Hi all,

have attached a photo of Marcus sailing the first "Formula Catamarans Australia" Blade F16 to hit the water. The second boat which he will be sailing at the Global Challenge is already in the Netherlands.

I went over to Adelaide on the weekend and sailed this latest version of the Blade F16, I brought it home with me. Before you ask, this boat is fitted with all the standard gear as supplied by FCA, alloy wing mast etc., before I say any more I would like to make the following announcement.


"I will be acting as an agent for FCA, so the Blade will be available for Demos etc. I intend to participate in as many regattas as I can on the East Coast of OZ. I will be able to answer most queries regarding equipment, prices etc. soon. So look forward to answering any queries and having the boat available for Demos from the start of Sept. If you have a regatta on and want to see the Blade, just let me know when and where and I will see what I can do."

WOW! the FCA Blade is amazing in every way <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />. The standard of finish and workmanship by the hull builder Tony Barrett is amazing, I had the pleasure of seeing a partialy built boat in the factory . <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I have been involved with many Fibreglass factories since first selling sailboards for Hawke Bros. in 83'and I can say without a doubt the finish and attention to quality internaly is the best I have ever seen <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. No drops of glue or filler or drips of resin anywhere and the strength of the structure and there is lots of it inside, looks bullet proof. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Then the fit out and assembly by Marcus again WOW! I have been frusrated by how long it has taken Marcus to get the first FCA Blade F16 on the water <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. But now I can see why, the attention to detail and the number of custom made fittings and simplicity of systems is nothing but professional and of the highest standard, no wonder it has taken time, now I can say it was worth waiting for <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />. Don't get me wrong though, it was a rush at the end and some things still need finishing, but for the first sail on the first boat on the water it is well on the way. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The crews that go to Zandvoort and see the FCA Blade will be impressed I am sure.

Attached is a photo of me sailing it on a small lake in the city.

It sailed very well straight away, the light weight and volume of the hulls made sailing it very comfortable, in the very gusty shifty winds on this small lake. Helm was neutral and acceleration was amazing <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Only dark stopped me sailing, look forward to next weekend at home, can't wait. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

High flying fun! Photos look amazing, except the first one. Poor photoshop rendition. The second image looks like you are just standing on the hull. Awesome stuff!

Need decals? Let me know.

I love that mainsail - who cut it? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I believe the sail is a design that marcus has designed for the blade . but im sure when he is able to get to a computer he will be able to give you the full details.

Gary,

Any idea on what the all up weight is ?

Looks nice <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Marcus shared some pictures from the building of hull #1 earlier, and I had to ask wether the hulls were infused. The lamination work was so cleanly done that it looked as if infused. I was very impressed.

The mainsail looks like a string sail <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> You can see the mylar panel seams between battens. Hopefully we will see this technology trickle down to beachcats now.
The top batten is really long. Very aggressive angle and probably nice, full, draft in the top when you want it. Looking forward to a full report from Marcus, and completion of http://www.formulacatamarans.com/ when he comes home from Zandvoort.

Gary, was the spi also designed by Marcus? How did the sails feel? How does the boat compare to Altered?

You bringing to the brass monkey next week end and to the top gun regatta on 27/28 october.

Might be able to get a few of the ex F18 sailors wanting one

William

Hi all,

I think my boat is about 110kg. the boats after are lighter I believe.

Yes I think Marcus was involved with spinnaker design, the spinnaker was very controllable not to unstable but with a nice open leech. Main was powerful designed for Marcus 105kg. I think. Again the leech was very flat though which I like, should make it fast. Head did have some shape as Rolf said but opened up quickly.

As far as the boat, it felt very light in the water, turning easily and responding to every gust with rapid acceleration. It was a surprise for me to feel the leeward bow rise up as I trapped under spinnaker, flying a hull. I moved forward but it made little difference as the bow kept up. Nothing like "Altered" of course it didn't sink in the transoms much either. The most outstanding difference was how quickly you could turn downwind to react to the gusts under spinnaker, the location made this essential to survive even though I got a bit high some times. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

G'day All,

Mainsail on the Aussie Blade is a string sail as Rolf has mentioned.

Both sails are made by local Uk Halsey Sailmaker in Bisbane. Formula Catamarans are working very closely with UK to develope some fast & exciting sails.

Stay tuned or see you in Zandvoort later this week.

Marcus

Hope you and Phill both have a nice flight to the Netherlands, and have loads of fun at Zandvoort. I know I'll be down in southern Sweden being a responsible family father <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Looking at the pictures, I see the rudders having a profile quite similar to the Dotan Steiner models. But what really stands out is the chord of the daggerboards (and their shape of course) vs the chord of the rudders. Looks like a nice setup! Will be fun to hear how they work out under diverse conditions.

For more info on string sails (= tape drive) read the following link :

http://www.ukhalsey.com/sails/tapedrive/tapedrive.asp

Wouter

I figure they are probably more expensive than standard radial cut sails... but seems like they should be cheaper. But W TF do I know about sailmaking.

The tape drive sails can be cheaper than radial.
An example is my mosquito sail $ 1300 with battens delivered anywhere in Australia.
Get a price for a mosquito sail from Goodall, Ashby, Irwin and you may find that the UK Halsey tape drive is a good deal.
The sails are made cross cut so you get a very smooth shape. The tapes that are available in kevlar and carbon give the sail unbelievable stiffness.
I can pull on 1 mm of luff tension and see the mast bend.
They are a bit more critical in setting, but once you get the hang of the fine adjustment they are very fast.
They also hold their shap over time. I did the equivelent of 2 seasons sailing in Australian conditions and the sail is still competitive.
Some pics attached.
Regards

Chris Dean

another pic

I forgot to say they are lighter than a non- tape drive sail as well because you can use a lighter base material.

Another pic

What makes sails expensive except for the materials is the time the sailmaker use when building it. For a radial sail the sailmaker will have to cut all the panels, glue them together with double sided tape and run the seams trough a sewing machine. This is a time consuming process requiring meticulous handwork for the sail to look good. The rest of the job, fitting luff rope, edge tapes, batten pockets, reinforcements and grommets also takes time, but is the same for the two technologies.
With tapedrive and similar technologies, there are not as many panels to glue together to make the shape of the airfoil. It looks like just 5 panels in the Mozzie sail Chris posted pictures of. Once the panels are glued together, the sail is folded so it lies flat and the sailmaker walks over the sail with a battery of tape dispensers. Or the process of applying the tapes are automated in a machine, like the North 3Dr machine.
Unless the cost of the materials are far higher for a "string" sail, they should be cheaper to build. If they are not cheaper, the sailmaker either have some investments in equipment he has to write off or he wants to make more money <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
String sails should be a bit better than radial cut sail with better shape holding properties, but it's the sailors who make the sails shine. I would dearly like to have a set of string sails <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Arethe UK/Halsey tape drive sails made in china?
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think they are buildt locally, or was that the previous generation of UK string technology?

Apropos string sails. I once saw a jib made of polyethylene construction grade film and duct tape. If the tape had been 1/3 as wide as it was, it would have looked very professional. Cheap way to do a prototype jib if you want to mess around with sailmaking.

I am getting more interested in messing around. I am going to have to find something to do this winter. The problem is that I don't like that freeware program sailcut. It always shuts itself down when it doesn't like something I am doing. I imagine real sailcut software is $$$$$
another question: what would happen if you measured a professionally made sail at the battens and made a square cut copy based on that? The goal, I guess, wouldn't be to create your own sail as much as to make a quality copy of another sail.
but I digress from the thread....

Yes, we are digressing. But it's a fun topic!

Sailcut is OK. It has its shortcomings and errors, but it's getting better. You should use Sailcut CAD, the open source version, if you have used the older versions. http://www.sailcut.com/Main_Page
I have not had Sailcut CAD crash while using it. Professional design packages are expensive, but you can download a trial version of SmSw6, which is in use by Quantum and Neil Pryde. You'll not be able to save anything tough, and it's a large and complicated package.. http://autometrix.net/services/downloads-software-smsw6.htm

To make a quality copy of a sail you would have to pick it apart and copy the panels. Only this way will you know how it was designed and what the design shape was like. The next best thing is downloading Accumeasure from the UK-Halsey website and use it to determine the vitals of the sail. Spread the sail flat and determine luff curve vs. broadseaming etc. You can then guess what the design shape was like and try recreating it.
Picking a sail apart and copying the panels feels a bit like stealing if you are selling the end result. But I suppose for a private citizen doing so for his own use it is not punishable by IP laws. At least I think it is so here in Norway. I dont think the sailmaker who buildt the sail originally would be happy. You would have to do this while the sail was new, before the cloth stretched and seams settled. New sails have always been dear to me, so I have never had the heart to do so.
Just measuring draft amount and position at the battens is not enough if you want to do a "copy". Luff curve and twist designed into the sail is vital for performance, just as important as draft position and amount. E.g. we did a recut of the upper 1500mm of our mainsails luff curve some time ago now becouse the top was too flat. We started by removing 0mm 1500mm down and 12mm at the head (along a fair curve blending into the existing luff curve further down). This small change was enough to completely alter the top section of our mainsail resulting in more draft in the top section and a leech twisting off at the right moment. I would say making luff curve match mast bend properties is even more important than draft amount and position, but it all have to be perfect to be a great sail.