Can Your Trimaran Do This?

Frank Smoot is the ultimate DIY sailor. He began his sailboat design career in 2009 with this and has progressed to this in only two years. His latest is the most ingenious small trimaran I’ve ever seen. If he continues at his Moore’s Law rate of improvement he should be building America’s Cuppers out of plywood/epoxy in about 6 months. Story via Small Trimarans. See more at DIY-Tris.com

Our Blue Canoe

The first teaser trailer for the documentary film, “Our Blue Canoe” currently in production and due for 2013 release. The film is part of a larger initiative called the “Vaka Motu” project, by Pacific Voyagers. The vision is to connect all Pacific Islands in a sustainable, carbon-neutral fashion via Vaka Motu, thus gaining independence, better infrastructure, and more economic opportunities for remote island communities.

Va’a Motu, a Tahitian Style Outrigger Canoe

Gary Dierking has made a speedy project of his latest outrigger canoe, and this one might be his most beautiful yet. The scale model of Va’a Motu was completed July 10, and the real thing launched Sept. 21, just over 9 weeks later!

I’ve been working on a new 20’ (6M) design lately that borrows some features of the Tahitian va’a motu.  The hollow clipper bow, the raised transom stern, the mixed attachments between the ama and the iakos, and the curved gull wing iakos are seen on the fast lagoon sailers in Eastern Polynesia.

Gary documents the build on his blog, Outrigger Sailing Canoes. More pics and the video after the jump.