trim bow up for liftoff and then bow down to reduce drag and prevent ventilation if the main foils get too close to the surface.

The Moths used to do this with a rudder flap/elevator. But now the rudder foil is one piece and fixed and they crank the upper rudder fitting in and out.

Much Simpler. I would look at moth builders and see if someone is selling replacement rudder fittings.

Much simpler than a pushrod and torsion rod setup driving a flap.

Michael.

I am having first thoughts on a small foiling trimaran.
Small, as in the smallest that gets me over the San Francisco Bay chop (not sure how much, I would guess 1m wave height).

I am thinking of a modernized and simplified version of a Tricat, ideally Weta type size, maybe 15′ main hull length.

I think the J-shape foils and Tricat mechanism should work (plus a T rudder).
Can you point me to any directions how to link the bow sensor to the J foil?

I think a do it yourself wood/composite foil design will do the job, at least it is worth trying.

Greetings
Sam