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Interesting Sailboats

3M views 7K replies 205 participants last post by  tdw 
#1 · (Edited)
Sirius 32, Sirius 35

THE OBJECT OF THIS THREAD:

Interesting sailboats in production and available on the new boat market (only boats with modern designs, meaning that the boats still in production but made with old designs are out). Recent designs out of production are also admissible.

Modern boat designs and modern one off, if interesting.

Classical boats and traditional boats.

Small cruisers (less than 35ft)

Seezunge 27ft: PG1-PT9

Hanse 325: PG19-PT185;

Presto 30 : 33-326; 33-327; 34-331; 34-333; 55-543; 55-544;

Tess Yachts: 37-366; 38-373;

Tess 28 Magnum: 37-369; 38-371;

Delphia 28: 38-373;

Vancouver 27/28 : 42-412; 72-717;

Cruisers between 35ft and 49ft


Catalina 355 : 31-306;

RM sailboats: PG5-PT41; 5-42

RM1050: PG5-PT46; 5-47; 5-48;

RM 1060: PG8-PT77; 8-78; 8-79; 8-80; 9-81; 30-295; 40-400; 79-786;

RM 1200: PG9-PT84; 9-85; 19-184; 20-191; 20-192; 41-404; 42-414; 42-418; 43-425; 43-426; 69-688;

RM 1350: PG9-PT82; 55-549; 95-943;

Morris Yachts: PG7-PT61

Bavaria 36: PG19-PT188; 19-190; 20-196;

Bavaria 40: PG10-PT95; 28-278; 29-281; 29-282; 29-283; 29-286; 32-316; 36-356; 51-502; 51-507; 52-518; 53-527; 53-532;

Bavaria 40s: 69-685; 78-775;

Bavaria 45: PG10-PT96; 19-190;

Rustler Yachts: PG11-PT104;

Jeanneau 409: PG11-PT103: 11-106; 30-298; 30-299; 36-356; 51-502; 51-504; 51-505; 51-509; 52-513; 52-514; 52-515; 52-516; 53-527; 54-532; 57-564; 57-570; 58-571; 58-580; 59-581; 59-583; 59-585; 62-614; 74-739; 91-906;

Jeanneau 439: 40-396; 40-397; 59-584; 59-585; 96-956;

Hanse Yachts: 16-154; 16-156; 16-158;

Hanse 400: 81-804;

Bluewater cruising yachts: 21-206

Beneteau Oceanis 37 : 31-306; 31-308; 31-309; 32-314; 55-541;

XC 38: 36-356; 96-954;

Diva 38: 39-386;

Diva 35: 40-391;

Dufour 405: 62-614;

Defline 43: 63-622

Walkabout 43: 93-923; 93-925; 93-927;

Small performance cruisers (less than 35ft)


Performance 32ft test: 29-87;

Sun Fast 3200: PG4-PT33; 4-34; 4-36; 30-293;

Elan 210: 70-691; 70-696; 78-779; 79-781;

Elan 310: PC7-PT64; 7-69; 8-71; 36-356; 41-408;

Quest 33: PG7-PT62

Olea 32: 25-243; 25-245;

First 27.7: 38-373; 38-380; 39-382;

First 30: 30-295; 39-356; 41-408; 55-545; 55-546;

Comet 26: 34-340; 35-345; 35-350; 36-353;

Pacer 30: 36-357;

Django 7.7: 40-399;

Vivace/Evosion 34: 45-442; 45-446; 45-445; 45-446; 45-447; 45-448; 45-449; 45-450; 46-458; 46-460;

Finn Flyer 34: 46-451; 46-453; 60-593;

Salona 34: 46-457;

Heol 7.4: 63-621; 63-622;

Azuree 33: 87-867; 91-902; 91-904;

JPK 10.10: 88-877 ; 88-880; 89-883;

Performance cruisers (between 35ft and 49ft)

Pogo 10.50: PG2-PT20; 3-27; 3-28; 3-30; 4-35; 5-50; 6-51; 6-52; 6-60; 11-101; 11-107; 11-110; 43-425; 44-440; 87-861; 87-867;

Pogo 12.50: PG13-PT125; 20-198; 20-199; 22-214; 27-264; 27-265; 27-269; 32-317; 32-319; 43-425; 43-426; 43-428; 44-432; 44-437; 44-439; 55-546; 55-547; 82-812; 84-831; 87-870;

Este 40: 89-890; 90-893; 90-899;

A35: PG5-PT42; 5-44; 66-660;

A40RC: 92-914;

Hammerhead 35: 64-645

Opium 39: PG5-PT42; 9-85; 9-89; 13-125; 22-220; 22-221; 43-426; 55-547; 86-857;

Aerodyne 35: PG7-PT62

Elan 350: PG7-PT64; 13-24; 13-126; 13-127; 13-128; 14-132; 18-178; 26-255; 36-356; 40-398; 41-405; 57-564; 59-589; 60-591; 72-711; 73-724; 74-738;

Elan 380: 23-223; 25-249; 26-256; 40-398; 59-589; 97-962;

Elan 410: 32-316; 79-784;

JPK 110: PG9-PT85; 10-91

Olea 44: PG10-PT100; 27-268;

Olea Yachts: 25-247;

Dufour 40e: Pg13-Pt125; 32-316; 55-547; 56-558; 56-559; 57-561; 57-562; 57-563; 59-586; 59-588,

Salona 37: 36-359; 41-406;

Salona 41: PG15-PT141; 15-145; 32-316; 36-356; 40-398; 54-538; 57-569; 78-778; 80-796; 80-798; 97-965;

Salona 42: PG15-PT145; 36-359; 40-398; 93-929; 94-932;

Cigale 16: PG15-PT148; 16-152; 17-161; 55-549; 63-625;

Cigale 14: PG17-PT163; 55-549;

Santa Cruz 43: PG17-PT169

Sydney Yachts: PG18-PT171; 18-175;

Sydney GTS 37: 43-423;

Sydney GTS 43: PG18-PT173;

Winner 12.20: PG20-193;

First 40: 31-304; 32-313; 32-316; 35-344; 36-354; 55-546; 55-547;

First 35: 36-356

Dehler 41: 30-296;

Dehler 44: 79-785;

Dehler 45: 36-356; 79-785;

Luffe 40.04: 30-300; 31-301; 31-303;

XP 38: 56-533; 56-544; 56-555; 67-622;

XP 44: 33-325;

Pacer 430: 36-357;

Pacer 376: 36-357; 66-652; 69-683;

Faurby 424: 36-360; 37-361; 37-363; 37-365;

Comfortina 39: 40-395;

J 133: 43-426; 63-620

J 111: 100-993;

Maxi 11: 99-982;

Arcona yachts: 46-456;

Arcona 410: 47-467; 47-468; 47-469; 48-471;

Arcona 430: 48-472;

Arcona 460: 50-495

Finngulf yachts: 46-456;

Varianta 44: 60-594; 60-595; 60-596; 60-597; 60-598; 64-639;

Imagine 53: 63-628;

Zou 40.2: 63-620

Ker 39: 68-676;

Finn-Flyer 42: 77-762;

Azuree 40: 85-842;

Loft 40: 85-848; 85-852;

Vivace 35: 90-895;

Sailing boats over 49ft

Zeydon 60 : PG 12-119;

JP 54: PG18-PT172;

Salona 60: 70-695;

Stadships: PG20-PT193; 20-195;

Pogo 50: 32-318; 32-319;

X-50: 54-537;

Murtic 52: 54-537;

Decksaloons and pilot house sailing boats

Sirius 32: PG1-PT1

Sirius 35: PG1-PT1; 1-10; 2-18; 50-491; 50-492; 60-559; 60-599;

Sirius 31: PG1-PT5; 2-17; 36-356;

Regina 35: 48-478;

Regina 40: PG11-PT104; 49-481; 49-483;

Southerly yachts: PG11-PT104;

Luffe 43DS: PG12-PT111; 12-115; 50-494;

Noordkaper 40: PG14-pt139;

Noordkaper yachts: PG16-PT155

Nordship 36: 30-297; 49-482;

Nordship 38: 49-482; 49-490;

Paulo's pilot house I: 38-376; 39-381; 39-383; 39-384;

Paulo's pilot house II: 69-682

Lyman & Morse 45: 38-379;

CR 38DS: 48-477; 48-478;

CR 40DS: 48-476; 48-478; 48-479; 50-494; 50-496; 50-497; 50-498;

Arcona 40DS: 50-494;

Racers

Figaro 2:pG4-PT36; 4-37; 5-42; 6-52; 6-53; 6-55; 6-56

VOR 70: PG16-PT160; 17-187

Farr 400: 67-661

Soto 40: 96-952;

Lifting keel/centerboarder

Southerly yachts: PG11-PT104;

Allures 45: PG10-PT93; 100-996;

Allures yachts: 25-248;

OVNI 425: 23-228;

OVNI 395 : 68-679; 69-690;

J 108: 67-661

Atlantic 43: 68-67

Boreal 44: 97-970; 98-974;

Multihulls till 34ft

Several Trimarans: 28-273;

Multihulls with 34ft and over

Dragonfly yachts: 26-257;

Dragonfly 35: 26-258; 27-261; 27-262;

Dragonfly 1200: 56-551;

Corsair 37: 28-276;

Farrier 39: 28-277;

Challenge 37: 28-278

Hammerhead 34: 29-385;

Hammerhead 54: 29-288; 30-292;

Trimax 10.80: 29-285;

Sig 45: 54-534; 54-539; 54-540;

Gunboat: 56-551

Fusion: 56-551;

Outremer: 56-551;

Tournier: 56-511;

Classical and Traditional boats

Jclass boats: 54-537;

Tofinou 12: 71-703;

Folck boat: 73-727;

Puffin Yachts: PG14-PT135; 14-138; 16-155;

Bestwind 50: PG12-PT116; 14-123;

Bestevaer 53: PG12-PT116;

Bestevaer yachts: PG16-PT155

Cape George 36: 41-410; 42-412;

Marieholm 33 : 42-412;

This list is not actualized. Please use the advanced search engine of the thread with the name of the model and builder. It works, most of the time.

(actualized till PG100) and it will be no more because that gives a lot of work (500 pages now).

Instead I am actualizing the titles and with the right title the thread search engine (not the one on the top of the page bit the one much below that says search thread) on its advanced option works quite well.

Hello,

Melrna posts on Miami Boat show and the comments of Smackdady about the interest of that thread lead me to think that perhaps I could share more information about sailboats I know and find interesting.

I am interested in boat design (interior and sailing performance) and I go each year at least to one of the main European Boat shows and that means basically Dusseldorf, Paris or Hamburg. On these shows you have the opportunity not only to visit the boats of the main and medium size builders but you have also the opportunity to visit the boats of small and sometime family shipyards.

Normally they build very good sailboats and sometimes they have been doing that for decades. The boats are hugely appreciated by their faithful customers but because they don't advertise their boats and there are very few on the used boat market, they pass unnoticed by the majority of the sail community.

The visit to these boats is a very rewarding experience because they are made with passion by true boat lovers and because when you talk to the guy that is on the boat, you are not talking with a dealer, that many times doesn't know much about boats, but with the builder, or the designer.

Even if you are not a buyer they will have real pleasure in talking with someone that really appreciates and understands their work. Those guys really believe in what they are doing and they do it the best way they can, no matter the cost. In a word, they are in love with what they are doing.
Of course, these boats have to be expensive.

This thread will be mainly about these boats, as a way of letting you know about these gems. Let's see if you are interested. I will not post much. If you want to know more you have just to participate and make questions.

The first one it will be the "Sirius". I have had the pleasure to visit several times their boats and to talk with the builders (father and son).

These boats have the best interiors you can find, or at least that I have seen. Not only the quality, but the design and ergonomy are fantastic. You really won't believe you are in a 32ft boat. Just incredible and amazing; Have a look at it:

Sirius-Werft Plön | Forecabin | 32 DS for 2 forecabin
Sirius-Werft Plön | Owner´s cabin | 32 DS 4-berth comfort owner´s cabin
Sirius-Werft Plön | Workshop | 32 DS for 2 workshop

Now that the son is in charge they have modernized the outside look of the new boats, they look fantastic not only inside but also outside. The boats sail well and they have clients as far as Japan.

Sirius-Werft Plön | Versions of decks house | You have the choice

Another interesting point is the way they develop new boats. They work with the clients to collect suggestions on the shape and design of the boats. A truly interesting affair, between passionate clients and passionate builders.

Sirius-Werft Plön | 35 DS | Philosophy

Take a good look at their interesting site and if you find the boat interesting, please let me know, I can add some information.

Sirius-Werft Plön | english | Welcome at website of Sirius-Werft Plön

Regards

Paulo
 
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#4,134 · (Edited)
Portuguese entry for the C-Class trophy (formerly known as the Little Americas' Cup)

Never posted about a Portuguese sailing boat, at least a modern one, so the first one will be really a modern one:D:



Designed by the Portuguese NA Tony Castro and being built in Cascais on a high tech firm. The boat will be sailed by Portuguese sailors on the "Little America's cup". It should also be like that on the big America's cup, I mean a boat designed by American's, built in America and sailed by Americans (the same with the other entries), much more fun and meaning that way.

The competition will be among the Portuguese team, US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Italy and France teams.

Here you have a good history of the Trophy, called popularly by "Little America's cup".

Team Invictus - C Class History

It is going one since 1961 and was where the wing sails were developed here, at least at an amateur level.

The rules:

Team Invictus - Challenge

The trophy is in Canadian hands and this year's edition will be in Falmouth UK during the week 21st-28th.

Last edition can give you an idea of the boat performances (with light winds they can do go 2.5 times faster than the wind):





21-28 Sept: International C Class Catamaran Championship

https://www.facebook.com/ICCCC.2013

...
 
#4,136 · (Edited)
Finot/Conq 110



The boat is almost om the water:











and I am very curious about the sailboat performances: What will happen when this giant will race against other luxury giants of more conventional design on this race (wally, Maltese Falcon abd company)?



Will Finot be right and this boat will be faster with a much reduced crew?

....
 
#4,137 · (Edited)
James Burwick, his family and Anasazi girl, their home:

I have already posted on this thread some photos of his family on their "home" but I wanted to make a good post about them and now that I am almost leaving for my cruising season, it seems a good time.

Like Brian, our permanent cruiser that lives with the family in a Catalina 400, they are sea gypsies but at a scale that drafts the wanderings of Brian and in a boat that Brian would find completely unsuited to cruise much less to live aboard, a true racing boat, not even particularly modified for cruising, a racing 40 Open racer Pogo. Near this one a cruising Pogo 12.50 looks like a luxury boat:D.



Who are they and what are they doing? James Burwick seems to be an old guy (he looks over 60) that felled in love with a younger girl and made not only the impossible dream to start a family at that age but also to live the dream to voyage in a sailboat around the world with them. He was for all his live an outdoor man used to live in tents, his wife was a refugee, also used to lack of comfort so probably this explains the choice of the boat: The best in what regards price, efficiency and safety (for that size) but certainly not the more comfortable, to say the least;)









It seems to suit them well as their camping tent around the world. The girl, now a women transformed herself in a remarkable photographer:

Please don't miss somira photos and if you like you can even buy some. They really are that good. DON'T MISS THIS:

Flickr: somirasao's Photostream

Somira Sao

After looking at those photos what seemed like a crazy idea and an impossible lifestyle suddenly seems not so crazy after all. When we can see beauty and happiness everywhere we ask ourselves what is really life all about:)

About them:

Anasazi Racing is James Burwick, Somira Sao and their three small children Tormentina, Raivo Max, and Pearl (ages 4, 2, & 4 months old).

They are a family of five, making long distance ocean passages on a 40' performance sailboat.

They started their voyage in Portland, Maine (USA) and proceeded to sail trans-Atlantic to Cherbourg, France; then trans-equatorial to Cape Town, South Africa; across the Southern Ocean to Fremantle, Western Australia; through the Australian Bight & Bass Strait to Melbourne; and across the Tasman Sea over North Island New Zealand to Auckland.

The sailing vessel, Anasazi Girl, is an Open 40 designed by Finot-Conq. She is a high tech carbon rocket-ship able to make fast long ocean passages similar to alpine climbers who climb light and fast.

JAMES is a professional climber & sailor with a vast foundation of experience in extreme environments. He has sailed 30,000 miles solo around the world, was an alpine mountain guide for 32 years (6000+ meter peaks), trained & worked search & rescue dogs (cadavers/explosives), did avalanche rescue & recovery, and developed handicap adaptive sports programs in Colorado and Norway.

SOMIRA was born in a Khmer Rouge work camp during the Pol Pot regime. She escaped & immigrated with her parents to the United States at age 4 as a Cambodian refugee. She worked in Cambodia with AUSAID & Australian Red Cross to document their landmine survivors program. She is a professional photographer, adventurer, glass artist and mother of three.

TORMENTINA and RAIVO are world travelers. Tormentina has been to 20 different countries and Raivo to 12. They have sailed over 19,000 ocean miles; descended Argentina's Rio Santa Cruz (400km from the Patagonian ice cap to the sea); cycle toured Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, the Atacama Desert, & Southern Iceland; and horse-packed through the rainforests of the Cocahomó River Valley in Chile.

The kids have spent the first years of their lives surrounded by a tribe of world class athletes - alpinists, rock climbers, skiers, base jumpers, high-liners & pro sailors. They have never lived regularly in a house. Their gypsy homes have been expedition tents, cargo vans, cargo trailers, hotel rooms, and now a carbon-fibre composite racing boat.

PEARL was born in Auckland, New Zealand on December 20, 2012. In the womb, she made passages through the Southern Ocean, Australian Bight, Bass Strait, and the Tasman Sea. She moved onto the boat when she was less than a day old.


Anasazi Racing

an interesting interview:

TZ: Why are you sailing around the world with your kids, and what does the rest of your route look like?

JB: We are not really sailing around the world. That is not the goal or the plan. We are giving the gift of the sea to the children. We are spending the formative years with them 24/7. We're doing a program of experiential education. We like very much the Southern Hemisphere so we have been sailing in the westerlies downwind. We are in New Zealand awaiting the birth of our third child, due Dec 22. We have no plans at present. This is a real gift for us.

TZ: How have you dealt with questions of safety for the young ones, and what sort of rules and procedures have you put in place?

JB: It is all about risk management. On deck, full body harness, no life jacket. Make the clip [to the safety line] or take the ride [into the sea]. We clip in. No compromising at this time. I sometimes demand crew confined to their berths. The kids know why this is happening, and it is cool with them as this means either story time, book reading, or movies.

TZ: How do your children feel about your voyage?

JB: They are are bit young to ask. Raivo is two and T-bird is four. She was asked upon arrival in Auckland how the passage from Melbourne was. She replied, "It was short, just 10 days."

Are they aware that they are doing something unusual? Yes, they are. They see the other life experience, the rooms with toys and houses with things, and at the end of the day, they want to go back to the boat where it is simpler.


Tim Zimmermann Speaks With James Burwick on Anasazi Girl about Life Aboard | Sailing World











 
#4,139 ·
Very kind of you to post about our atypical cruising life on the Finot-Conq Open 40. Sad that the Class 40 market took over and no more of these Open 40 designs were built. So we feel very lucky to have this special boat to go wave surfing on.

It may not be the most comfortable vessel to live on in port, but it is the safest boat I could imagine crossing an ocean in, especially in the roaring 40s!

Best,
Somira
 
#4,141 ·
So, I get corrected:). I found strange that in your blog it said it is a Carbon boat since the only carbon part of a 40 class racer is the mast. So it is not a class 40 but a Finot Open 40! Canting keel or not?

The reason they have opted for the Class40 to substitute the Open40's has to do with price. Those Open40, even without canting keel were hugely expensive, carbon and all:(

Again, congratulations on your photos, they are just great:).

Fell free to post when you like and don't be a stranger, give us news about your voyages, I am sure they will interest many here.

Lots of members on this site live permanently abroad and cruise extensively, others sail boats not very different than yours, just a bit less fast and more "bourgeois" (Pogo 12.50).

Regards

Paulo
 
#4,142 ·
Flying Phantom:

Whem I saw this movie about the Flying Phantom I was not very impressed. After all the F18 is a very fast cat and the Phantom seemed to hesitate between foiling speed and "natural" speed and didn't look faster.



But this one convinced me:



They anounce 26.4K with 9/11.5K wind and that's fantastic:eek:

they say about the boat:

The Flying Phantom is not an F18, it is especially designed for foiling. The hull shape is the only common part shared with the F18 Phantom, the boat is lighter and wider than an F18.

"After an intensive year of research, development and countless hours of testing, SAIL INNOVATION is proud to launch the Phantom Formula 18.

The Phantom project was born in order to design the finest F18. World Champions Olivier Backes and Arnaud Jarlegan worked in close collaboration with renowned designer Martin Fischer.

The goal was to produce the most accomplished Formula 18, fast in all conditions and easy to sail.

During the last 12 months of testing, the entire team has been fully dedicated to fine tuning every detail in order to get a fully optimized, reliable and user friendly boat.

The boat has been tested in normal course racing and long distance races by highly skilled sailors such as: Olivier Backes, Xavier Revil and Jean Christophe Mourniac. All have provided very accurate feedback to evolve the performance of the boat. Additionally, weekend club sailors have also been involved in this testing campaign in order to ensure the boat is easy to use.

The Phantom Formula 18 is a unique high-end product in terms of design, construction and finishing quality.

All hull components - hull shell, bulkheads, sub-decks - are built under vacuum which improves the structural properties and makes the boat stiffer and more durable.

As a standard the Phantom offers hollow full carbon autoclaved daggerboards and rudders. This top of the range technology provides the best weight / strength / stiffness ratio.

The Phantom is now available in Limited Edition. In order to maintain the highest quality and the value of the boat on the second hand market, only 25 Phantom will be produced in 2013."


The boat is in production now and it sells for 19650 Euros (ex tax, ex factory -Europe- for standard colors -white, black or red- with a full set of SAIL INNOVATION sails).

I would expect to see these babies racing together soon. This is less than half the price of J70 and seems to me twice the fun;)

...
 
#4,144 · (Edited)
Django 6.70

New boat from the boat builder "Maree Hault", the 6.70.

The shipyards has a funny story: The owner, Serge Calvez, was a furniture maker, a good one, with a passion for sailing.

We decided to make his own boat, a mini racer over the plans of Pierre Rolland. The boat was made and bit by bit he passed from the furniture to boat building with the help of Rolland that was making the drawings. As the building in maritime plywood was more expensive he ended up making fiberglass boats.

He started with the minis racers and then started to use the principle that makes the mini racer the fastest and safest small solo racer to make very small cruisers with offshore capability. I had talked here already about the Django 7.70, that offers for about 50 000 euros a fast mini cruiser with a good cruising interior:















and talked about a French guy, Christophe Mora, that is going to circumnavigate in one and is looking for partners for the different legs. He is going to leave in august. If you are interested:

? sur terres | Into the wind

He is a full line of small racers and cruisers, all very interesting boats, designed by not less interesting designer/racer, Pierre Rolland.

Marée Haute - Home

www.rolland-archi.com

The new boat, the 6.70 will be the smaller, based directly on the mini racer but with a better interior and a lifting keel. A nice looking boat;)













PS.

For the ones that look for an interesting used 36ft fast cruiser, this Rolland design seems great, even if not for the asking price:

http://www.bateau-fifty-occasion.com/offres/site_fabulo/index.html
 
#4,146 · (Edited)
One of my preferred boats got even better: Malango 1045

One of the things I hate more in my boat is to have to carry the dinghy over the cockpit: Not a problem, the boat is wide enough and the dingy narrow enough not to constitute a problem regarding lateral passage. The dingy only weighs 17kg and it is very easy to take it out or put it on the water. It has nothing to do with practicability but with looks: What is the use to have a beautiful boat is then I have to make it ugly with a dinghy, making it look heavy and inelegant? A dingy hanging on the back of the boat is even worse and more dangerous on a relatively small boat.

Normally you have to have big boat to have a proper garage, generally with a minimum of 50ft and even so very few offer that with that size, except the Malango, I mean the Malango offers it in a 10m boat (999).



That's not the only thing I **** on the Malango, I like the top construction that allows it to weight only 3600kg, I like the deep swing keel that allows a huge draft (2.50) with the possibility to have it breached (with the help two lateral "legs" that you deploy from the cockpit), I like the light and "clean" interior with a good galley and very good storage, I like the Jules Marin designed hull based on open boats, I like the big 36% D/B ratio (considering a draft of 2.50 and a lower CG keel), I like the way it sails starting to make 2 digit speeds with 20K winds and about wind speed with 5K wind. Yes, I like very much the Malango 999:















But now they have a better one, the 1045 that is the old 999 with about more half a meter on a skirt. Result: about half a knot more speed, more storage and a better interface with the water, for swimming or going out of the dinghy. I love it even more:D











 
#4,149 ·
Paulo,

The Malango is an interesting boat, can it go off shore or is it a coastal weekend boat? I did not notice a chain locker, an anchor yes, but?

What is the green area for in the drawing?

Nice boat for a couple of any age.

Cheers

Steve
Hi Steve,

The green spaces seem to me storage spaces. It has certainly a chain locker (at white in the drawing).

The boat is not a weekend cruiser, I would say a coastal cruiser with offshore potential. The boat has a big stability and many boats of this type make the Transquadra (a transat) and I don't remember of anyone having seaworthiness problems. Not a boat to sail on high latitudes or on the wrong season offshore though.

Regards

Paulo
 
#4,148 · (Edited)
Re: One of my preferred boats got even better: Malango 1045

I certainly agree, Paulo. Tenders tend to suffer the same curse the yachts they tend to: the bigger they are, the more we seem to like them, except when out of use. Then we wish they could just disappear, and that's exactly what Malango's do with their tenders. "Chapeau", certainly if you know this garage does not leave a ridiculous interior, even on a smaller boat such as the 888.

During our many visits to Britanny we also visited the IDB Marine boatyard that builds these Malango's. Small and somewhat clumsy in appearance, but clearly driven by a bunch of enthusiasts who immediately make you feel at home and inspire confidence and competence. The kind of places special boats are built and customers are probably not treated as numbers on a order form, the same spirit we experienced with Structures.
If they had a design sufficiently spacious to host our breed of basketball players, we would certainly also have considered a Malango.

I also very much liked your post about the Django's and especially the 6.70. Statistics all over Europe show the average age of boat owners is rising dramatically. So we need more of this kind of designs to attract young people to yachting. This one can be beached, trailed and launched without a crane, saving quite a lot of costs and extending the sailing horizon at the same time. Adding the performance I believe this is a very promising cocktail to recruit young addicts.

I only think the lifted keel will be a very bothersome intrusion in the interior, especially on such a small boat. But I understand a swinging keel would make this little boat too expensive for the market segment it is intended to.
Although I am myself used to (and perfectly happy with) a basic interior, I don't like concessions on the finishing touch and the way wires are left unprotected (such as on the 7.70 interior picture) is asking for immediate trouble. It won't take more than a few nice waves and an inadvertent crewmember to tear these off. But covering them is of course an easy job and DIY is an essentiel skill starting yachtsmen better acquire as soon as possible.

So I very much welcome these innovative and attractive designs and certainly hope many more will follow.

Best regards,

Eric
 
#4,151 · (Edited)
Re: One of my preferred boats got even better: Malango 1045

...

I also very much liked your post about the Django's and especially the 6.70. Statistics all over Europe show the average age of boat owners is rising dramatically. So we need more of this kind of designs to attract young people to yachting. This one can be beached, trailed and launched without a crane, saving quite a lot of costs and extending the sailing horizon at the same time. Adding the performance I believe this is a very promising cocktail to recruit young addicts.

I only think the lifted keel will be a very bothersome intrusion in the interior, especially on such a small boat. But I understand a swinging keel would make this little boat too expensive for the market segment it is intended to.
Although I am myself used to (and perfectly happy with) a basic interior, I don't like concessions on the finishing touch and the way wires are left unprotected (such as on the 7.70 interior picture) is asking for immediate trouble. It won't take more than a few nice waves and an inadvertent crewmember to tear these off. But covering them is of course an easy job and DIY is an essentiel skill starting yachtsmen better acquire as soon as possible.

So I very much welcome these innovative and attractive designs and certainly hope many more will follow.

Best regards,

Eric
Hi Eric,

Yes, those wires are really odd and I don't have a clue about what they are. Maybe something mounted by the boat owner and not the shipyard?

Unfortunately any new boat is expensive and even the Django 6.70 costs over 40 000 euros. I guess that kids will be sailing mostly on small boats of this type but used old ones. I heard about two kids that are circumnavigating on an old mini racer and some time ago about three friends that crossed the Atlantic on an old Pogo 8.50 and voyaged extensively before coming back.

Yes I believe that is probably the more fun and less expensive type of boat for voyaging....but kids have only money for old ones....unless they are rich kids;)

Regards

Paulo
 
#4,150 · (Edited)
If you look very closely at the second Malango video, it does appear to have an anchor locker in the bow, as evidenced by what looks like a stainless steel latch where one might expect to find one for a locker, as well as a small raised nacelle just aft of the headsail furling drum, presumably to allow the anchor rode to enter / exit. Also, one of the interior shots looks like it shows what would be an anchor locker extending down and aft into the forepeak. Hard to believe this boat would be lacking in that regard.

I never know quite what people mean when they ask if a boat can go "offshore" - one can cross oceans in just about anything. The Malango seems perfectly suitable for extended ocean sailing, and based on the video and reputation of the boat yard, I wouldn't hesitate to sail it from the U.S. East Coast to the Caribbean, for example.

However, the Malango is clearly not intended as a blue water cruiser - it lacks storage and tankage that most people would consider necessities for such usage. Of course, that doesn't mean that there are not people who might circumnavigate in one. Alessandro Di Benedetto went around in a Mini 6.50, for goodness sake. And after reading Paulo's posts about the Polish women who did solo circumnavigations in the Mantra 28 I have a new appreciation for the seaworthiness of small boats. The Malango might even do the trick for me. :)

NOTE: Have to love this quote from the IDB Marine web site, regarding the Malango 888: "Malango 888 is primarily a pleasure boat, designed both for use as a day-boat or for a Transquadra..." I guess that answers the question about the offshore suitability of these boats.
 
#4,154 · (Edited)
Malango 999

If you look very closely at the second Malango video, it does appear to have an anchor locker in the bow, as evidenced by what looks like a stainless steel latch where one might expect to find one for a locker, as well as a small raised nacelle just aft of the headsail furling drum, presumably to allow the anchor rode to enter / exit. Also, one of the interior shots looks like it shows what would be an anchor locker extending down and aft into the forepeak. Hard to believe this boat would be lacking in that regard.

I never know quite what people mean when they ask if a boat can go "offshore" - one can cross oceans in just about anything. The Malango seems perfectly suitable for extended ocean sailing, and based on the video and reputation of the boat yard, I wouldn't hesitate to sail it from the U.S. East Coast to the Caribbean, for example.

However, the Malango is clearly not intended as a blue water cruiser - it lacks storage and tankage that most people would consider necessities for such usage. Of course, that doesn't mean that there are not people who might circumnavigate in one. Alessandro Di Benedetto went around in a Mini 6.50, for goodness sake. And after reading Paulo's posts about the Polish women who did solo circumnavigations in the Mantra 28 I have a new appreciation for the seaworthiness of small boats. The Malango might even do the trick for me. :)

If you mean those wires on the inside of the cabin by the companionway, those connect to the NKE displays on the cockpit cabin bulkhead. There's a wire coming out of the bottom of the compass, beneath the companionway, as well. That's a fairly common way to route instrument wiring on race boats with the displays mounted in that location. Not really any better options. And the wiring is marine grade and can withstand a fair bit of moisture. They're mounted in similar fashion on Mini 6.50s and those are fairly wet boats.

...The pricing on the Malango 888 is listed at 76.000 €, while the 999 lists at 115.000 €.

NOTE: Have to love this quote from the IDB Marine web site, regarding the Malango 888: "Malango 888 is primarily a pleasure boat, designed both for use as a day-boat or for a Transquadra..." I guess that answers the question about the offshore suitability of these boats.
Thanks for the information about those "wires".

I guess the prices you talk about are without European tax, VAT. When I was talking about the Django 6.7 (a bit more than 44 000 euros) it included already VAT.

Regarding anchor locker and bow roller these images of the 999 are explicit:







Well, the last one not so much, even if you can see there the bow roller, but it is a nice one:D

Regarding the offshore ability of the smaller boat (888) and it being designed with the Transquadra in mind, the Transquadra is a very famous French Transat. It is a race but as they have so many professional racers this one is reserved for amateurs with more than 40 years old. Generally the average age is a lot more and you can believe me, they are amateurs but lot's of very good racers (some that had been professionals when they were younger) doing that and a huge amount of boats

They boats are limited to a max IRC rating and that makes that most of the boats racing are small fast ones. It is a solo or duo race.

That means the designer of the 888 considers the boat suitable to race a transat. That does mean something in what regards the boat offshore potential. sure the 999 or the new 1045 have even a bigger offshore potential. I agree with what you say about it.

Regarding the 999, a nice video that gives a better overall image of the boat:



Regards

Paulo
 
#4,152 ·
If you mean those wires on the inside of the cabin by the companionway, those connect to the NKE displays on the cockpit cabin bulkhead. There's a wire coming out of the bottom of the compass, beneath the companionway, as well. That's a fairly common way to route instrument wiring on race boats with the displays mounted in that location. Not really any better options. And the wiring is marine grade and can withstand a fair bit of moisture. They're mounted in similar fashion on Mini 6.50s and those are fairly wet boats.

On expensive cruising boats, with interior cabin liners, you can hide all that wiring. But now you're in a different price range. :)
 
#4,155 ·
Interesting that in the very fine video the Malango is berthed right next to an X-34, a boat recently replaced in the X Yachts line by the Xp-33. A pre-owned X-34 will set you back 119.000 - 150.000 € VAT paid, while the Xp-33 is so new there are none available on the used market. I expect it would be more expensive than a new Malango 9.99.

All three boats are quite dissimilar, with the Malango reflecting its roots in offshore shorthanded sailing, with a fine entry and max beam (3.7m) carried all the way aft to the transom. The X-34 is more traditional, with max beam (3.4m) aft of amidship, but tapered back to a narrower transom. The Malango is a much lighter boat - 3.266 kg vs. 5.300 kg (1.300 kg vs 2.200 kg in the keel) - though, of course, LOA is .37 m shorter - and should probably crush the X-34 downwind or reaching.





Interestingly, in light of Paulo's informative discussion on rocker, both boats have a fair amount, though I would say the X 34 has more.

The interiors are quite different, and you can see right away where that extra weight comes from on the X-34, with that characteristic X Yachts wood joinery in the cabin.

For me, the Malango 9.99 just seems like the kind of boat I'd want to sail across oceans to warm climates, while the X-34 is a boat more suited to exploring the northern latitudes, taking shelter from rain and fog below decks, with a warm cup of coffee, while swinging at anchor in a fjord. :D
 
#4,156 · (Edited)
Rocker: Malango 999, X34 and X33.



Hum, that is an interesting comparison in what regards rocker but I don't think the X34 has a similar rocker comparing with the Malango 999. The X34 has a lot more:





In fact the new Xp33 is much closer to the Malango 999 than from the previous X34, even if the Malango has a bit less rocker (the Malango photo is from a new daysailor that has the same hull).



That (and weight) relates with the good ability the Xp 33 has to plan:





Regards differences between the two boats I have no doubt the Xp33 would be faster on a regatta and overall (and much faster than the X34) but to go fast downwind will need a crew while with the Malango one can do it alone.

Regarding cruising, well, that is a question of taste but the Malango will have a much bigger and more luminous interior with more storage and will be a far better voyage boat, much more easy and forgiving, not to mention the possibility to search for shelter near shore while on anchor and the ability to carry an inflated dinghy.

Regards

Paulo
 
#4,157 ·
Normally I'm not a big fan of self-tacking jibs, particularly offshore. But the Malango might change my mind about this given its nice integration of a Code Zero, flown from a short sprit, into the equation.

It seems to me that as soon as you crack off the wind in lighter air, you can furl the non-overlapping jib and deploy the Code Zero. Then, as the breeze builds, you can go back to the jib and not pay a heavy performance penalty. Once you're in a more downwind orientation, you have a symetrical spinnaker option or, perhaps, you can mix-and-match A-sails and S-sails, depending on conditions.

I realize that the Malango keeps things simply by eshewing a square-top main and running backstays, but personally I think I'd prefer that arrangement over the standard one. Just gives you more sail trim options offshore. But for coastal and inshore, the standard arrangement is more than adequate.

One last thing about this really interesting boat: It looks to me like the size of the dinghy garage pretty much determines the size of dinghy you can have; anything bigger, and the garage can't be used. What, then, would one use the garage for if - for whatever reason - one opts for a larger dinghy? I suppose it could still be used for dinghy storage once the larger dinghy is deflated, though not quite as intended.
 
#4,159 ·
One last thing about this really interesting boat: It looks to me like the size of the dinghy garage pretty much determines the size of dinghy you can have; anything bigger, and the garage can't be used. What, then, would one use the garage for if - for whatever reason - one opts for a larger dinghy? I suppose it could still be used for dinghy storage once the larger dinghy is deflated, though not quite as intended.
..throw a mattress in and the kids can sleep there! ;)

I do like the 999 - perfect size for a couple and I think it would be a blast to sail esp double or short/single handed. A really good galley for such a light, performance oriented boat. I do wonder about storage, though, with such an open interior. And of course here in the PNW we'd be fine with a fixed deep keel.. I wonder if that would be an option?

Clearly I should have been born wealthy and European..;) what a rich world of design and innovation compared to North America...
 
#4,160 ·
Now this is pretty!!

Taylor 49 from Brooklin Boatyard, Maine

 
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#4,162 · (Edited)
Taylor 49 - Farlie 55

Taylor 49 from Brooklin Boatyard, Maine

It looks great and designed by a guy that likes fast boats;)

The yacht is a lightweight, performance-oriented sloop with a traditional aesthetic above the waterline and a modern underbody below. The yacht was commissioned by a repeat customer of Brooklin Boat Yard, and is scheduled to launch in spring of 2014. The design was developed specifically for single- or double-handed sailing on New England coastal waters as well as occasional competitive racing in a range of classes.

The new yacht is 49 feet overall with a waterline length of 35.1 feet and an 11.6-foot beam. Long overhangs increase the boat's effective sailing length and stability with heel. This traditional feature is coupled with an underwater canoe body shape that's rounded with low deadrise for less drag, especially in choppy water and during maneuvers. Her fin keel and spade rudder also reduce wetted area while lowering her vertical center of gravity for increased stability. Since the yacht will sail mostly northeastern ports, her keel's leading edge is swept aft to shed weeds and lobster pots. Her saildrive features a folding prop to also minimize the risk of fouling.

"The long sailing length and narrow beam will give this design a meter boat feel," said Jim Taylor, yacht designer. "Her deep, high aspect ratio appendages feature ample profile area, to provide a user-friendly 'groove' even when downspeed or in sloppy sea conditions. Her unusual combination of classic style with contemporary performance will set her apart from - and usually far ahead of - everything else on the water.

The boat will be built in cold-molded wood, a style for which Brooklin Boatyard is well-known. This approach not only results in high strength and toughness relative to weight, but it also provides very impressive acoustic and thermal insulation. The yacht will carry a Hall carbon rig and Harken deck gear. Competition Composites Inc. in Canada will build her carbon rudder.

"This yacht is highly customized for her owner and his favorite sailing haunts," said Steve White, owner of Brooklin Boat Yard. "Not only does she have all the critical details to make her an ideal cruiser/racer for New England, but she'll be a pleasure to sail - whether day-tripping with grandchildren or racing competitively with a handful of crew.

OA: 49.0′, LWL: 35.1′, BEAM: 11.6″, DRAFT: 7.8′, DISPLACEMENT: 16,500 lbs, BALLAST: 6,830 lbs, IM: 53.0′, J: 15.6′, P: 53.3′,
E: 19.4′, LP%: 142% Genoa, LP%: 95% Self-Tacking Jib

BBY News - Brooklin Boat Yard to Build Custom Jim Taylor-Designed Sloop

and light too even if I would expect more ballast B/D ratio for such a narrow hull.

Competition for the Farlie 55:









I would love to have a look at the interiors. On the Farlie they are nice but on a boat like this I would expect more than nice.

By the way if somebody wants a Farlie 55 they are selling their demonstration boat for a reduced price, only $1,176,150. I would not expect the Taylor to be less expensive, after all the Farlie is a semi-custom boat while the Taylor 49 is a custom boat.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...rency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=76729&url=

and there are some that find mass production modern boats expensive regarding old boats :rolleyes:...but they where a beauty, that's for sure!!!

Regards

Paulo
 
#4,163 · (Edited)
Bavaria 40 MKII

Talking about inexpensive boats, this one will cost less than 150 000 euros including VAT. From the previous boat this one has only retained the Farr hull, a good one and even the keel and ruder are revised.

The boat looks much more elegant than the previous model and the interior looks brighter and more modern.



I love those 4 winches on the cockpit and this is the only mass production main market cruiser that offers them.

 
#4,164 · (Edited)
Cruising: ARC

As you probably know the 2013 was full only some months after the opening of inscriptions. 245 boats was the limit they could manage in what regards marinas in Canary Islands, even after they have expanded the marina.

So they decided to create another one with a different time departure (two weeks earlier), leaving Las Palmas at 10 November and it will go on a parallel course visiting Cape Verde Islands before heading to Saint Lucia arriving just some days earlier than the main rally.

This one is called ARC+

A parallel route to the annual ARC transatlantic rally is being created in November to cope with unprecedented demand for places. Called the ARC+ the event will leave Las Palmas on 10 November, two weeks' earlier than the ARC start, and visit the Cape Verde Islands before heading for Saint Lucia to arrive just ahead of the main fleet. The Rally will be limited to 50 yachts.

But this year, besides ARC this will not be the only other option. There are three more other other cruising rallies this November and December: the new Christmas Caribbean Rally from Lanzarote to Antigua and two others created by ARC founder Jimmy Cornell, the Atlantic Odyssey from Lanzarote to Martinique and Atlantic Odyssey II from Las Palmas to Grenada:eek:.

I have never see anything like this, it seems that the number of boats crossing the Atlantic this year will be a record number:)

Just to go with the mood I will post some movies from boats doing the ARC. By the way there is somebody reading this that will go on one of those?

A First 40.7:



A First 36.7:





an interesting Sam Manuard design, kind of a Pogo 10.50:



a Dehler 36:



a Rival 32:



a Dufour 45e:



a Xp44:



and the 40Class racer Vaquita, the one to arrived first in 2012 beating a Swan 80:





..
 
#4,165 · (Edited)
Probably the most beautiful 2013 boat: Pogo 40 S3

Yes, it is not a cruising boat but what can I say, I guess I agree with Conq when he says beauty in sailboats is directed related with efficiency and speed and this one will be faster by 15% than the previous model:eek:

15% in speed is huge and expecting that in what regards the previous racing model is just incredible and if that was not subscribed by Verdier I would say they were nuts and even so.... I have some difficulty in accepting that.

the other thing incredible about this boat is price: less than 300 000 euros and for the ones that know what is the average price of a 40ft ocean racing boat will know what I am talking about: This is going to be the fastest long range offshore racer for the buck.

The New Pogo 40 class racer:







The boat has an unusually low freeboard and the design of the transom and the way it is integrated in the hull is just magnificent. Just to look at it I would expect it to be a very fast boat...it just looks right:)

That is the first time a Pogo is not designed by Finot/Conq. This one is designed by the new kid sensation among French designers, an outsider that has been working alone with sporadic joint work with VPLP. VPLP are top multihull designers and his theory is that monohulls are going so fast that many of the hydrodinamic problems that arise regarding planing has been already solved on multihulls that come to those kind of speeds first and looking to the results of that strange partnership I would say that he is probably right. I am talking about Guillaume verdier the designer of the boat that won the last Vendee but also the one that come in second and the one that would come in third if it had not lost the keel and many more among the fastest Open 60's (With VPLP colaboration).

he designed also some top racing multihulls and is part of the design team of the AC NZ72.

He did not design yet many cruising boats but I bet that is going to change soon: French main boat builders have a tradition to have their boats designed by the best French NA with the best racing curriculum (in what regards designing boats) specially the ones that design solo racers whose experience is more useful in cruising boats that, like solo boats, should be easy to sail and as fast as possible with the limitations of price and a good cruising interior.

guillaume verdier - architecture navale - Introduction Projets

http://www.vplp.fr/flash/index.html
 
#4,167 ·
Re: Probably the most beautiful 2013 boat: Pogo 40 S3

He did not design yet many cruising boats but I bet that is going to change soon: French main boat builders have a tradition to have their boats designed by the best French NA with the best racing curriculum (in what regards designing boats) specially the ones that design solo racers whose experience is more useful in cruising boats that, like solo boats, should be easy to sail and as fast as possible with the limitations of price and a good cruising interior.
Paulo - Clearly this is the case, and even so for Beneteau, who enlisted Juan Kouyoumdjian (French/Argentinian, I believe) to design the latest First 30. Don't know if you've commented on that boat, but I don't think Beneteau have had much success with it. Not competitive under IRC (don't know about ORC), but I'm not sure how it has fared (if at all) in offshore competition. It's not that there isn't a market for these types of boats, but perhaps Beneteau customers are more conservative. Perhaps Jeanneau have had more success with the Sunfast 3200?

I'm still too infatuated with the Malango 9.99 and 1045 to get too worked up about the Pogo 40. Perhaps next week. ;)
 
#4,169 · (Edited)
Cruising: Atlantic crossing - 10 tips

On the following of that post about the ARC I remember a nice article, mixing good sense with experience, published on Yachting world magazine by Elaine Bunting,

Top 10 tips for an Atlantic crossing:

"1. You don't need a special boat

Time was when a proper bluewater cruiser had chines, a ketch rig and self-steering gear at the stern. That was a perception, and perceptions change. Numerically, the most common transatlantic yachts these days are ordinary production cruisers with standard kit.

There's no black art to sailing 3,000 miles downwind. Generally, the toughest part of an Atlantic crossing is getting across Biscay. So whatever boat you have right now, the chances are that with a bit of extra prep she'll be fine for an Atlantic crossing.

As for a watermaker, generator, SSB radio, etc: they're all useful, but every additional item adds complication and service cost/time. Apart from a sound boat, all you really need is water, food, fuel and a (paper) copy of 'North Atlantic, Southern Part'.

2. Keep it simple

A smart crossing is all about consistent speed, 24 hours a day. The key is not to have downtime.

There's no need to fiddle around with twin headsails, Twistlerig or expensive new asymmetric spinnaker; a main and poled-out genoa 'barn doors' set-up will do fine. In fact, me and my other half won the ARC rally overall one year after sailing wing-and-wing almost the entire way.

Just keep an eye out for chafe, and be sure to set up a preventer on the boom and a foreguy topping lift and downhaul when poling out the headsail so you can furl in quickly when that night-time squall hits (which it will).

3. Revise your energy equation

Whatever power you think you'll use on an ocean crossing, add on another third. Nav lights, radar, radio scheds, autopilot, watermaker, fridge, freezer, computer, fans - you name it, they all add up.

Increase the means of generating electricity with a diesel generator, larger alternator, solar panels and/or a towed turbineandlook at means of making savings, such as fitting LED lights.

4. Get some extra training

Ocean seamanship is more about fixing things and managing problems on board than navigation or routeing. Diesel engine maintenance, sea survival, medical and first aid training and courses run by manufacturers on servicing and maintaining their equipment are all invaluable preparation - for crew as well as skipper.

5. Make the most of your time out

Don't rush the opening stages of your year(s) off; enjoy the great summer cruising on the route down to the Canaries and other hopping-off points. The West Country, France, Northern Spain, Portugal and Madeira could be some of the best places you visit.

7. Go the long way round

Some people spend thousands on routeing software, and that's fine. But you don't need it and if you're not used to using Grib files and don't have polars for your boat, it's of dubious value.

The most reliable passage plan is the simplest and often the quickest: run your latitude down to around 20°N, 30°W before turning right, following the age-old advice to 'head south til the butter melts'.

Here are three reasons to favour this route:
You'll pick up the tradewinds earlier. They often don't kick in properly until halfway across on the rhumb line route.

You'll get nicer conditions. Sometimes the direct route is upwind after the start or there's an uneasy cross sea from a depression to the north

The extra distance is only between 200 and 300 miles

You'll tick off 2-3 degrees of latitude a day, so it will get warmer quicker

8. Take it steady

Don't go all-out at the beginning of a crossing. It takes around three days for a crew to get their sea legs and settle down into a routine.

Just as importantly, your boat will be fully provisioned, fuelled and watered and that's tonnes of extra displacement. The increased loads on the gear and rigging are significant, so throttle back and don't push too hard too early.

9. Prepare for gear failure

Be prepared for key equipment to fail, because sooner or later it will. If it's gear you normally rely on, like an autopilot or watermaker, have a contingency.

10. Don't fix your arrival date in the diary

Some seasons an Atlantic crossing is quick; others it's slow. The weather varies quite a bit this side of Christmas. So if you are fixated on a certain arrival day, you'll be set up for disappointment before you even leave.

Keep your plans open. Remember that the crossing is the adventure, not the arrival in the Caribbean.

And whatever you do, don't let crew book flights immediately after your estimated ETA - nothing sours the atmosphere more than a stressed person on a deadline champing to be on land."


Read more at http://www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/elaine-bunting/41680
 
#4,170 ·
Had the opportunity last night to race on a boat that will never do the ARC or any other ocean crossing - an Ultra 30.



For those not familiar with the Ultra 30, the boat was designed and developed in the late 1990's as a way to bring the thrills and spills of high performance racing to the masses, and lure sponsorship and advertising so as to provide a livelihood for professional sailors. All of these very good goals, which we now see pursued by Larry Ellison and Russell Couts in the current AC72 / AC45 efforts.

The boat itself is basically a carbon skiff with a massive square-top main, 408 kg / 900 lbs of lead bulb on a lifting keel, and aluminium racks for hiking. There are no winches, and the main is trimmed 49er style from the boom. As one can imagine, the boat is extremely weight-sensitive, requiring constant movement to keep it from tipping over. Don't want to guess what the angle of vanishing stability is, but I can tell you it would be very easy to find out in a hurry - if you don't mind swimming. :D

The boat I sailed on is the reincarnation of the boat in the photo - Team Zombie - relocated to Long Island Sound and de-tuned for casual beer can racing (which seems ridiculous, once you see the boat). The trapezes are now gone (forbidden under LIS PHRF) and the spinnaker is only deployed when fooling around in lighter breeze.

To reduce windage, the nets were removed from the hiking racks, which now sport hiking straps in the absence of trapezes. This makes getting in and out quite the adventure, while there is nothing quite like the feeling of hiking on a hard aluminium tube covered in anti-skid, with no support for thighs or buttocks. Made me appreciate the luxurious comfort of Laser hiking. :p

For all that, we saw a top speed (SOG) of 10.1 knots last night, in about 8-12 knots of breeze, and were doing steady 7.0-7.5 knots in 6-9 knots close reaching. However, with a PHRF rating of 0.00, we fell victim to a well-sailed Farr 395 (a very nice boat in its own right, and quite quick in light air), a Beneteau 40.7 and a J122 (a Paulo favorite). Not sure if I'll be a regular crew on this boat, given my advanced age and declining health, but it was definitely a fun experience.
 
#4,173 · (Edited)
Mirabaud LX

Had the opportunity last night to race on a boat that will never do the ARC or any other ocean crossing - an Ultra 30.



... Not sure if I'll be a regular crew on this boat, given my advanced age and declining health, but it was definitely a fun experience.
That seems like great fun:). Not a boat for old guys like me but even so for a while it should be fantastic:). There are many similar boats racing in Switzerland on the lakes.

The tendency for those boats is going on foils now. Look at the Mirabaud: 5K wind, 12K speed:cool:







Regards

Paulo
 
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