I have a sight problem that maybe somebody on here could help me with. I have back in my possession a circa 75 Condor catamaran built by Zygal boats in England. The problem I have is I have some missing parts that I either need replaced or fabricated. If anybody has any parts, measurements etc please let me know. What I need is the front cross bar length as well as the front bridle height at center along with the angle going to the top of the bridle from each bow. Thanks for any help.

Brian, You might try posting at thebeachcats.com as well. I'm sure Damon at the beachcats dot com would appreciate a picture of your boat. I'd like to see what a Condor looks like myself. I suspect that someone from one of the two sites will give you your answers. Good luck!

Yes, I would. Never seen a Condor cat either. Although they are mentioned on the Irish Catsailing site.
http://www.catamaran.ie/news/1999/history.htm No pictures though.

I'll have to get ahold of a digital camera or find the pics that I used to have around here somewhere. I found that page last night myself while trying to find info on the boat. What I did find out was that the Hurricane 4.9 was basically the same boat but modified but again I can't find any pictures on the Hurricane either.

I was about to respond that I used to race against a Condor and sailed on one in the Ft. Lauderdale to Montego Bay Race, but then I finally saw the word "catamaran" and that blew out that post. The Condor I know of is a trimaran.

While you are putting pix up, also post one on our picture site.
It is located at http://www.catsailor.com/gallery/
At that point I believe all you can do is view what albums are there, except those registered users that want to keep personal albums unavailable. (Neat way to collect albums of family, friends, etc and not have them stowed in the attic, yet still private)
To post pix you have to register and give a verifiable email address. You will not be able to post until the program emails you back. At that point you can log in and upload pictures.

To get started you need to start an Album or two or more. Click on Click on and then in the box below name your album. If you want more than one, Click on again and again until you have all the Albums you want. Then click on

Then all you have to do is Click on , select the Album you want it in and click on Upload.
The size of the pix is limited to no more than 2000 x 2000.

At any rate, that is the basics.
Thanks,
Rick

After doing a LOT of hunting I did manage a obsure picture of a Hurricane 4.9 which is basically a modifed Condor. I can't tell what mods were done but the hull shape looks pretty much the same from what I can tell. Hurricane 4.9

Brian,
I got your email this morning. I was rushing so I did not answer. I took some photos of a Condor at the Club today and will get those measurments hopefully tomorrow.
The only difference between a Condor and a Hurricane 4.9 is the rig. When Reg White started building the Condor, he decided to add an extra bit of power, so he designed a larger rig, taller mast and greater sail area.
I will be in touch.
Dermot

I owe you big time Dermot! I did run across a bit of info earlier that had general measurements for both the Condor and the Hurricane and did notice that the Hurricane carried a bit more sail area. Maybe you could tell me if parts are still available for a Condor/Hurricane 4.9. If all goes well I hope to have the boat back in the water this summer. I still remember how fast the boat was especially in a heavy chop. We could be out in water that other boats couldn't due to their tendency to play submarine commander. lol

You wanna see a Condor, well don't get your hopes up. I am not used to posting Pictures, and my scanning is not too good. The quality of the pictures from old magazines and posters leaves a lot to be desired.

The Condor was designed in 1969 by John Mazzotti. ( He also designed the brilliant single hander the Unicorn - still raced, probably the first "A Cat" see www.catamaran.co.uk/unicorn/unicorn.htm ). The Condor was quite advanced for its time, but it had a series of "not so great" builders and, when the much simpler, but equally fast, Dart 18 came along, the Condor was left behind. By the time Reg White took it over it was too late, even with the Hurricane 4.9 rig.
I hope that you can find it at:
www.catsailor.com/gallery/index.php?cat=10029

Wow- those Unicorns and Condors are beauties!

They are a bit old but they still look beautiful to me. Thank you so very much for taking the time to help a Yank out. I will tell you this much though, for a boat of it's age I still think it stands the test of time. Too bad it never really hit it off very well over here because it was a fine sailing boat.

Dermot,
I was surprised that on the Unicorn website it does not say anything about the fact that the Unicorn (an A-Class cat) was a primary candidate, along with the Tornado (at that time a B-Class cat), to become the first Olympic class catamaran. One of the main requirements was that the design had to be capable of being home-built to keep the Olympics accessible and affordable.

Both boats met that requirement, but the home-building theory doesn't seem to have worked out very well for the Olympics.

I always wondered about the home built Tornado's and such myself. I'm sure with my great woodworking skills I might end up with something out of Tom Sawyer if I'm lucky.

I just got ahold of some really good Condor pictures. If you want to take a look at them they are here: Condor Pictures

That's the genuine article alright !
You can see where the extra hatchcovers have been fitted to facilitate work on the centreboard casings, which tended to leak. Mainly because they were transported on a unique road trailer. The cat faced backwards (or the back faced forward). The hulls were supported by two padded cups (sounds risqué)
in the centre of each hull and at the centre of the rear beam. This support was also the mast support. The padding on the hull supports wore away over time, and while travelling the metal ate into the hulls.
It is easy to spot the French K L beside the Condor,and the Dart launcher under the Condor but who recognised the red Dart 16 on the other side. And another yellow Dart 16 further down with its rudders in the upright position..

No, I don't know who owns the van in the background - but I bet that it has a UK reg.

While I am at it, as well as the UK and Irish Condor fleets, there was a reasonable French fleet at one time, and also for some reason, one in Cyprus.

I have added another photo to my Condor album. It shows one of the last Condors built by Reg White in 1988. It is now based in Galway Bay Sailing Club.
It also shows the trailer arrangement, although I don't think that the mast should be resting on the forebeam.
Over on the right hand side, I have just spotted the only Prindle 16 in Ireland. It is now red, but was originally yellow. It came from Canada in the early eighties in a container as personal luggage, with a Doctor (originally from England) who came to work in Ireland.
I have just had another query from someone in England, maybe we should revive this class !

Wonder what it would cost to build that boat today. It would be nice to take the hull design of the Condor and put a more modern sail plan on it. I love pipe dreams.

Scale it down to 14' and change to dagger-boards, toss 300 sq. ft. of sail on it and race in the F14 class

I think the basic hull design is fine. The only things I would update on it is the rudder design and the sail shape. One question Dermont. Where did Zygal figure into the Condor's production run?

There was (is) a Zygal Boatyard in Whitstable and Sharp Catamarans in Whitstable were the builders in 1981. I also know that there was a Condor fleet there in the Eighties. It is not far from Brightlingsea, where Reg White is based.
In 1970 a guy called Arthur Edmonds was the Condor builder and brought the first Condors to Ireland. He came over and raced against the Shearwaters to prove that the Condor was faster.