All skiffs with mast head kites have multiple spreaders, bucket loads of pre bend and some have intermediate stays too. The pre bend helps counteract the forces on the mast tip as dose tension on the leach of the main. This is applyed through heaps of boom vang tension.
Before and during cat sailing I sailed plenty of skiffs including 12s, 15s, 16s and 18s. They are true excitment machines (I still prefer the mighty T though).
These boats will rival any cat downwind in a breeze and the 18 footers are the quickest mono in the world. There are very few cats that will match them around a course. The Tornado is quicker upwind and now thanks too the kite, off the breeze as well. We are 2% quicker around a course than the 18s. You will be suprised how little the good 18 foot sailors in Australia capsize.
The 12 footers are nuts and are probably the hardest boat to sail in the world. Their only restricts from memory are hull lenght and number of rigs. They are 12 foot long, 14 foot bowsprit, 2 foot outriger on the transom for trapezing and their big rig is about 32 foot high. They also cary a rediculous amount of sail area and take a long time to master.
In light breeze they go for their largest sails and mast. When the breeze increases they can reduce all 3 sails in size and a smaller mast. The smaller sail area in more wind is when you really see them burn speed.
These boats also have been on the cutting edge of design and technology using composits. They have also experimented with slotted foils for improved water flow and lift and also done a lot of work with foils. There is an 18 foot skiff at the Sydney Flying Club that has foiled rudder and foils on each wing. The boat completely lifts out of the water to reduce drag but at the moment they are battling with stability and stearing problems. They are continuing to develop it further. It is only quicker in certain conditions when it can launch from the water up and downwind. These guys do not shy from development and Multihull sailors should take notice. These guys are watching us and have also tried wing masts with mast head kites. We (mono and multihull sailors) can learn alot from each other and further develop our sport.
