ISAF have published the specification for the 2016 Olympic Multihull:
ISAF request
Hobie 16 with spin anyone?
Discuss......................
ISAF request
Hobie 16 with spin anyone?
Discuss......................
2016 Olympic Multihull
- Thread starter jalani
- Start date
Presuming Ed
Super Anarchist
Handy timing....
Tcatman
Super Anarchist
er.... Fail..
Needs a two part mast so that it fits into a 20 foot container... (oh and saves the owners from electrocuting themselves)
Hobie 16 with USA comptip and a spin! is the ONLY boat in production today that fits their criteria....
Needs a two part mast so that it fits into a 20 foot container... (oh and saves the owners from electrocuting themselves)
Hobie 16 with USA comptip and a spin! is the ONLY boat in production today that fits their criteria....
Tcatman
Super Anarchist
I think Riba made two part masts for the Bim 18HT's that made it to the USA... That is from memory though... so I could be wrong... It was thought of as a good stiff mast.
Hatin' life
Super Anarchist
F18 Sailor
Super Anarchist
Anything can be built that is stiff enough and light enough if you are willing to pay the engineers to design it and the manufacturer to build it!
The H16 is a great boat, no denying that, but it isn't a modern spin boat. I'd much rather see a F16/F18/F20 derivative than a retrofitted H16. Even the H16 doesn't really meet this criteria, the comptip doesn't easily come off and is a performance killer anyway. Really I think a one-design F16 or F18 w/ curved foils (not an existing production boat) makes a lot of sense. Don't use an existing production boat that kills the class, but design something that is similar enough to those boats that training in the main F16/F18 fleet will directly correlate to the Olympic platform. Just my 2 cents.
The H16 is a great boat, no denying that, but it isn't a modern spin boat. I'd much rather see a F16/F18/F20 derivative than a retrofitted H16. Even the H16 doesn't really meet this criteria, the comptip doesn't easily come off and is a performance killer anyway. Really I think a one-design F16 or F18 w/ curved foils (not an existing production boat) makes a lot of sense. Don't use an existing production boat that kills the class, but design something that is similar enough to those boats that training in the main F16/F18 fleet will directly correlate to the Olympic platform. Just my 2 cents.
SimonN
Super Anarchist
It won't be an H16. It fails on too many scores and when it lines up against any modern cat of the same size, I cannot see how any sailor would vote for it. The only thing it has going for it is the numbers and ISAF is used to backing new classes so that won't be an issue.
I suspect it will be a one design F16. I am sure that all the big players will be able to produce a 2 piece mast without any problems. However, i suspect that requirement is the one least likely to influence the class chosen. My money would be on the C2, becaus ethere are enough around to "seed" the growth and because of who will be promoting it, assuming that Bundy can get some time off from Oracle Racing. And, of course, because it is well proven and succesful already.
I suspect it will be a one design F16. I am sure that all the big players will be able to produce a 2 piece mast without any problems. However, i suspect that requirement is the one least likely to influence the class chosen. My money would be on the C2, becaus ethere are enough around to "seed" the growth and because of who will be promoting it, assuming that Bundy can get some time off from Oracle Racing. And, of course, because it is well proven and succesful already.
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o30_oldschool
o30_Oldschool
"it is desired that the sailors combined weight will be within the 120-140 kg range"
I guess that counts me out. 280 pounds for a combined crew weight? Does not really sound like a mixed gender boat to me.
I guess that counts me out. 280 pounds for a combined crew weight? Does not really sound like a mixed gender boat to me.
Foghorn77
Super Anarchist
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F18 Sailor
Super Anarchist
The insulated mast requirement is pretty stupid. Outside of that, a carbon masted Viper or Nacra F16 would be a good candidate. Crew weight limit is pretty low but there are some <140 lb male skippers out there.
SimonN
Super Anarchist
mmmmm Carbon Mast....... They make an awesome sound when they go pop, especially the two piece ones. Just ask a windsurfer. Awesome quick though. I'd love to have one on my C2.
F18 Front Runners:
Phantom (with curved boards)
Cirrus R
C2
Nacra
Wildcat
Windrush Edge
Shockwave
F16 Front Runners
Viper
Nacra
Sleeper
Marstrom
Any of these guys could put together a variation of their Formula boats - curved boards, carbon beams, carbon mast etc to take it outside the formula class. In some of the instances they'll make them stronger and more durable. Good things for the cat class. We'll see some good innovation from this that will feed to the production boats....I hope!
SimonN
Super Anarchist
Do you really think they will go for an F18? Doesn't it really need more weight than their target? They won't want a boat that everybody sails close to the max intended range.
As I have said before: each time a class gains Olympic status the target weights for that class drop by around 7-8kg per athlete. So if you are competitive in a class currently at 120kg you will be too heavy after a season at Olympic level.
Better skills mean less weight required.
So an f18 sized boat would be fine at Olympic level with those target weights. We have seen teams competitive at 140kg in the fleet right now, so subtract the "Olympic weight" and you are bang on target.
Remember, this is the Olympics, and the boat should be challenging at this level.
Better skills mean less weight required.
So an f18 sized boat would be fine at Olympic level with those target weights. We have seen teams competitive at 140kg in the fleet right now, so subtract the "Olympic weight" and you are bang on target.
Remember, this is the Olympics, and the boat should be challenging at this level.
Tcatman
Super Anarchist
My read of the ISAF tea leaves is that they want a boat with a similar market as the laser and windsurfer. I think the America Cup has changed the world. They want a focus on the sailors and countries from around the world... I think they go low end... not high tech. The competition is already weird... with Mixed Multihull. This event will be interesting every 4 years and simply blend into the background during the interim.. This class won't lead the technology innovation as the Tornado once did.
I am curious what language or inside info that you point to which leads to a cool high tech boat as the choice.
I am curious what language or inside info that you point to which leads to a cool high tech boat as the choice.
If the weight is at the 120-140kg range then an F18 "style" boat will fit. An F16 will be too small. We sailed a combined regatta with F16's and F18's in Western Australia last year. Guys that were top five in the Tornado worlds (Brett and Ryan) were on an F18 and the Hill girls (current Hobie 16 womens world champs) were on a Viper. In the light stuff they were incredibly quick and would have been even quicker on an F18. Anyone thinking that an F18 without enough weight won't be fast is kidding themselves. They'll just keep depowering to keep rolling, you can't do that if you're too heavy. Weight is king.
It will be interesting to see if they'll have a designated minimum weight for crews. A preferred weight range is specified in this document.... doesn't mean it will be enforced for the olympics.
Lets see what they do.
Lost in Translation
Super Anarchist
The women's skiff request was published too and looks similar with the exception of the requirement for a two part mast. Seems the committee believes the cat can have a two part mast more easily than the women's skiff. Ironically the 49er has a two part mast, but I don't think it can be easily separated once the external track is installed (at least the old masts had a glued on track).
