How would an Acat, 1 up, with a small, 13 sq mtr spin hold up in < 10-12 knts of wind and flat water. I race open and the boat is competitve over 12 knots as is, but sure could use some help in light air downwind. My main concern is the mast (Riba)Thanks for any input, Sorry if this off the subject, but it seemed relevant (no, I don't want a F-16)

I would expect that setup to work out relatively well as long as you can mount the spi gate somewhere on the mast reliably.

Wouter

Steve,

What you want is an HT.

I sail my HT singlehanded and its great, the only issue is that over 15knots you are over powered. I've toyed with getting a smaller main for the HT, but if its windy and I want to sail single I take out the Acat.

As far as an Acat for double handed, I wouldnt recommend it, everything on an Acat is built for one person and adding another full size adult is going to break stuff.

I would check out the HT in florida for $4k and then spend a couple bucks lightening it up with Carbon beams (which I would widen to 8'6") for $800 - Forte RTS,

And get a reefable sail.

Everything else is going to be a camel.

And by no means will you be able to keep an HT mast under an Acat, that will be the twitchy-est boat alive, dont do it, it will pitchpole and bury the bows at the slightest puff.

The DK as a double hander isnt something I would recommend either, its designed as an Acat, not a double hander.

I cant comment on the M18, but since they dont really exist in the US, its not an issue.

If you get some marstrom Acat hulls, pay a naval architect to work out the rig, get carbon beams from Forte, and a Hall mast to fit. Custom main. Except now you have a one off design and wont really be able to race it.

Save yourself the headache and get that HT. If you are up by me I've got one you check out.
Bill

I agree that the F18ht would be a good option, but before we ditch the A-class double trapeze concept let me present some facts!!!!

One of the boats in ICCT 2004 was a Marstrom A-class (M18) with M20 rig and 40 kg of lead in the mainbeam (to get it to measure as an F18ht) and they handled 20 knots of wind with that "beast" and had good speed on the upwind. If you throw away the lead and sail with 130-140 kg on the wire instead of 150 or whatever Booth and Dereksen weight was, you have a really cool boat. The hull needs to support 215-225 kg instead of 280kg, quite some reduction in weight, and we gain about 5 cm (2 inches) of freeboard.

Booth didn't make it to the finals but the boat stayed in one piece. I'm not sure where that boat is right now.

/hakan

/*****************************************************/
Action in the International Catamaran Challenge Trophy (ICCT) today was fast and furious, with Mitch Booth (NED) and John Lovell (USA) each taking a 3-1 lead in the Challenger and Defender Series, respectively. With southerly winds reaching 20 knots, the F18HT catamarans were at top speed, completing the four-mile courses in less than 20 minutes with boats speeds approaching 20 knots. In this event, also known as the ‘Little America’s Cup’, these high speed cats certainly outpace anything else being match raced, including IACC yachts.

“In the windier races, we were right on the edge of control,” said local-based favourite Lovell. “We capsized twice, more than usual in all my years of Tornado sailing.” Lovell and crew Charlie Ogletree (Houston, Texas) flipped once prior to a practice race when they snagged a crab trap, and once again in the second match against rival defender candidate Bob Hodges (Mandeville, La.), which cost him the lead and the match point.

“But the competition is great, we’re having tight racing, and looking forward to tomorrow.”

In the Challenger Series, the Dutch team’s score was also hard-earned, having earned the win in Match One against rivals Enrique Figueroa and Jorge Sanchez when the Puerto Ricans capsized only meters from the finish and lost a commanding lead.

“We’re learning the limitations of the boats in the fresh conditions,” said Booth. “In competition this keen, we’re pushing the boats to its limits. The interesting part of the day was learning where those limits were.”

For tomorrow, Booth says “We’re planning to be conservative to consolidate our position. We appear to be fast upwind, so we want to be first to the top mark and then defend rather than have to attack. But conditions may be different tomorrow, so we’ll have to learn the boat all over again.” This is only the second day Tornado Olympic veteran Booth and his crew Herbert Dercksen have sailed the F18HT.

I saw thew boat at Landenbergers Sailloft some years ago.
He sold everything in pieces. Heiner Wolfshöfer (Eagle) bought the rudders and the mast was sold to Andre Reymond a Swiss 18HT Sailor.
He broke the mast during round up at the leeward buoy when he capsized. This mast was very ligth (at least 3kg less weight) compared to the other 18HT masts that Marstrom has builded.

I don't know where the platform is now. But I'm sure the lead has been removed. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />