Historical multihulls

What is it?

Any idea what this elegant catamaran is? Photographed off Lahaina, Maui. December 2012. She was easily outpacing the motoring charter cats in not much wind and, as you can see, under only mainsail.

Thanks

 

Looks like an extrapolation of the Choy, Seaman, Kumalae catamarans, like a modern Aikane - but the fractional rig and the deep cutaway sterns is not typical of that historical group ... but has definitely the traditional Hawaiian beach cat appearance.

 

Malcolm Tennant 16 metre performance catamaran Power of 2; only a few years old but interesting historically because it is the largest race sailing cat design by Tennant. Here in Cox's Bay but lives at Sandspit, near Kawau Island. Afterburner was lengthened to be close to this boat but originally was around 13-14 metres.

 

Reminds me of the cat at the beginning of this video. Not sure what design it is though.

 

Yes. It's the same one.

 

Not the same boat - the video cat has no forebeam and has a bridgdeck of sorts. The Tennant is a 3 beamed boat with no bridgdeck. Malcolm's foredecks would never have had the lip on the inside - he loved arcs and the foredecks were usually cambered heavily. Good for power reaching.

We have a Bladerunner on the lake here (sistership to Afterburner) sailed on her quite a bit. Used to bend and break small things often - lots of power. She doesn't sail much now but is still in good nick. The owners are more into bushwalking than sailing now.

cheers

Phil

 

A customer recently sent me this photo of a trimaran he saw sailing this year in the Med

I know the boat, but do you??

I had a quick look back through the thread. I did the drawings for Eugene Riguidel's VSD foils

Rheu Moana was lost on Cawsand beach, just a mile from my office. I got one of the winches which I donated to MOCRA for use as a prize

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

Rogue Wave?

 

Looks like it.

 

Either Rouges wave or gulf streamer, I can not remember of hand which had the twin cross beam arrangement.

 

Gulf Streamer it is.

Richard Woods

 

Must be Gulf Streamer then.
Gulf Streamer has 3 crossbeams. I guess one crossbeam is hidden behind the rib.

 

I dont think the cat in the picture has a forebeam it looks like it has a bridle. The sheer on the hulls and the look of the front beam reminds me of Kurt Hughes early charter cats but most of them had a front beam. Here is a picture of the cylinder molded catamaran Kamanu for example.

 

Yes, it's GulfStream; salvaged and repaired by a Russian and kept in Black Sea for some time.
Richard, you did the foils for VSD - which VSD because they both had foils, although differing designs - VSD ! hit reefs and was lost while VSD 2 had the damaged foils removed at Bermuda during Transat en Double. Tell us more - because Riguidel's boats were the earliest to fit foils.

 

It was VSD2 if I recall (it was over 30 years ago). I know it capsized trying for a Atlantic crossing record a couple of days after leaving New York, the implication was the rudder foil was too big and a big following wave lifted the stern and it pitchpoled under spinnaker. I think the fwd one was still fitted when VSD did the 1981 2STAR, I have photos somewhere

This is what my customer said re Gulfstreamer.

"Yesterday the port was visited by Odessa ex Gulfstreamer an ancient and famous Newick. The guy bought her at his Odessa yacht club where she had been lying for years.

The hulls and beams looked good, but the rig was on its last legs. He was off Palma and reacted too slowly in a big squall. He ran downwind to furl the two jibs got rid of one then the wind hit him whilst on the beam and the boat leaned over enough to pour lots of water into the raised cockpit! He thought this is it! however the boat recovered,

He thought he was saved by the designed lack of buoyancy in the leeward float that reduced the shock load and reduced windage. He also has had no deck netting for three years."

Richard Woods of Woods Designs

www.sailingcatamarans.com