SL 33 by Pete Melvin/ built by Hakes

From SA front page:
Carbon cat with two rigs-light air and "ocean". Uses curved lifting foils, curved beams:

http://www.slperformanceraceboats.eu/page1.html

The SL33 is a grand prix catamaran that can be sailed with a traditional mast and soft sails or a wing.

The SL33 has been designed, engineered and built to:

Be the fastest boat under 40 feet in light wind conditions
Capture trophies at all major open regattas worldwide
Be the boat of choice for one-design multihull fleet and match racing
Be the perfect training platform for the AC teams

Our objective is to develop an international one-design Class, which promotes high level and entertaining racing. We will ensure that all hull platforms are as identical as possible in terms of construction, shape of hull and appendages, weight distribution and performance. As a developmental one-design Class, deck layout and equipment, sail and wing plan must comply with Class measurement rules.

“The concept is very similar to that of the new America’s Cup 72. It must be sailed across all wind ranges and be exciting to sail in harbors and lakes where light winds are often encountered and regattas are often staged. The boat can be sailed shorthanded, yet it is the ideal platform for three or four sailors,” said Andreas Labek, founder of SL Performance Race Boats GmbH.

The boat is targeted at sailors familiar with high performance one-design monohull and multihull racing. Singlehanded and double-handed sailors will hone their teamwork by sailing with larger crews and with sail plans that produce adrenaline pumping power and speed.

Editorial Comment: My question is "Why??" There are the new AC45's, the Extreme 40's, the new AC 72, the new SC 30 and on and on. There must be lots and lots and lots of money floating around assuming these guys did the research to justify a whole new boat. I don't get it-maybe somebody involved could explain the reasoning.....
Specifications


LWL 10,00 m


BOC 5,40 m

BOA 8,16 m

weight 535 kg


light wind rig ocean rig


mast 18,50 m mast 16 m

main 82 sqm main 64 sqm

jib 33 sqm jib 25 sqm

code zero 75 sqm code zero 52 sqm

gennaker 117 sqm gennaker 90 sqm

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In answer to the editorial comment/question: this is the new wave, everyone except those gang nailed into the monohull corner, are thinking multihulls ... so why not a batch of new designs; some will live and some will not ... but inventive types will continue to think improvements and innovation - hence all this new activity.

 

Agreed Gary, sometimes the product has to exist before the market demand it looks like a worthy sport boat for the well heeled. There is good beam clearance but you have to wonder about those waterstays and the dolphin striker and how deep they are but I suppose from a drag perspective they will be out of the water most of the time. I have a trimaran preference which probably tilts my view but when I look at those long heavily braced structures for carrying forestay load I wonder whether a vestigal hull structure like the D35 has might not do a better job and provide better safety in the event of a pitchpole.

 

Agreed, Corley - I wonder what the penalty difference is between water stays, poles and crows nests to that of the D35 semi-hull, meaning weight, windage and drag. By the way, Kelsall first did this, semi-central hull, way back in the 1980's with VSD catamaran.

 

Why?
It's 1/4 the price of an AC45, 1/2 of an Extreme 40 and probably just as fast.
Besides its easy to assemble and transport on the road with a 'normal' trailer.
Class will probably be owner-driver (!)
-> the only boat that gives AC performance and technology to amateurs

 

The sad news is there will be no venue for this cool thing to sail in here in SoCal (home of the design office).

It isn't the "luddite monohullers" that are keeping them out. It is the multi sailors who don't want "fast" multis in with their "racer/cruiser" multis.

It's been that way here for 50 years.

 

>The sad news is there will be no venue for this cool thing to sail in here in SoCal (home of the design office).

Border Run ?
ISAF Anarchy Race ?

 

So you think it is a good investment to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to do the Border Run once a year?

Of course you didn't mention the SDYC New Year's Day "fun" race, or the ABYC Boxing Day "fun" race.

You sure aren't going to be welcome in the ORCA races, or in any of the big buoy events here. Seems most of the current Melvin-Designed 33 footers that are already here aren't welcome, and they have some rudimentary cruising accomodations. Having an oversized beach cat is not going to win over many friends in the local multi community.

 

Apparently the dolphin striker on the boat racing in the Bol D'or failed soon after the start and they had to secure the mast and retire. Looks like they might be sorting out the bugs for a while.

 

Here is a shot by Chis Cameron (www.chriscameron.co.nz) from SA of the SL33 under sail:

click on image-

 

Two SL 33's being used by Team NZ to allow two boat testing legally. Read the Sail-World article here: http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=85853


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