Heard a story today about a Weta (http://www.wetamarine.co.nz/specs.shtml) being faster in a strong-wind regatta than an F-16 cat. Source did not know if this was on corrected time or first to the finish, so take if for what it's worth (not much in my opinion).
Anybody know which regatta this might be and the full story behind it? Looking at the spec of the Weta I cant help but think that there must be more to the story.

I'd be surprised. The videos I've seen gave me the impression that the Weta has a tendency to trip over the outer hull at speed. I can't find the video I'm thinking of. There was one taken on Lake Pupuke but it doesn't seem to be on their website. Maybe I saw it somewhere else.

Got a reference: http://www.shanghaibyc.org/upload/SBYCNewsletter070520.pdf

Obviously the Weta won on handicap, with Dirk (dont we know him?) at the helm and with an experimental handicap. Looks like the story was told without checking facts to well.

I think the Weta looks like a nice boat. It might have some appeal as there are probably many who thinks trapeezing off the side of a cat is too extreme. Still, I think I'll keep to the F-16 <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

They obviously did not plan on selling into the Spanish speaking world when they came up with this name. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

We know Dirk indeed,

When I read the race report it says the F16's started 70-48 = 22 minutes behind the weta's. T the finish line the F16 was 1 min 15 sec behing the first boat (a weta) sailed by Dirk. In short it was a staggered start were the start time was relative to your handicap. This some impressive speed by the weta though ! 21 minutes lost during 150 minutes of sailing = only 14 Texel handicap points slower then the F16's.

The weta's Texel handicap is about 130 so the weta did sail alot faster then its rating or the F16's sailed alot slower then their ratings.

Wouter

However it makes perfect sense to a NZer! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Looks like that Hobie thingey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHpJJNGmMVg

Boy, they really need to put much larger Ama's on that thing if they are going to race it in that much wind. It does look fast...when it's upright, but as I've said before, swimming is slow. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

And did you see how quickly it went turtle? How do they right it after that happens? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Looked quite good in that wind as a uni and just silly with the reacher.
I'd rather hyke off an H17.

After seeing that video, I agree, there needs to be alot more volume in the ama's. You can even see the ama being completely pushed under (capsize) when being loaded up upwind.

Submerging the ama's that far and that quickly when broad reaching can indeed only end in a pitchpole. Nothing stops a sailboat then dragggin a 2.5 inch tube with attached trampoline through the water.

Basically a nice concept but it could do with a few refinements here and there.

Wouter

The should replace those little amas with hulls off a Blade, then you would see it fly!

have you checked the spec on the weta ??

its got no sail !!!!!!
its very short

and they craftily don't give its all up weight .

Praps it can win on handicap , but so too can an optimist !

Its hardly worthy of consideration against a highly developed powered up cat

looks more like a "fun boat " for beginers to mess around with - 14.5m sail area TOTAL for off wind , thats smaller than most cats spin alone !!!!

hare and tortoise spring to mind .

as for
"The should replace those little amas with hulls off a Blade, then you would see it fly! "


yeah and get rid of the middle hull , throw away the toytown rig and fit a f16 rig and then it will fly !

Chill Codblow, it was a joke. Nobody's going to waste a good F16 on that thing. I have seen several plastic trimarans and they all suffer from ama's that are just too small when the wind is blowing, including that Hobie thing with the foot pedals.

Wasnt the Hobue thing with pedals a trifoiler? Why have big amas on a foiler or is there another thingy to steer with your feet

Two different Hobie thingys. They do make a tri foiler but I was talking about their pedal kyak with sail rig and amas, wich are much too small in a good breeze.

He means the Adventure Island