40' Bucket List's first sail

[rob denney]

Launched it a couple of weeks ago, weighed 500 kgs/1,100 lbs ready to sail. Sailed it on Sunday in less than 10 knots breeze and only the deep reefed (21 sqm/220 sq') mainsail with a slipping halyard, so top speed was 6 knots.

The telescoping mast (3 x 6m/20' lengths) and the beam mounted rudders (no daggerboards) worked well enough to continue development. Video etc at http://harryproa.com/?cat=2. The next couple of weeks will be spent making all the temporary strings permanent, and buying the rest of the sail prior to starting racing.

 

[garvellachs]

Interesting project Rob - thanks for the post. Someone in a RIB with a video camera or a drone would give you some great footage?

 

[Racecruiser]

Next the 60 footer perhaps - good luck with it all.

 

[wotayottie]

keep us posted!

 

[davidej]

Have I got this wrong or do you have the rudders on the front beam?

Lateral thinking _ Yes?

 

[rob denney]

The rudders are mounted on the beams. They are oversized so no daggerboards or keels are required. The rudders kick up in a collision and can be lifted for balance. In the video they are both lifted as the sail area is reduced.

The advantages of beam mounted rudders is that there are no holes in the hull, the hulls are not damaged in a grounding or UFO incident and they are visible and easily cleared of weed, etc. Downside is that they are surface piercing foils which are theoretically less efficient, but this has not been a noticable problem on any of the other harryproas (or boats with stern hung rudders, foilers or cats flying a hull) that have used it.

The advantages of fore and aft rudders are that they turn the boat much quicker than stern mounted rudders. They can also be used in tandem to crab the boat sideways. This works well for getting off docks against the wind and for making "negative leeway" to squeeze to windward of an opponent or to lay a mark.

There is some more information on Bucket List at http://harryproa.com/?p=1751#more-1751 and a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttXu3pRTzs8

The "to do" list is nearly finished, should be sailing again next week.

 

[rob denney]

For an update see http://harryproa.com/?p=424

 

[rob denney]

Foiling http://harryproa.com/?p=424