Mattia & Cecco, an Italian catamaran boatyard well known in Europe for its Mattia S and Mattia Formula 18 designs, has decided to start producing 18HT catamarans.
This decision is surprising since Mattia & Cecco was a founder and has been so far a strong supporter of the Formula 18 class and has done its best to boycott the development of the 18HT class.
The prototype of the Mattia 18HT will be shown at Geneve Boat Show.
Photos of the new cat at:

http://forum.myphorum.de/read.php?f=12763&i=4338&t=4338

Hi Catfan

I don't know anything about a 18HT boykott of mattia!?
But it is exiting for us, to have another strong and well established manufacture on board!

The new boat is still in the prototype state.
There will be two prototypes build, one will be sailed from Jean Richard ( h2o-sensations ) and the other one from us - Team Ost

Good sailing Andi

Good Lord! Look at the rocker!

A little (only a little) of that rocker looks like "fish eye lens" effect from the camera? look at the lines in the back ground and foreground.

The reason why Mattia decided to enter the 18HT class is that they actually sell very few Formula 18.
On the contrary, before the launch of the Hobie Tiger, they were the biggest producer worldwide of Formula 18 cats.
I suspect also that the 18HT project is not new, but "recycled":
Mattia 18HT bow resembles very closely the one of the Laval Jeantot designed Mattia Dynacat.
Th remaining parts come from different sources: the mast from RIBA (the same of BIMARE Javelin 2), the rudder from Dotan (they look very heavy) etc.
I am ready to bet that this boat will be a "fiasco".

Why is that? Becouse you think the hull-shape looks slow, becouse it's a half hearted effort, becouse the designer is unknown?? Please explain why you think it's going to be a fiasco, it can't all be based on the rudders

How the hell can they look heavy....

Do they look like they are made from lead painted black and not Carbon.


No-one would make a boat that is over the minimum class measurement would they ? I would not....

http://www.dotan.com/rudder_25/

Stock & arm = 1kg = 2,25lbs
Rudder = 1,5kg = 3,375lbs
Total weight = 5kg per rudder set complete, just add crossbar.

Heavy ? yes, if you`re used to A-class numbers.
No, if you`re a Tigger sailor.

But then, they LOOK heavy , and looks are everything.

Hi Catfan

The reason why they have choosen to start with the RIBA mast is because the mast is very well known and fast.
The boat will come with Landy-Sails which will make it even faster .

You think the hull is looking slow and old fashion?
The hull is derived from the Mattia S, which has a similar underwater shape like Cirrus (F18 Worldchampion, 2003!) and is actually very fast. It has nothing to do with the Dyncat, which has a stepped underwater shape and an edge on one side. The boat has allot of rocker, which will help in the lower wind range, but it has also allot of volume in the bows, more than my old ventilo. So it can can be pushed very hard in strong winds. It will also be right at the minimum weight.
How come you say the dotan rudders look heavy!? Despite of the heavy look, two US teams have choosen to change their rudder system from there stock bimare system to the dotan's. (according dotan's website..)

Fiasco? No way! What ever, the truth will be on the water and allot depends on the sailors too!
The ones like Daniele Saragoni and Matteo Monti are hard to beat anyway!

We will see and it will be fun

We dont know it's Dotan rudders. The rudderheads are not like the Dotan heads I have seen earlier, and the foil shape can be anything..
I dont think they would put heavy rudders on a 18HT, unless they are trying to bring the boat up to min. weight, that would be silly..

Post deleted by Rolf_Nilsen

Hi Rolf, check the link I gave :
Definitely look like Dotans, or a good copy.
Rudder 25, Blade 1A, Steiner profile.
We have the 20 series rudders on the Mosquito`s, weigh 1.8kg incl. stock and steering arm. Very nice rudders, I have no complaints so far.

One advantage between the standard bimare-ruddersystem and the dotans is, that the dotan rudders kickup, when running against some wood or a ground.
But the Bimare rudders are very light, do have a good section which is very hard to stall.

Hi Guys,

I'm Glad to see that many people have many advises on our new launched 18HT Catamaran.

I'm Also glad to read that our boat will be a "Fiasco", I did not know about it, now I'm informed.

Let me introduce my self, I'm Jean-Richard Minardi from H2O-Sensations, Swiss Dealer for MattiaSport. I've been one of the responsible of this project.

One think which is sure, professional people have been involved in that project, I do not think that Enrico Contreas nor Andrew Landenberger are not used to sailing and competition.

Let me add that I do not believe that we need to create a boat from scratch to launch a new boat. Is it better to always try re-inventing the wheel, or try good product of the industry?

Now if a prototype is a fiasco on it self... then, only the person who will have the priviledge to sail it would have the honor to say so.

Many people would love to test it... unfortunatelly for them, they will have to wait for the 1st production boat... and this boat will come on the market soon.

By the way, MattiaSport has never said "Never a 18HT". Second, the development of the 18HT has been created on the impulse of the Swiss Market which is at the antipodes of the European Market which is effectively running F18 formula. For information, with a good team (Jeremy and Thiebaut), in 2004 MattiaSport and it's F18 was 10th at the world championship. I agree with Andy... people will make the difference, hopefully.

Now if you have any query, demand, feel free to contact me directly. I'll be glad to provide you more information (if possible) on our new baby.

Best Regards to all of you and keep enjoying sailing.
Regards,
Jr

Jr,

Thank you for jumping in here! I think it's a very interesting looking boat and look forward to hearing how it behaves.

Jake

Dear Jake,

I'll provide feedbacks with pleasure.

Regards,
Jr

Dear All,

I need to mention that Rudders are not Dotan copy. They are effectively Dotan rudders.

As the boat has not touch the water yet, it is absolutely not possible to say that tour choice is good nor wrong.
Nevertheless, if we choosed these rudders, while having our own home made blades, it maybe for good reasons isn'it. Then with the test that have been done in Italy with the MattiaSport S, the development director choosed Dotan for our prototype.

One more information, Mattia & Cecco is building Cruising Catamaran while MattiaSport isi building since a year now Sport Catamaran. Engineer is still Enrico Contreas.

Regards to all,
Jr

I hope to be able to test the boat this week-end (if snow, announced, is not coming...).

Regards,
Jr

Dear All,

Please find at H²O-Sensations web site pictures of the first sailing day for the MattiaSport 18HT prototype.

Looks promising...

Regards,
Jr

http://www.h2o-sensations.com

WOW.....Awesome Scenery and a nice looking boat Too!!!