A hydrofoil for use with watercraft may have at least one padded component. The padding material may be applied to at least a portion of the component. The padding material has increased resiliency compared to a structural material of the component. The component may be a mast, a fuselage or a wing for example.

The invention relates to a floating vessel for taking liquid samples, comprising a shell (2) that has a hull (3) to be submerged in a liquid medium below the water line and a superstructure (4) arranged above the water line; the vessel also comprises air propulsion means, means for taking and storing samples, and means for remotely controlling the air propulsion means and the sampling means; and the vessel further comprises a secondary detachable shell (32) provided with means for fixing to the shell (2) of the vessel, covering at least the hull of the vessel.