Inspired by tales of the early American schooner trade (er… smuggling), I recently sat down to draw a multihull version of an inter-island or coastal cargo schooner. Monohull traders have been done a thousand times, but maybe something interesting might be had by an examination of the multihull.
My ideal cargo multihull would be manageable by a small crew, perhaps as few as 3 or 4. It would operate wherever the trade-winds provide…
Gauging the performance of an ancient Polynesian sail by The Polynesian Society.
Praocargo 12m model on Vimeo. Cargo vessel could be the role the proa configuration will claim as its own.
Shipping may be the most energy-efficient mode of cargo transport, but small ships transporting less than 4% of world cargo contribute 26% of all shipping emissions.
Advances in racing technology give us the tools to design a boat that is fast, light, and able to sail close to the wind, allowing us to open up sailing trade…
Jan Stute and Siegfried Wagner have designed and built a modular camp-cruiser proa that was recently exhibited at Hanseboot in Hamburg. The design is based on a classic Pacific island sailing canoe, or walap, including a crab claw sail and deep-V asymmetrical hull, though realized in modern plywood and epoxy. The hull comes apart into three sections to make storage and transport more flexible.
We like the optional canoe dinghy, which…
Harryproa has been busy of late. Here’s a nicely modeled proposal for the new VOR Inshore Foiler races. It is, naturally, a proa in configuration, but that is where the similarity to a Pacific sailing canoe ends. The fully foiling triscaph may be vapor-ware at the moment, but considering the obvious thought that went into the proposal from shipping logistics to VIP guest seating we hope this one makes it to prototype stage. Read Rob…
French designer Jérôme Delaunay has completed plans for a 9.9m (32’-6”) cruising proa named VAKA 990. It is a “pacific” type that includes four berths, a WC and some storage. The proa features a free-standing schooner rig of 37.25 m2 (400 sq. ft.) and central daggerboard in the main hull. Steering is via outboard mounted (Viking-style) rudders fore and aft. The central accommodations pod extends out to leeward to function as…
Alex Calothis has submitted his progress on a proa build in Greece.
I grew up in Athens and learnt to sail on optimists when I was about 8, and I have loved sailing ever since.
My father built a 6m catamaran around that time, and it was very fast, but would not turn very easily - long narrow hulls with very little rocker. We often had to perform a three point turn to get her around!! Still, she was a lot of fun. Later he bought a…
Celebrated New Zealand artist and designer David Trubridge has turned his creative attention back to boats, where it all began. Trubridge studied naval architecture in his native England, and sailed his small family on a journey that took them to the Caribbean and Polynesia, working their way from place to place, eventually landing and settling in New Zealand. His wooden furniture and lighting designs are now exhibited and sold in…
Duckworks has a nice interview with one of our favorite canoe designer/builders.
When did you become a boat designer and what was your first real design? I started drawing boats when I was about eight years old, and I built my first one at fifteen from a photo in a magazine. That first project was an eight foot lake scow with an underbody similar to the current Puddle Ducks…
The third annual Race to Alaska starting gun goes off at 5:00 am on June 8. 750 miles, no motor, no support from Port Townsend WA to Ketchikan AK. As per the previous races, there will be plenty of multihulls vying for the $10,000 first to finish prize, and perhaps a new course record, though last year’s time of 3d 20h 13m set by Team MAD Dog Racing is a tall order.
New this year is the Buy Back offer: Each team that finishes and…
