The Proasis Project
Henrik Richter-Alten has submitted a new proa development project to Proafile called Proasis. His team has recently completed the launch and a successful test sail. Henrik explains:
“I’ve started the Proasis Project together with Christian Arriens, a good friend of mine. We are both involved in the Low Carbon Sea Transport Project at WAM*. My contribution was the WAM Catamaran design, he did the recently launched solar-electric…
Das Prauw - The Proa of the Future
This month’s Woodenboat magazine has a nice article about Robbert Das, the Dutch illustrator and futurist. Naturally, they only show his great 3D cutaway drawings of old wooden boats, but holy smokes! A little googling and you come up with the other stuff!
The twin brothers Rudolf and Robbert Das had a long career as technical illustrators, architectural designers, authors and futurologists. I found a thread here about some of their…
Proafile Update in Progress
Ahoy! Proafile has just undergone a big update (EE v.2 to v.6) and is now getting back into shape. Some images are missing but should appear again shortly. If you find any functionality not working, please let me know via the Contact Form, thanks.
I’m uploading an old racing proa concept from 2016 as a test entry, I don’t think I’ve published it before.
A Planing Proa Concept
Mark Palmquist is a craftsman and furniture designer from Frederick, Maryland, who has sent us some 3d models of his intriguing new proa design. He writes:
Background:
Mark Palmquist is the son of Martti J. Palmquist, a pilot and inventor who experimented with and patented a new type of multihull called a ‘Wingmaran’ which is similar to a trimaran but instead of long skinny amas, it features a high aspect ratio hydroplaning wing. …
Kergomard 35’ prao for sale
The proa JO-D by Denis Kergomard is available for full or half ownership here. It’s a beautiful boat, designed to sail as an Atlantic proa, but with the ability to sail with the ama to windward, and to tack as well as shunt. Google translate offers:
Magnificent prao of 10.50 built by the workshop of the meridian in composite sandwich pvc glass polyester and cp / glass / carbon / epoxy. The build and design quality is superb. The boat…
Waan Aelon in Majel
Jo and Rob of the sailing yacht Double Trouble post an interesting video about WAM (not the 80’s band) but Waan Aelon in Majel, a canoe and boat building school in Majuro, Marshall Islands. The idea is to provide a way for islanders to get off the petrol habit. Gas powered launches supply the islands now, and it is ruinously expensive, thus the interest in alternatives. Henrik Richter-Alten and Rob Denney are conducting a 3 month…
Single-Handed Record Attempt by Proa
The RECORD for the non-stop sailing from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn is being attempted this November by Ryan Finn, on a proa! He chose this specific challenge because he wanted to incorporate American sponsors on a classic American clipper ship route. Ryan will be sailing JZERRO, a 36’ Pacific proa designed and built by Russell Brown, which has already sailed to New Zealand and back from the U.S. and is a proven blue water…
Gaia’s Dream For Sale
Gaia’s Dream, the 71’ Pacific cargo proa we have reported on before, is up for sale in New South Wales, Australia for AU $79,000 (about US $55,300). Or rather it was - it is now listed as sold! Apparently the proa myth that you get more boat for the money is actually true in this case. Originally, Yvette Ini Wijnen had designed the boat with a fore and aft canting mast that ran on a curved track, to allow the CE to shift forward during…
Majuro Day Canoe Race 2019
Full cut of the 2019 Majuro Day canoe race in Majuro Atoll, Republic of Marshall Islands. Race was held February 23, 2019 at Dalap Beach Park in Majuro. Canoe Neen Annan from Uliga bested a fleet of 16 racing craft. These boats are full-on proas, not tacking outriggers. They shunt rather than tack, and you can witness the awkward operation starting 0:58 at the first mark rounding. Besides that, there isn’t much in sailing that can…
Proa Build in New Caledonia
Franck Meidinger is building a proa in New Caledonia. La MANGUE BLEUE appears to be a large cruising Pacific proa, intending to employ a crab claw schooner rig! He says:
I’m currently building a proa in New Caledonia. The hull is completed by now and I’m longing for the (COVID 19) lockdown to stop in order to launch. I could work on the rig (eventually crab claw) if I had some materiel but shops are closed. Not even allowed to harvest…
