New lightweight 20 footer launched at Texel.

Now we are talking! Should be a fast package, but they might have been better off just keeping the standard Tornado mainsail/jib combo. Perhaps something to do with the placement of the mainbeam and boards? Kite dont really look like a Tornado kite in the luff?
Change the hulls to a more modern design, and they could really be fast. It's a bit worrying that what looks like an F-18 is leading them tough <img src=

alt=

/> Or is there an explanation for that like different starts?

Funny that a Tornado pro like Herbie looks for a replacement platform for the Tornado, again.. *laughs*.

Looking forward to see how they do at Texel! Thanks for the news Wouter. Any news of the Hobie super Fox Mitch and Herbie did, or is it gathering dust somewhere?

Mischa Heemskerk is sailing the F18 ?

Personally I think the Volvo Extreme 20 spi looks a bit weird, even when compared to the F18 spi.

Still these VE-20's have done very well in the light winds races during this years TDO (Texel Dutch Open). Still, with the TDO completed now only team Heemskerk, Tentij (Nacra Infusion) and Styles/Crawford (nacra Infusion) are fighting for 1st place. So on handicap the VE-20 is now lower on the results listing. Not much lower I suspect however.

Yep, I'm still favouring the Blade 20 design; also with the Tornado rig. But this will be no surprise.

I only heard about that boat once at a previous round texel and never since. So I guess it is gethering dust. The hullshape of the Fox is not sufficiently well done and this will only get worse when you make it lighter. It is too fat in the middle and rides with its bow too high out of the water, having the keel line push all the water a side (blunt entry) instead of the sharp bow section. This VE-20 approach to the ultimate 20 footer seems like a much more promising pathway to me.

Wouter

Does this actually exist? Rumors go back at least two years.

Mark.

It does exist in design. It was on hold for some time awaiting the results of the Blade F18 design. With these experiences and the those of the F16 it is hoped that the Blade 20 design can be done first time right, or at least very close to it.

I'm told that finding the time and money to prototype it is what's keeping it on the drawing board.

This is always the most difficult hurdle to make next to finding a commercial producer willing to take the plunge.

Wouter

Is there a Blade F18 being produced?

Such a thing does at least exist, but I'm aware of no evidence that they're actually in production.

http://www.formulacatamarans.com/

nope.

Jake,
Your right, not yet.

Formula Catamarans of South Australia are currently putting the F16 into production.
I think the first one should be sailing around the end of the week.
Once that is moving along smoothly they will start the F18.

Regards,
Phill

Good stuff Phill. I'm just now hearing of this. What would the target weight of the design be? Is it intended for the F18 (400 LB) class or would it be a light boat like the Blade F-16? Thanks. Ed

Ed,
The Blade F18 is a class legal F18 in every way including weight.

On the other hand the 20 will be light.

Not as light as the VE20 but probably lighter than a Tornado.

Regards,
Phill

Wouter,
What has happened to the planing cats displayed last year at the Paris boat show (2 years ago?). The one with the seaplane steps in their hulls?
Any evidence for these designs at Texel? Anywhere else in the Euro world?

I know of an F18 that is starting to take shape. Interesting hull shape.

All efforts to produce a planing beach catamaran (under 22 feet) have came to an end.

Only Yves Parlier is still trying to proof the concept on his 60 ft racing cat.

As far as I know (but I could be wrong) both Ventilo and Mattia have stopped producing the 16 and 18 footers that used this planing hullshape. Reason are unknown to me but I can guess.

Wouter

My Stealth F16 does something that feels something like planing at times. Is it

real

planing in the fasion of

overtaking the bow wave

, I dunno, but it does

come unstuck

at times and go.

Not sure I could call it

planing

; but something IS happening.....

In 20 knots, it sure didn't feel like much of the Blade F16 was in the water. On the Cap, it still feels like the bow is working, even in big air. Definitely, the Blade felt different, IMO.

Does this

new

20 ft boat have a beam of 10ft?

My comments at this time are limited to hull designs that show considerable modification towards planing. I'm thinking off a seaplane keel line or steps in the hulls. All things you don't see on conventional hulls. All those experiments have come to a hold as far as I know.

With regard to very flat keel lines like the Stealth, I don't know myself what is happening there or how to call it. So my comments don't apply to those types of hulls.

Wouter