G'day,

Weird indeed, but actually just a cat optimised to not have anything surplus to requirements.

Should do well against the beach cats as it has the same sail area and righting moment as a Tornado, but is 25% longer, 25% lighter with a lower centre of effort. What it does not have is a gun crew or the benefit of 30 years development by the world's best scat sailors.

It is double ended. The crew always sits to windward, so this hull can be very small as it is only required when not flying a hull. The rigs rotate through 360 degrees, the rudders through 270. To shunt (equivalent of tacking), the double ended sheets are released, and pulled in at the other end. The rudders are rotated and you head off in the other direction. We are at the stage where we can go from hull flying to hull flying at about the same speed as a cat, but with practise should be fatser. Downwind is the same technique, but at this stage, slower. In both cases, the maneuver is totally reversible at any stage, which should make starting a whole lot of fun.

In the photo, the boat is running near enough square, approaching the beach. The aft sail is doing all the work, the front one is in it's shadow. Going wind and wing is one option and gybing downwind another.

Stewart, the picture is on Coff's Harbour. Should have it over here later this summer. Let me know if you want a sail.

Regards,

Rob