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SIG 45 Performance Cruiser

Le Breton Yachts is promoting an interesting project: the SIG 45 performance cruising catamaran. Interesting to me, because it is one of the first legit multihull attempts to play in the Wally sector: very refined, very stylish, very fast, and very expensive. The design guns are high calibre: Van Peteghem Lauriot Prevost (VPLP), Bjorn Johansson for the interior, and even Bruno Peyron as technical consultant. The impetus or the yard behind the project is not disclosed on the web site.

The yacht is far from the usual "condomaran" offering. It offers real speed, and it should be a serious competitor in the harbors of the Cote D'Azure. It should also have no trouble fitting in with the other sailing "Ferraris" on the quay, it looks the part - featuring a sleek profile, flush/hidden hardware, no lifelines, and teak decking. The boat will be an interesting multihull test of this very exclusive market.

Minimising the impact to the environment both during construction and during use is one of the project's stated goals. To that end, all wood products are sourced through Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified suppliers. Power for the house systems will come from a 14kW Glacier Bay generator, which will also power the twin auxiliary electric motors.

Amazon by Prao

More proof that the French know how to spend a holiday better than anyone: Marc and Matthieu emailed to share their blog and pics about a recent cruise up the Amazon river on a native canoe modified into a sailing prao (French for proa). Note the cool bamboo ama. Note the most excellent hats. In French.

Palindrome - a Land Proa

Three quarter view from windward side.
The craft travels toward upper right in this view.

The land proa was a mad last minute dash to the finish for 2 quarters worth of thesis work I did around "Joy Rides". The idea was to create unexpected experiences--things you had to try to understand. All of these were developed as working prototypes. The projects included:

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