I had to look twice at this...

mrming

mrming

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The underneath of Wild Oats XI - count 'em: bow centerboard, twin daggerboards amidships, canting keel and spade rudder (!). That's 5. What have I missed?
 
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Woodlouse said:
Thats another rudder at the bow, not a centre board.
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I've been trying to piece all the info together but they keep modifying her and it's difficult to keep up with!

According to the link below, it is in fact a bow centreboard (also answers my question about the DSS):

http://www.vsail.info/2013/12/16/rolex-sydney-hobart-wild-oats-xi-gets-a-lift/

The retractable bow centreboard is still there from last year, as are the twin daggerboards angling out on either side just ahead of the mast, and the tiny winglets on the giant bulb hanging from her slender canting keel.

But now, just behind the daggerboards is a horizontal foil, which when extended, sticks out about 2 metres from the side just below the waterline.

Like the other small foils, the stabiliser is retractable, sitting in a sheath across the interior of the hull. It is only when Wild Oats XI gets above 20 knots downwind that the stabiliser will be put into play on one side or the other, depending whether she is on port or starboard gybe.
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The DSS is fascinating stuff. If you can be tempted to wander into the bearpit that is Anarchy there is a thread that runs for pages of mostly interesting posts.

I think Wild Oats is something of a test bed for the system in bigger boats, as they're only talking about using it a high speeds downwind, whereas the boats designed for it are using it in anything except light winds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksDTRR1HhsI

Could be fascinating for use in Ocean cruisers. Although there may be a problem with growth in the "trunk".
 
mrming said:
It is actually a centreboard I think - see above.

Only 9 days to the Sydney Hobart when she'll be up against the new Beau Geste and three VO70s. Can't wait to see how that turns out!
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As you say it's tricky to determine. Some pages report it as a rudder, others a centreboard.

Anyway, it's going to be a cracking race and there are a lot of potential winners. The ex Speedboat is going to be the boat to beat I think.
 
flaming said:
The DSS is fascinating stuff. If you can be tempted to wander into the bearpit that is Anarchy there is a thread that runs for pages of mostly interesting posts.

I think Wild Oats is something of a test bed for the system in bigger boats, as they're only talking about using it a high speeds downwind, whereas the boats designed for it are using it in anything except light winds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksDTRR1HhsI

Could be fascinating for use in Ocean cruisers. Although there may be a problem with growth in the "trunk".
Click to expand...

It's Hugh Wellbourn's invention isn't it? I used to race against one of his old half tonners called Chia Chia. Lovely boat.

DSS is indeed very cool - particularly in this context. I can say as the owner of a swing keel boat that growth in the "trunk" will definitely be an issue. Among other life, I found a full size prawn in my keel case when I dropped the keel out for maintenance the other week. I have no clue how that got there.

As the foil isn't ballasted, maybe slide it out and blast through the trunk with a pressure washer occasionally?

Woodlouse said:
As you say it's tricky to determine. Some pages report it as a rudder, others a centreboard.

Anyway, it's going to be a cracking race and there are a lot of potential winners. The ex Speedboat is going to be the boat to beat I think.
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It does look like a rudder alright - like the "canards" that were briefly popular at the end of IOR / start of IMS.
 
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I see a photo reshoot of that Hugo Boss one

That is so cool. Add a hinged flappy bit to its aft edge as some self steering aux rudders do and it ' may be possible to dynamically adjust for roll even as it happens

Remember when Credit Agricole was ' radically different'? Only a few years back now!
 
The bow dagger board is a great idea. Back in the 70s I had one (actually behind the CLR rather than in front). By raising or lowering it I could add or subtract weather helm and when I lost steering I was able to sail back 800 miles using the board to adjust the course anywhere from close hauled to broad reach. No need for unreliable jury rudders.
 
snowleopard said:
The bow dagger board is a great idea. Back in the 70s I had one (actually behind the CLR rather than in front). By raising or lowering it I could add or subtract weather helm and when I lost steering I was able to sail back 800 miles using the board to adjust the course anywhere from close hauled to broad reach. No need for unreliable jury rudders.
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Brilliant. I hadn't thought of that use for it. What size / type was the boat? Presumably it can't take you through a tack or gybe?
 
mrming said:
Brilliant. I hadn't thought of that use for it. What size / type was the boat? Presumably it can't take you through a tack or gybe?
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I've still got one in the cockpit. It kills weather helm upwind, and combined with a raked back centreboard, AB is on rails downwind.
Not difficult to make either.
 
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