Shunting a Proa, the full Video, Balkan Style....

[rael dobkins]

Thank you for the video. All is clear to me now. My error: I thought that the smaller hull (aka?) was downwind.
Good shunting.

Ama to windward is a Pacific Proa.
Ama to leeward is an Atlantic Proa, these were invented by Dick Newick, when he designed Proa Cheers which shocked the world in 1968 during the Ostar race...

anyway, these Atlantic Proas have more RM so are faster, yet are unforgiving once cought aback, meaning ama to the wind, they capsize quickly. Newick capsized while testing, so he designed the leepod, again proving he was a genius that couldn't be stopped.... I too have a leepod, so do many modern proas.

The problem with Atlantic Proas is they are compression vessels, pressing down on the ama loading the akas ( cross beams that connect the hulls), Pacific Proas on the other hand are tension vessels, these lift the ama, so they don't load the akas, all stresses are tension loads that go into the shroud.
These are the strongest of multies, yet they have the least RM of all, making them the hardest to sail fast. This problem is solved by moving crew or gear to windward, some modern proas have water ballast in their amas, so they just pump sea water into the ama as ballast.

Keep Shunting mate
Balkan Shipyards

 

[dunedin]

…….

Small hull is always to windward! these craft are the only ones that sail with the same side always to the wind.

But is it always ? Cheers, amongst others, always had the small hull to leeward - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Project-Cheers-Jim-Morris/dp/1523961163

 

[rael dobkins]

But is it always ? Cheers, amongst others, always had the small hull to leeward - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Project-Cheers-Jim-Morris/dp/1523961163

Cheers was an Atlantic Proa, Vaka to windward, always.

Pacific Proas are Ama to windward, always.

Keep Shunting
Balkan Shipyards

 

[iamtjc]

Saw a couple of Proas in France this year. Couldn't work out the push-me-pull-you look of the first one.

 

[rael dobkins]

Saw a couple of Proas in France this year. Couldn't work out the push-me-pull-you look of the first one.
View attachment 181421

View attachment 181422

If the rig confused you, I suppose they just moved the sails out of the way for living onboard while at anchor... They just cleared mid ship, by turning the sails opposite each other, though when sailing they Will both go aft.

Both interesting, by the small ama's I assume both are Pacific, the second one looks like it has a Balestron rig, yet still has shrouds to the ama, these rigs are unstayed, yet here the builder rightfully added a shroud, keeping the vessel simpler, lighter and much stronger...

Thanks for sharing, great stuff!!!

Keep Shunting,
Balkan Shipyards