[MHml] Cat vs. Tri

[Dave Culp]

No offense Bill, but that's a pretty "modern" POV. Hasler's original
Folkboat set 218 sf of working sail. Newick's Cheers set something
like 350 sf (on a 40' boat); his Val 31 (Three Cheers) set perhaps
300--and many, many of these have crossed oceans. A few more
touchstones, fairly common in Transpacs: Hobie 33 = 425 sf; Santa Cruz
27 = 301; Santa Cruz 33 = 476; Moore 24 = 247. Even a Farrier 27,
though not designed for offshore work, sets just 388 sf of working
sail. (All according to their IJP&E measurements. "working sail" = (I
x J)/2 + (P x E)/2)

IMO, a "no rules" class ought to be inshore, not offshore, for both
safety and cost reasons. A Hobie 33 set up for offshore is a $60k
boat, and a Farrier 27 in offshore trim might fetch $100k, but then
again, lots of Transpac guys and gals go to sea in $12-15k, secondhand
boats...

In either event, the sail area needs to be just as small as possible,
for pure cost reasons. I'd happily throw $5k at a new design, just to
see if it works, but I'd not likely want to play the same game for
$50k. There's a reason C class was 300 sf; enough sail that the boats
aren't dinghies, but small enough that (well, in the 1960's) a purely
amateur team of a couple or three guys could afford to build and
campaign one.

You all already know I'm in favor of claiming classes; I'd love to see
a 300 sf class (inshore) with a claiming price in the $5-8k range.
Build one/year and race your old cast-offs (if they were good enough!)
in subsequent years. Plywood hulls, dacron sails; whatever you can
shoehorn into a $5k envelope. How many here would like to give a try
in one of Rob Denney's "old" designs? More than a few, I'd wager.  ;-)

Dave

On 11/4/06, Bill Gibbs <billg at gibbscam.com> wrote:
> Might be a bit small of a boat at 400 sq ft sail area, for crossing oceans
> and all.  I carry 2,000 sq ft working sail on a 52' boat, 4,400 sq ft max
> downwind.  This has me picturing 400 sq ft as a 14' long boat.  Then there
> are supples.  This is going to take 2-4 weeks at sea.  Hawaii isn't that
> close to California and little boats aren't especially fast.  And solo?
> You're placing a pretty heavy seamanship requirement on what is supposed to
> be a boat design competition.  The guy who can go 3 weeks without sleep will
> win regardless of boat.  This is all pretty far outside of my comfort zone.
> Of course I could hire Ross to skipper my design....
>
> An in harbor buoy course may be more appropriate, you know, the kind that
> takes 1-2 hours, and you do 3 races in a day, with time for repairs in
> between.  I expect these boats will need lots of repairs.  Little boats are
> trailerable and shippable making multiple venues possible.
>
> Or did you mean 400 sq. meters?  :-)
>
> You guys go right ahead and spend weeks in a little untested boat solo in
> the Pacific dodging hurricanes, squalls, and really big waves.  I'll host
> the class party in Hawaii, after all finish :-)
>
> Bill
> Afterburner
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: multihulls-bounces at steamradio.com
> [mailto:multihulls-bounces at steamradio.com] On Behalf Of Rob Denney
> Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 6:55 AM
> To: Informed discussion of multihull issues
> Subject: Re: [MHml] Cat vs. Tri
>
> G'day,
>
>
> Len:
> IYRU "D" 500 sq ft  no other restrictions.  The original OSTAR.
> Singlehanded  across the Atlantic.  First to finish
>
> Rob:
> Suits me, although let's make it a bit cheaper at 400 sq'.    OSTAR is an
> expensive race (more safety gear, longer distance), Transpac is a much
> easier, faster and more pleasant ride and is in 2008, not 2009.
>
> So it doesn't get bogged down in discussion and vested interest, and to see
> if we can actually get something happening,  I will put up a trophy for the
> first boat built to the "400 sq' sail area, no other restrictions" to finish
> the Solo Transpac (San Francisco - Hawaii) in June 2008.   Maybe a cash
> prize as well if there is any left over in the budget and the committee
> agrees.
>
> Dave, put the popcorn down and start sewing a kite.
>
> Intriguing enough, Bill?
>
> Sorry to end your retirement, Len.  ;-)
>
> Jesse, I can't speak for the others, but my boat will be for sale for
> $30,000 at the end of the race.
>
> Brian, a low cost opportunity to prove the mast aft rig really is the way to
> go.
>
> Dan, maybe a sloop?
>
> Anyone else?
>
> Regards,
>
> Rob
>
>
>
>
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