Carl / Steve,

Vectorworks Marine is comming out with a new 20 ft cat. This was designed straight up as a 20 ft boat not an extension/splash of another boat. The hull shape has some of the features of the wave piercing designs, but a volume distribution more similar to that of the 6.0 to handle rough and ocean type conditions. It features high aspect rotating centerboards with built in hull seal eliminating the gaskets found on Tornados and Prindles. The centerboards lack a little bit of the theoretical efficiency of I20 style boards at high speed, but have much better lift at slower speed and during acceleration, and are much more robust naturally. How much effiency is lost jumping to the low side to pull up the board evertime the water looks shallower. Or sailing without one beacuse you hit a submerged coral head or sandbar, or turtle, or manta ray.

The Smythe Team is currently designing the rig for this boat, and the prototype is due to be launched this summer. 4 of these boats are already on order, and the goal is to prove them in during the racing series this winter, and have it ready for full competition prior to next years Tybee.

Just some more fuel for the fire

Matt