think they've recorded 16knots on 1, that's pretty quick for 14feet]

also think you'll find the handicap rating it's got, provisional, is faster than a hobie14

certainly the newer 14 foot cats would perform better than a hobie14 but how many of them seem to sail happily with 1, 2 or 3 on board and have 2 part carbon masts that are a breeze for even kids to put up?

Look at the Nacra 4.5 as a catamaran that beats the Weta on all points including price. And I think the Nacra 4.5 comes with a devided mast on request and it was first launched halveway through the 1980's. It does have an (spreaderless) aluminium mast but it shouldn't be to replace that with a carbon one if that is done in series production as is the case with the Weta.


See for details :

Nacra 4.5 (2-up- 2 sails) : http://www.schrs.com/index.php?page=class&id=135
Weta (2-up, 3 sails) : http://www.schrs.com/index.php?page=class&id=222


Actually the H14 is rated faster then the Weta unless you allow the weta to carry three sails (24 sq. mtr.) and the Hobie only 1 sail (11 sq. mtr.), but the latter is hardly a fair comparison.

Other boats coming to mind are the Hobie Wave when fitted with more then just a mainsail.


What I would like to know is how the Weta handles getting out and getting in through the surf. I know the Nacra 4.5 does fine here.

I hate to be a party pooper here, but the Weta looks like alot of fun but not really that well designed when compared to existing boats. I mean 128 kg for a 14 footer is not mindblowing is it, especially when the 1970 Hobie 14 (no carbon) was already 109 kg, Hobie wave (roto) 115 kg ?

And a 8.32 sq. mtr. mainsail, that is just a tad larger then a Laser dinghy (Wave 10 sq. mtr, nacra 4.5 13 sq. mtr). The biggest benefit to the Weta is that 13 sq.mtr. reacher sail fit that one to a Wave (as Rick White did) or a Nacra 4.5 and see a performance boost well beyond the Weta.

On the specs and video alone the Weta doesn't get there. So I guess it much be a thrill to sail in order to have it sell that well. Probably more a case of proper marketing in the way Hobie and Nacra typically get wrong.

Wouter

I'd say there are four things that help prevent pitchpoles:

1) Long high flotation bows
2) Bruce foils forward of the CE
3) T foils
4) Automatic sheet release systems

Cheers,

Whats that about long hull lengths? Right at about 2 minutes and 4 seconds

http://tinyurl.com/5lkq4e