seriously funky boat... must do a LOT better on one tack than the other. Do you figure that the one outrigger is really heavy- the equivalent of a keel?

Nope, same on each tack. It's a Pacific proa and has fore-aft symmetry athwartship. The outrigger is always to windward and you bear off and backup to tack. Not a buoy racer.

How does the ama switch sides? I read somewhere that they call it shunting. Is that what that means?

-Rob V.

Proas shunt reversing stem and stern - there is one rudder in each. I believe their best configuration is with the cabin (weight) to windward and the sails in the mainhull. Search for "harry proa".

Proas may be self righting (the one in the picture is). Conceptually the proa is lighter than any other multihull configuration. Unfortunately, proas need fore and aft hull simetry for shunting. They would be the best multihull configuration choice if it wasn't for this detail.

If you look at the website you will see that the Cabin with the main hull is always to leeward. The Ama can take on water for balasting. Up to about 500 lbs. That would be the equivalent of trapezing. It is a push me pull you configuration. Takes a while to get on the opposite tack. Great for long distances though. Taken from the old Polynesian ways. I would like to know the room below in the 33 footer.

Later,
Dan

Luiz, Jezerro is probably selfrighting to 75-80 degrees, but it can surely go over even with the pod. If it goes over, it's just as other multihulls, very stable (I suppose this was what you meant?)

There has been some argument over wether the pod is a positive or a negative. Russ obviously likes it, but others (who are into proas) think it may induce capsize instead of prevent it. I dont know but have most belief in the Harry variety.. Cool boats, but I have yet to see any in a long distance race results like Brisbane-Gladstone where it could have proven it's performance claims.

When proas are designed with that cabin protuberance to leeward and with a sealed (high flotation) mast, the idea is to make them self righting. But you are right, upside down it is even more stable.

Luiz

My dream boat is Luiz's reality boat...the Catri foil-assisted trimaran...

Mike.

Swan 601 or a Swan 46 or pretty much any Swan in the Med.

I'm curious. Why the Med?

Greg

http://www.lebreton-yachts.com/lebretonyachts.html

as an alternate: same kind of boat but a lot less expensive (actually half the price 300k vs 600k)

it is all about minimalism and no compromise on performance.

http://www.brestrider.com/home.htm

I like the lines of the Sig45 much better.

Me too.
I knew the Brestrider before the SIG45 came out. The SIG45 is definitely a better design. There are a lot of interesting innovations in it. And it looks fantatic. I would easily see a small steering pod/**** inserted on the center rear of the platform with all the instrumentation and commands.

Two words: neked girls....

Almost always a big plus!

Unfortunately, I still share your dream

But you can avoid my mistake and buy a boat ready to sail, doing no business in connection with the designer. He is broken and never finished delivering the plans. A real nightmare.

Luiz

The weather, food and of course the women.

I crewed on a Swan 60 a couple of times for my CEO at a company I worked for. Soooo Nice

Okay. Well. Hmmm.
I guess......... Sign me up!

But just so I'm clear....are these neked girls aboard or just swimmin' around the boat?
And just to be completely AMERICAN..... Do they have hairy armpits (cause that does nothing for me and the deal is off)?