Irens A-65

[[email protected]]

This is a concept I read about years ago, and looked forward to hearing more about... well, I still haven't heard anything more, and my google skills aren't helping. 

60'+ cats don't usually catch my attention, or at lease hold it. They're just beyond any sort of reality for me, and too foccussed on accommodation. But from what I can see, this is cool - sorta like a scaled up Gougeon 32. Well, I think so.

Does anyone know what she's doing these days? I can't imagine  she was a complete failure, or she'd have been taken off the Irens web page.

 

[SVNeko]

looks like a wet ride

 

[Russell Brown]

looks like a wet ride

Funny though, the G-32 is the amazingly dry even though it looks wet.

 

[he b gb]

Wow! That is now my dreamboat 

 

[Rasputin22]

I think that cat of Nigel's is named ALLEGRA built in the Emirates. I have some photos of it as I was studying the mast rotation and jacking system.

 

[can-UK]

She’s in Port Rashid Marina in Dubai.

The boat is very narrow for its length.  I assume this is to encourage early hull flying.

https://enata.com/product/gtcat

 

[SeaGul]

 "It is a tamed racing catamaran with an ultra-lightweight interior and a high specification. It is meant to fly a hull in 12 knots of wind, whilst still being easy to handle. "

"Part of the secret to the boat’s performance is that, like all Irens-Cabaret designed record breaking trimarans of the last decade - from Ellen MacArthur’s B&Q trimaran to Francis Joyon’s IDEC and Thomas Coville’s Sodebo, the GTcat 66 has very slim hulls and is long for her beam. “Long slender hulls have less drag,” which is a fundamental philosophy Nigel has pushed throughout his long career in designing multihulls. "

Yes on trimarans thats works well - but a narrow cat that is intended to fly a hull very early - isnt that very easy to capsize? Like the narrow Reynolds 33 - didnt get a good reputation?  

 

[[email protected]]

She’s in Port Rashid Marina in Dubai.

The boat is very narrow for its length.  I assume this is to encourage early hull flying.

https://enata.com/product/gtcat

Narrow for length, or long for beam?

Yes on trimarans thats works well - but a narrow cat that is intended to fly a hull very early - isnt that very easy to capsize? Like the narrow Reynolds 33 - didnt get a good reputation?  

As I said, to me its sorta like a scaled up G32. Not having sailed one, I'll defer to those who have. 

 

[can-UK]

She’s narrow for her length… like a G32.

I’m pretty sure the G32 had 1) a masthead float and 2) the ability to self right from a capsize..   This boat has neither. 

Though it is based in Dubai which has predominantly light winds.. so less of a risk of capsizing.

The boat looks great in person… looks fun to sail.  I’d love to see it on the race course against my trimaran.

The “front tiller” is interesting.  I wonder how much visibility you have tiller steering in front of the cabin house.

 

[ProaSailor]

She’s narrow for her length… like a G32.

I’m pretty sure the G32 had 1) a masthead float and 2) the ability to self right from a capsize..   This boat has neither. 

Though it is based in Dubai which has predominantly light winds.. so less of a risk of capsizing.

At 12.5 tons "Full load", this boat has inertia in her favor, meaning it will be slower to respond to wind gusts.  Looks great!

 

[SeaGul]

With the long hulls it not so fast to head up in a gust - need to adjust the sails instead - and narrow beam means the healing will be noticable at one hull.  

 

[guerdon]

wow

 

[mpenman]

not a boat for world cruising.

nothing on that boat layout spells simplicity.

no solar either........

nothing on that boat makes me go wow, just the opposite.

 

[MultiThom]

not a boat for world cruising.tnothing on that boat layout spells simplicity.

no solar either........

nothing on that boat makes me go wow, just the opposite.

Looks pretty simple to sail to me-motorized mainsail hoist, self tacking jib, roller furled gennaker.  Don't need solar for a day cruiser (note it is in a marina with shore power).  True it isn't set up for world cruising, that's not its niche.  I think it looks great and probably is a lot of fun in the right breeze. Love the hull form especially the float stern (of course, that's what my boat transom looks like since also a Nigel Irens although much smaller).   Dunno why they want horses on their sails, though. I'd buy one if I was younger but as others have pointed out, it probably wouldn't fare well in the bigger winds I see in SF Bay.   

 

[bushsailor]

looks pretty impressive to me.

Beam is still 8m so it will have the same righting moment as any other 12 ton 8m wide boat. Just have to reef earlier when cruising.

Its motion at sea will be very good with the narrower beam as well. Also down wind she will handle beautifully with the narrower beam.

 

[PIL66 - XL2]

All looks nice and quick but I personally see no reason for a narrow boat unless built for cheap berthing like a Reynolds 33 (narrow beam 14ft..?) It's a one trick pony for day use.  Beam = safety.
It's a bit like Atomic https://www.yoti.com.au/listing/mbd-50-atomic
Obscene money for a day sailor but if you've got it................ 

 

[SeaGul]

All looks nice and quick but I personally see no reason for a narrow boat unless built for cheap berthing like a Reynolds 33 (narrow beam 14ft..?) It's a one trick pony for day use.  Beam = safety.
It's a bit like Atomic https://www.yoti.com.au/listing/mbd-50-atomic
Obscene money for a day sailor but if you've got it................ 

That 50ft mono is cheap - here the Sun Fast 3300 has become popular - at 200T Euros - I dont get it.... 

 

[darth reapius]

All looks nice and quick but I personally see no reason for a narrow boat unless built for cheap berthing like a Reynolds 33 (narrow beam 14ft..?) It's a one trick pony for day use.  Beam = safety.
It's a bit like Atomic https://www.yoti.com.au/listing/mbd-50-atomic
Obscene money for a day sailor but if you've got it................ 

It's being auctioned off for pennies.

 

[[email protected]]

All looks nice and quick but I personally see no reason for a narrow boat unless built for cheap berthing like a Reynolds 33 (narrow beam 14ft..?) It's a one trick pony for day use.  Beam = safety.
It's a bit like Atomic https://www.yoti.com.au/listing/mbd-50-atomic
Obscene money for a day sailor but if you've got it................ 

How much did you just add to XL2? Do you think she's be slower with another 10' added in the middle?