Waterworld "Don't we all!"

I had one of our favourite (and most eccentric) customers came in this morning and before saying anything else he proclaimed "I want to go Waterworld and disappear into the yonder" I had to respond with the "Don't we all" but he was deadly serious.

I think I remember hearing that the Waterworld Tri was an Orma? After the initial mutual laughter had stopped we had coffee and it transpired that what he wanted was a rapid multi which could be taken offshore with sparse interior and a no frills utilitarian approach. The vessel must be large enough to have modest (read minimal) accommodation and we came to the conclusion that an old racer would be the most likely future vessel considering his budget and the availability of craft.

Of course a fast vessel with minimal wl beam will need certain length is achieve the breadth for small double berth (apart from speed, one of his only requisites). I could think of very few racing multi-hulls big enough for this due to my limited knowledge of Multi's. I suggested an Orma (no chance) Formula 40 (not likely) and a 'Malcolm Tennant' Tiros I worked on a few years ago which I thought at the time was the best thing ever (subsequently capsized due to user error!).

I don't really want to venture into the cat vs tri argument or the "can they sail a highly powered rocket which once inverted stays inverted" just find some suggestions of quicker than average multi's capable under the right crew to go serious sailing.

I think its a lovely dream and I hope he runs with it.

 

Velsia,

I would suggest contacting Nigel Irens about the trimarans that he designed back in the 80s and 90s. They were all top of the line for design and performance, and I am sure there are a few lying around that are not in use anymore. He would at least be able to point you in the right direction as far as name, size, and last known owner. You can reach him here: http://www.nigelirens.com/.

Waterworld is one of my favorite movies for the type of sailing shots that the director and photographer got. That was a really neat film.

 

Good thinking Eric, I never thought to contact the source. I will try let you guys know what I find.

 

there is no reason why an old racer , given a sensible sized easily manageable rig, doesn't make a fantastic globe trotter. You see them quite a bit in France

Enza is sitting looking very sad in Brest at the moment! [Probably a bit big though].

Some of the trimarans with high floats can be a bit uncomfortable as they rock from float to float when on a mooring

 

Not a good cruiser

I have sailed only a few hundred miles on an ORMA last winter. It was a blast and a highlight of my sailing life but I wouldn't want one for cruising. As stated above the floats are flat and proportionally very low. This makes it very hard to slow down and be comfortable. So you have to keep her loaded up ALL the time or the windward float hits the approaching waves. The boats are only for amazing sailors who can sleep in a washing machine.

Before your client goes the tri route I would talk to real delivery skippers of these things and get the good inside info from them. I would think something like Dick Newicks Traveller would be much better for a cruiser. They are still trying to sell the fad one built in Queensland. It's a gem.

NEWICK'S BEST, the 52' TRAVELLER is for sale in Auckland. Completely ready for sea, better than new. Full details at www.trvlr.net.nz.

cheers

Phil

 

I'm in the early stages of building a Formula 40 to a Kurt Hughes design and dont think it would be much of a cruiser payload is way too low and its a racing not a cruising boat there is space for a very snug double berth in the bow and stern but you would want to be intimate I'd liken it to sharing a sleeping bag .

My personal favourite is this Kurt Hughes 46 on yachtworld it would be a fantastic cruiser/racer and it's setup for singlehanding a relative bargain for what it would of cost to build. Theres also a Grainger trimaran in the states which is selling for a very moderate price its been fully refitted with good gear. It was "spirit of emu" when it was in Australia and quite a famous boat on the multihull race scene.

http://au.yachtworld.com/boats/2001/Hughes-46%27-Trimaran-1946989/United-States

As Phil has suggested the Newick Travellers are a beautiful boat as well you'll find them on yachtworld if you search on trimarans.

Here is a Formula 40 located in France, nice boat I'd buy it if I could scrape together the cash. Look at the photos though gives you a guide to hull volume (not much!)

http://www.multisailing.com/EN/descriptif.php?ref=27710

 

I never understood the panning it got from the critics. It is certainly much
better than many other sci-fi movies IMO.
Mind you, my main areas of research are vertical axis turbines and multihulls,
so I am biased.

 

I nice fit out in a Iren's 40. If the space is big enough for the occupants the Space for stores is going to be the limiting factor.

 

If the loads get too heavy you might remind your customer that the Costner character winds up with a Wharramesque catamaran in the end....still Waterworld but less recycled post apocalypse technology. I really liked the housing mast/windmill drive....

 

Off-topic

I guess the critics were more aimed against Kevin Costner who, for some obscure reason, has fallen into mediatic disgrace... It's a harsh world out there.