picture says more then words.



It is a simple pop in which the mast is placed. I know it looks really fragile and stuff but it really isn't. That is as long as we keep the rig relatively small. 6 sq. mtr should be fine as that is exactly what this Standard landyacht of the picture is using. These cars are 2.6 wide and are pulling on one wheel by the rig. This all comes pretty close to what we are intending to do with the F12 in the way of loading and stresses.

http://www.char-a-voile.com/franc2/seagull.html




I'm not really sure what you trying to say here. I don't think the F12 is intended to have "side" beams. Additionally round alu tubing is very easy to get and inexpensive the world over. Two things I'm directly after for this design.





I would really love this boat to have pivoting daggerboards to optimize its upwind potential. But the real race will be to get down to 50 kg ready to sail and pivoting boards will add about 5 to 6 kg to the boat. That is a quick and easy safe if we go for skegs. Also the need for kids to sail in really shallow water was reiterated by Phill and I think he is right there. Skegs are much better here and it really does simplify things both in construction and cost. Finally I thought lets try to make it work with skegs, we can always add the daggerboards later is so required, for the moment we can also use oversized rudders and get some pointing performance out of them like the Supercats are doing. It is worth a try to start out with skegs. At least that is my opinion.





My choice would be to make the platform with two rudders and a crossbar + a single tiller extension. Just as a normal catamaran. In effect make it look as much as a normal catamaran, as Taipanmatt said. Additionally I want the large rudder area to help boost pointing. This is a real possibility as the rig will indeed bend far backwards when sheeted tight. Making the centre-of-effort point lay close to the rudders.

I'm still undecided where the crossbar will be.




Yes, class 5 sails are rather expensive but that is because those are quotes of competitive sails in a class that is rather popular on French beaches. The design of the sail however is not that difficult at all nor is making it. Because of the very large mast bend the whole design of the mainsail revolved around having the right luff curve. This is actually very large and so such sails can be copied relatively easily if you know what to look for. I ones brought my landyacht sail to a sailmaker and he said he would copy it for maybe 150 bucks (excl. new battens). However I would certain try making such a copy myself. There really isn't that much too it. And with the sleeved design it is also relatively easy to adjust the luff curve at a later time.

I don't think the mainsail is a realy problem either construction wise or money wise. Once a good cut has been found then it is just copying this design by some Hong Kong sweat shop.

Wouter