2004 Portsmouth Numbers

I like the way they split out the 'inactive' multihulls.

Anyone know what the D-Class Cat with the 53.7 rating is? (other than fast apparently?)

David Mosley
www.teamseacats.com

Picture of one

http://www.sfbama.org/photos/rocket88-l.jpg

Hi-

The D CLASS -- I think the original ISAF classifications for cat design were the A B C and D classes based on basic graduated length beam sail area specs.
This was the most logical way to compare and race various new cat design .

The A class still exists in its nearly original form though believe the original A class sail area was 170 sq ft instead of 150 now --the larger sailors would be more partial to the original -basic A specs are -single handed
150 SA 18 FT lENGTH 7.5 FT BEAM -now a 160 LB min boat weight added -
The B class -10 ft beam --20 ft lENGTH -230 S A WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE EXCELLENCE OF THE TORNADO DESIGN -for Olympic trials and has been the Olympic cat since -

C Class cats --Little Americas Cup -etc developed wings and numerous innovations in design --basic specs are
300 sq ft sail area -25 ft length -14 ft beam

The D Class specs are 32 ft L -and max 500 sq ft sail area

--The benifit of developement type classes based on basic specs are obvious in the innovative creative aspects and wonderfull boat design created as result as the current A Class exemplifies ,-
Similar Formula type class categories are a return to this basic classification for racing ,--though more limited developement in scope per each classes rule variations ,-

MFG one design classes are great too -but I for one prefer the innovation of design and modifications allowed per individual preference and creative innitiative per developement classes . The main reason multihuls were and are built !!to innovate and make them faster and safer for sailing enthusiasts that enjoy speed that multihulls can achieve.--
If OD is your main consern or objective ,-race a mono that limit speed similarly and go slow all the same --this is also indicative of the problem with Porthmouth system handicap rating ,-it works for monos to some extent due in part to limitations of monohull speed ,-but speed differences are far greater on cats and again multihulls main reason historically for being built as innovative speed sailing craft that can be developed to be continually faster and safer for those sailing them .-

In other words ,-the old Hobie 18 is great ,-but much prefer A Formula 20 with spin snuffer and my own innovations and preferred set up .

sorry -a little too wordy and opinionated --as usual

all the best
Carl

Anybody have a believable reason why the Tiger has two ratings?

Hi Keith

Best I can figure is that the Tiger class rule sets a min crew weight of 308 and uses the large spin and jib of the F18 class...

The F18 rating is based on a 325 min crew weight or carrying lead to make it up.

So... I think the rating should be faster then the F18 using the L1 rating.

What do you think!

Because the Tiger races under two sets of rules; "F-18" is the same as the Nacra F-18 and all the other F-18's on the water, and "hobie tiger one-design" is a different set of rules, cause hobie is better, don't ya know?

The Tiger races both as F18, with a slightly different set of measurements than the basic Tiger and it also races as a "class" ctamaran for which it then sails under it's "class" measurements, each attracting a different "rating.
The "D" class catamarans, under the IYRU (not the ISAF) had a variable length depending apon other factors ie sail area beam etc, the differnt lengths tended to be between 32' and even up to 40'. The 18 sq N.A.C.R.A. was a half scale version of the "D" class N.A.C.R.A. and the first off the beach N.A.C.R.A (stands for "North American catamaran Racing Assosiation") was the 5.2, which was based very closely on a scaled down version of the N.A.C.R.A. "D" class.

The IYRU also incorporated a B2 class, which was 18' LOA, 8' beam and 200 sqft of sail(s), sailed two up, two on trapeze . A very popular class in Australia for many years with several very successful designs of which the longest lived and still class sailing in good numbers today is the "Stingray"(it was also a contender in the sail off for the first Olympic representative from catamarans). although the Stingray has some years ago raised the height of their masts and increased their sail area from the original B2 class measurements.

Hi David,
Did you know that there is a presently manufactured boat that is faster than the D class boats and costs about half as much? It also has real and substantiated PNs. The boat has been around since the early 1980s. This boat is smaller than the D class boats and much lighter in weight and it doesn't require a crane to step the mast.
This boat was around during the F40 days. It is rated faster and cost 1/10th as much as the F40. Professional sailing would very likely be alive and well today if this boat had been chosen as the vehicle for competition.
Good Sailing,
Bill

You are just itchimg for some one to ask that question aren't you Bill?? you know, "eer what boat would that be BILL???" Give us all a little credit William, we're not all that dumb mate.
Darryl J Barrett

Hi Darrell,
I am not implying that anyone is dumb and certainly not David. He is a sharp guy. I guess I should have sent him a private e mail note. I only wanted to encourage him to search the US Sailing PN tables for the lowest number.
The international A, B, C and D class catamaran classes are not popular in the US. Many sailors have never heard of them.
When I returned from the Texel race in 1980 I told all my H14 and P15 sailing friends about how fast the A class cats were. They didn't want to hear about it. "Nothing could be faster than my H14 or P15", they would say. It has only been in the last 5 years or so that the A class cats have a caught on in the US. C and D cat racing in Florida is unheard of. Back in the 1960s there was some C and D class activity at the Miami YC but those guys are gone now and so are their boats.
Bill

As an aside, If you want tosee D class cats in action, there is a short segment in the 1999 Film 'The Thomas Crown Affair' - Linky to the IMDB

"unstable"...kills me. Try that much sail area on a 40' monohull and I'll show you unstable!

Indeed......

Scooby,
The catamarans in the Thomas Crown Affair movie are Formula 40s. There were two of them; I think a yellow one and a white one. Back in the 80s when these boats were new, they cost 1 million US dollars and more.
The D class catamarans, a totally different boat, are built to the international D class rules which came from the IYRU, International Yacht Racing Union. The IYRU came out with rules for A, B, C and D class catamarans back in the 1950s. The only production boat today that I know of that comes close to the D class boats or F40s in size and performance is the RC30. A 30ft boat with the same performance as the "ultimate" 40ft racer is a special boat.
Good Sailing,
Bill

There you go Bill!! you did tell us which cat it is!!!!!
(it was all in good humour Bill -made me smile anyway)
Darryl