New Watertribe Proa for UFC
This effort was not poorly researched or done without serious intent. Like most developmental proas, it did break some new ground in it’s rudder arrangements and controls. NYC in the winter is not really a nice place to launch and test a new design days before the EC start.
CrazyRussian is a serious Watertribe competitor and boatbuilder with multiple EC finishes and UFC completion as well. Adequate testing time and iterative refinement appear to be the trouble with this entry. I’d bet that with a couple months of time, Vlad could have made this entry work very well.
Herein lies the risk in developmental proas - knowledge about what works and what doesn’t is anecdotal and sketchy - enough to make many designers try widely divergent solutions to known problems. I applaud Vlad’s experiment with the vaka-end dagger rudders - although at first impression they appear problematic. Now we have some real world feedback and identification of problems to avoid which is a big step up from forum conjecture and armchair engineering. Graham Byrnes of Core Sound design fame (B&B Yacht Designs and multiple EC winner) has already chimed in with his thoughts.
I too want to hear from Vlad when he is ready - and I want to encourage him to continue refining this proa because all of us may benefit from his work. I would not be surprised to see this boat at the top end of Class 5 next year - and perhaps more of an accomplishment the same hull could be a UFC finisher as well. Vlad’s design brief was one hull for both EC and UFC - which is a whole different thing from a EC-only optimised design.
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Bill in Ottawa
Graham Byrnes of Core Sound design fame (B&B Yacht Designs and multiple EC winner) has already chimed in with his thoughts.
Link?
Graham Byrnes of Core Sound design fame (B&B Yacht Designs and multiple EC winner) has already chimed in with his thoughts.
Link?
Link to Watertribe forum conversation
“Roo” is Graham Byrnes’ Watertribe handle. IIRC, Graham has been involved somewhat in the CrazyProa effort, much like he was involved in the Mosquito trimaran effort.
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Bill in Ottawa