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  • Sailboat Guide

Telstar 8M is a 26 ′ 2 ″ / 8 m trimaran sailboat designed by Tony Smith and built by Sandwich Yacht (UK) between 1970 and 1981.

Drawing of Telstar 8M

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

  • SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
  • D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
  • LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
  • LOA: Length overall in feet
  • Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

The TELSTAR was designed and built by Tony Smith in Britain from the early 70’s through about 1980. The UK TELSTAR production was somewhere around 200 boats - first there was the TELSTAR 26 and around 1977 the TELSTAR 8m, which featured a fatter/roomier main hull. There was also a TELSTAR 35 and a version of the 8m which had outer hulls which pulled in close to the main hull while the boat was in the water, but few were built. Tony emigrated to the US and set up Performance Cruising in Maryland. There may have been 10 TELSTARS built in the US in late 1980 to mid-1981 (serial numbers 250 through 259 or 260). The factory burned down in mid-1981, and all molds were lost (Tony started building the GEMINI catamarans after the fire).

Type Year Hull #s LOA Sail Area Weight Comments

Prototype 1970 001 26’ 298 ? Entered Crystal Trophy

MK 1 1970-1975 002 - 080 26’ 340 3500 Std boat. In production 3 years.

MK 2 1976-1977 083 - 171 26’ 300 2800 Floats lengthened?

Marina Version 1978-1979 009 & 187 ? ? ? Folding amas.

Mk 3 1978-1979 172 - ? 8m ? ? Enclosed c/b trunk. Wider center hull.

8 meter (Std) 1978-1980 172-216 8m ? ? Standard 8meter. Heavier than later versions.

8 meterE 1980 184 + 8m 285/320 ? Economy lightweight. Tall rig (34’)

8 meter/Std 1981 250-260 8m ? ? Standard boat produced in USA.

T 36 1978 T35 (1 - 8) 35’ 470 11000

A new TELSTAR 26 is now available from:

Performance Cruising Inc. 7364 Edgewood Road Annapolis,Maryland 21403 410.626.2720 www.geminicatamarans.com

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Power Boat Magazine

Wayne Barrett M80

Wayne Barrett M80

Wayne Barrett has been building boats for 50 years, many of them world renowned. His latest venture is a DIY trimaran kit that embodies his half-century of expertise and celebrates “the joy of building and sailing your own creation”.

Famed in multihull circles and the creator of high profile vessels such as ‘Trilogy’ and ‘Indian Chief’ designed by Tony Grainger, and ‘Traveller’, the 50-foot tri designed by Dick Newick, Barrett describes himself as “a little guy designing boats on the kitchen table in an apartment on the Gold Coast, with a nice view over the lake”.

trimaran 8 metre

He has built some “100 or so boats” over the years and his passion and prowess have inspired him to create the M80 trimaran, an 8-metre vessel designed with the home builder in mind; those with limited time or space, and some basic experience with hand tools.

The versatile Wayne Barrett M80 can be specified for cruising or racing and the larger 9-metre design will have a range enough to sail across the Atlantic.  

“In 2021, I’m planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a promotional exercise to showcase the vessel. It’s very manageable for single-handed sailing.”

The concept arose from Barrett’s belief that sailing should be within everybody’s reach.

“I’ve built quite a few complicated, high-performance multihulls over the years and I’m aware they consume time that’s way beyond what an amateur could devote to a build. I used the flat panel concept, adapted to tri design and put it out there for amateur or professional builders.

trimaran 8 metre

“A friend of mine I’ve been sailing with for 40 years needed a new modern Buccaneer 24, a plywood 24-foot Crowther around in 1966. I’ve built a few of them, and a B33, B40 and a Spindrift 37. I thought about it for a year or so, then did something about it.

The spiritual successor to the Crowther Buccaneer 24, the 24-ft ‘Mojo’, was originally designed with a central cockpit, a double bunk down aft and a galley and head forward, which I thought was a great concept. But I scrapped that idea and went with a conventional aft cockpit.”

The first boat, in Brazil, set sail just over three years ago and since then, Barrett has sold plans around the world.

trimaran 8 metre

“A mate of mine from Geelong, Andrew Johnson, is building one at Lightwave Yachts at Coomera on the Gold Coast with the guidance of Roger Overell. It’s well into the final stages and will be used for cruising. It’s made totally from carbon, so it’s light and strong.

“There’s another one being built in France, a 6-metre design being built in Melbourne and a 9-metre design close to completion in The Netherlands. I’ve sold 9-metre plans to Germany and one in Sydney, revised to be all flat panel, foam and round bilge, with aesthetics to suit that owner.”

The main attributes of the design that have such broad appeal are its simplicity and economical package.

trimaran 8 metre

“Initially the concept was built around plywood, which has been a common material for 100 years and most people are familiar with it,” explained Barrett. “The benefit of ply is that a guy can build it in his own shed, over time. But other than the 9-metre in The Netherlands, people are all keen on the foam and epoxy.

“Foam and epoxy is a bit more costly, but comparing the total price is attractive for an amateur builder. It can be built from CNC cut panels in a fraction of the time compared to some other options, alternatively you can build it from our easy to follow plan set for DuraKore, DuFlex or foam core kits.”

Barrett has worked with ATL Composites for the past 25 years on numerous projects, including the 9.2-metre ‘Trilogy’, which held the Aust Championship title for around 10 years, ‘Traveller’ and the 13-metre Gary Lidgard-designed cat ‘Saloon Bar’.

trimaran 8 metre

“I also built a 7.5-metre caravan which appeared on the ABC program, ‘New Inventors’ five or so years ago,” continued Barrett. “I used ATL Composites’ products, including foam and resins.

“ATL spent a lot of time scanning the surface of the moulds so we could get an accurate pattern for the shapes of the foam core. I built five of them, all custom designed and built, all traveling the country. It was a fantastic looking thing!

“ATL has always been fantastic to me, in their general support, timely supply of goods, always bending over backwards to help.”

For the M80 in build at Lightwave Yachts, the main shell structure, fore and side decks, and cabin sides were built with DuFLEX/foam panels cored with Divinycell H80 structural foam in a variety of thicknesses and reinforced with double bias E-Fibreglass skins. 

The cabin top and floats were strip planked with DuFLEX H80 strips with a 450grm uni-directional on either side to achieve the compound shapes and then reinforced with additional laminates to complete the structure. 

The project incorporated carbon fibre and E-fibreglass reinforcement, supplied by ATL, to provide stiffness and to achieve the weight specification for the project.

trimaran 8 metre

High performance KINETIX R246TX, a thixotropic epoxy, was used to laminate these reinforcements and WEST SYSTEM R105 and H206 was used for all bonding and coving, combined with WEST SYSTEM 413 Microfibre Blend and 411 Microsphere Blend powder modifiers to alter the consistency for the specific applications.

The M80 was faired with ATL’s unique Technifill XP which is a pre-filled epoxy fairing compound that is ultra-lightweight and very easy to sand.

Getting started is straightforward, according to Barrett. “People buy the plans, complete with DXF files and they can have all the flat components cut out with CNC or jigsaw by hand”.

“If you have plenty of time, it’s cheap. An average handyman or woman, with basic experience with hand tools could put it together in their garage or workshop. In The Netherlands it’s being assembled under a tent to keep rain and snow out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way to boat the world over.”

trimaran 8 metre

Maritimo X50

Buccaneer 565 classic xl, related articles, southern pacific seekr 6.2, takacat 4.6 lx-r, smuggler strata 750, white pointer 870 walkaround, riviera 58 sports motor yacht, leech 33 (1025) power catamaran.

trimaran 8 metre

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trimaran 8 metre

(07) 5563 1222

M-Series Trimaran M80 MKII

LOA7.90 m
Beam5.85 m
Displacement1320 kg
Draught Hull only360
Draught Board Down1.475
Sail Area27.75 m2
Self Tacking Jib15.1 m2
M-Series Trimaranwww.trimarankit.com
Lightwave Yachtswww.lightwaveyachts.com

trimaran 8 metre

Wayne Barrett has been building boats for 50 years, many of them world renowned. His latest venture is a DIY trimaran kit that embodies his half-century of expertise and celebrates “the joy of building and sailing your own creation”.

Famed in multihull circles and the creator of high profile vessels such as ‘Trilogy’ and ‘Indian Chief’ designed by Tony Grainger, and ‘Traveller’, the 50-foot tri designed by Dick Newick, Barrett describes himself as “a little guy designing boats on the kitchen table in an apartment on the Gold Coast, with a nice view over the lake”.

He has built some “100 or so boats” over the years and his passion and prowess have inspired him to create the M80 trimaran, an 8-metre vessel designed with the home builder in mind; those with limited time or space, and some basic experience with hand tools.

The versatile M80 can be specced for cruising or racing and the larger 9-metre design will have a range enough to sail across the Atlantic.

“In 2021, I’m planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a promotional exercise to showcase the vessel. It’s very manageable for single-handed sailing.”

The concept arose from Barrett’s belief that sailing should be within everybody’s reach.

“I’ve built quite a few complicated, high-performance multihulls over the years and I’m aware they consume time that’s way beyond what an amateur could devote to a build. I used the flat panel concept, adapted to tri design and put it out there for amateur or professional builders.

“A friend of mine I’ve been sailing with for 40 years needed a new modern Buccaneer 24, a plywood 24-foot Crowther around in 1966. I’ve built a few of them, and a B33, B40 and a Spindrift 37. I thought about it for a year or so, then did something about it.

The spiritual successor to the Crowther Buccaneer 24, the 24-ft ‘Mojo’, was originally designed with a central cockpit, a double bunk down aft and a galley and head forward, which I thought was a great concept. But I scrapped that idea and went with a conventional aft cockpit.”

The first boat, in Brazil, set sail just over three years ago and since then, Barrett has sold plans around the world.

“A mate of mine from Geelong, Andrew Johnson, is building one at Lightwave Yachts at Coomera on the Gold Coast with the guidance of Roger Overell. It’s well into the final stages and will be used for cruising. It’s made totally from carbon, so it’s light and strong.

“There’s another one being built in France, a 6-metre design being built in Melbourne and a 9-metre design close to completion in The Netherlands. I’ve sold 9-metre plans to Germany and one in Sydney, revised to be all flat panel, foam and round bilge, with aesthetics to suit that owner.”

The main attributes of the design that have such broad appeal are its simplicity and economical package.

“Initially the concept was built around plywood, which has been a common material for 100 years and most people are familiar with it,” explained Barrett. “The benefit of ply is that a guy can build it in his own shed, over time. But other than the 9-metre in The Netherlands, people are all keen on the foam and epoxy.

“Foam and epoxy is a bit more costly, but comparing the total price is attractive for an amateur builder. It can be built from CNC cut panels in a fraction of the time compared to some other options, alternatively you can build it from our easy to follow plan set for DuraKore, DuFlex or foam core kits.”

Barrett has worked with ATL Composites for the past 25 years on numerous projects, including the 9.2-metre ‘Trilogy’, which held the Aust Championship title for around 10 years, ‘Traveller’ and the 13-metre Gary Lidgard-designed cat ‘Saloon Bar’.

“I also built a 7.5-metre caravan which appeared on the ABC program, ‘New Inventors’ five or so years ago,” continued Barrett. “I used ATL Composites’ products, including foam and resins.

“ATL spent a lot of time scanning the surface of the moulds so we could get an accurate pattern for the shapes of the foam core. I built five of them, all custom designed and built, all traveling the country. It was a fantastic looking thing!

“ATL has always been fantastic to me, in their general support, timely supply of goods, always bending over backwards to help.”

For the M80 in build at Lightwave Yachts, the main shell structure, fore and side decks, and cabin sides were built with DuFLEX/foam panels cored with Divinycell H80 structural foam in a variety of thicknesses and reinforced with double bias E-Fibreglass skins.

The cabin top and floats were strip planked with DuFLEX H80 strips with a 450grm uni-directional on either side to achieve the compound shapes and then reinforced with additional laminates to complete the structure.

The project incorporated carbon fibre and E-fibreglass reinforcement, supplied by ATL, to provide stiffness and to achieve the weight specification for the project.

High performance KINETIX R246TX, a thixotropic epoxy, was used to laminate these reinforcements and WEST SYSTEM R105 and H206 was used for all bonding and coving, combined with WEST SYSTEM 413 Microfibre Blend and 411 Microsphere Blend powder modifiers to alter the consistency for the specific applications.

The M80 was faired with ATL’s unique Technifill XP which is a pre-filled epoxy fairing compound that is ultra lightweight and very easy to sand.

Getting started is straightforward, according to Barrett. “People buy the plans, complete with DXF files and they can have all the flat components cut out with CNC or jigsaw by hand”.

“If you have plenty of time, it’s cheap. An average handyman or woman, with basic experience with hand tools could put it together in their garage or workshop. In The Netherlands it’s being assembled under a tent to keep rain and snow out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way to boat the world over.”

trimaran 8 metre

The International Eight Metre Association

The International Eight Metre Association brings together a passionate community dedicated to the elegance and tradition of 8 Metre sailing. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or new to the class, explore the rich history, discover upcoming events, and connect with sailors from around the world.

The International Eight Metre Association

World Cup 2024 The Clyde · Scotland

We warmly welcome you to the Clyde. Join us for a thrilling week of racing on the Upper Clyde, along with an entertaining social program based at the historic clubhouse of the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club in Rhu.

World Cup 2024 The Clyde · Scotland

Discover the best Meet the participants

Explore the teams and boats that have already signed up for the upcoming 8 metre World Cup on the Clyde. This is the home of the Fifes and much of the history of 8mR racing, and the event will bring back memories of 200 years of sailing in these sheltered, but challenging, waters.

Discover the best Meet the participants

Eight Bells: Ruud von Hilst Goodbye, Dear Friend.

Last Friday, in a 5 knot easterly breeze, our friend and Hollandia Team member headed out on the River Seine. We all hoped that day would never come and it leaves our Team in utter disbelief and deep sadness. Our bond was sailing and sailing we did!

Eight Bells from Hollandia: Goodbye Ruud von Hilst

The International Eight Metre Association (the IEMA) exists to promote international interest in the Class, the building, restoring and sailing of 8 Metre Yachts.

The World Cup has been held since 1970.

Experience the World Cup

Get all the information about the upcoming 8 Metre World Cup, including race schedules, participating teams, and more.

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Mission and History

Learn about the International Eight Metre Association and our mission to promote the racing, sailing, restoration and building of 8 Metre Yachts. Get to know our long history.

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A Legacy of 8 Metre Yachts

For over a century, Metre yachts have set the standard for exceptional design and craftsmanship. These yachts have a rich history and continue to inspire a dedicated community of sailors.

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World Cup 2024

Join us for the most exciting event in the world of 8 Metre yachts. Watch top sailors compete for glory and see the beauty and power of these yachts first-hand.

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Image gallery

This gallery captures the thrill of the races, the beauty of the Ligurian coast, and the camaraderie of sailors from around the world. Enjoy the best moments of this unforgettable sailing event!

Image 1

Yachting Monthly

  • Digital edition

Yachting Monthly cover

Wow, that was fast! Why trimarans are SO much fun to sail – and how to do it

  • Theo Stocker
  • February 13, 2024

For their size, trimarans can punch well above their weight in speed, cruising potential and fun. Monohull sailor Theo Stocker gets to grips with how to handle one

Humans tend to gravitate into tribes of like-minded enthusiasts, enjoying the encouragement, support and sense of identity, while often looking askance at others; sailors at motorboaters, cruising sailors at racers, monohull sailors at raft, I mean, multihull sailors, and everyone looks askance at jet-skiers.

Large cruising catamarans (40ft now counts as a small one) are a world apart from monohull sailing, but there’s a sub-tribe of sailors dedicated to life on three hulls and builders such as Dragonfly, Corsair, Farrier, and Astus give them plenty of choice.

I’ve been sailing a 22ft (7m) Astus 22.5 this season, with just enough space for a family of four and a minimum of creature comforts. Thanks to her VPLP-designed hulls and 650kg all-up weight, we can sail upwind at 7-plus knots and downwind at over 10 knots with ease, all on a roughly even keel, while the kids play Duplo down below. It can also be beached and is towable behind a car.

Having, it seems, caught the trimaran bug, I wanted to get better at sailing and handling the boat, but my monohull sailing experience and habits were proving something of a hindrance, so we sought advice from some existing trimaran owners, and well as the UK’s top multihull sailors.

Much of the advice will apply to all multihulls , whether two or three-hulled, while other parts are just for small trimarans. I also found that brushing-up some of my rusty dinghy sailing skills helped get my head around what we were trying to do.

To try out our expert tips we went out sailing to see what difference they made. On the day, we got a solid Force 4-5 southwesterly, averaging 16 knots, but fluctuating between 12 and 20 knots true.

trimaran 8 metre

Blasting about on a sporty trimaran is a whole world of fun, but is much calmer than it looks

Trimaran sail trim

One of the biggest differences between a cruising monohull and a multihull is how the mainsail is trimmed. Leech tension on a yacht is often largely controlled by the kicker and the backstay, while the mainsheet sheets the mainsail in and out, predominantly controlling the angle of the boom to the centreline, and there may be a short traveller.

On a mulithull, however, there’s more than enough space for a good, wide traveller. Those who sail on performance monohulls will also be used to this. The sail shape is mainly controlled by the mainsheet, and the traveller then moves the boom towards or away from the centreline.

This is exaggerated on a multihull which has wide shrouds, swept well aft with no backstay, making space for a powerful square-top mainsail with full-length battens. There’s no backstay to bend the mast and flatten what is anyway a pretty rigid mainsail.

trimaran 8 metre

The mainsheet purchase creates enough power to control the leech of the square-top mainsail

Depowering a trimaran

Sailing on a monohull, heel and weatherhelm and eventually a broach give loads of warning that you’re pushing too hard. With straight hulls and little heel, those warning signs don’t really apply to multihulls.

In reality, however, there are a host of warning signals that it’s time to back-off; they’re just a bit different. Even then, there’s still a large safety margin before you get close to danger.

By way of reassurance, with the boat powered up on a beat, Hein, from Boats on Wheels, the boat’s owner, stood on the leeward hull and lent on the shrouds. Even as his feet got wet and the wind gusted at the top of Force 4, the boat didn’t bat an eyelid, thanks to the huge buoyancy of the floats.

trimaran 8 metre

Even with a person on the leeward float the boat was extremely stable

On the water – sail trim

My first inclination was to point the boat as high upwind as possible, pin the sails in and go for height. Doing that resulted in a not-terrible boat speed of 5-6 knots and a good pointing angle.

Free off by a handful of degrees however, and ease the sails just a smidge, and the speed leapt up to 8-9 knots – over 50% more; a huge increase. So, don’t pinch. If you had a decent chartplotter on board, you could find your optimum speed to angle using velocity made good (VMG).

I was also tempted to pinch in the gusts, but it’s better to hold your course and let the speed increase until the main needs easing.

trimaran 8 metre

On the wind, it’s time to get the boat fully powered up

If that’s the case, drop the main down the traveller an inch or two or ease some twist into the mainsail and it makes all the difference in the world, but not so far that the top battens fall away and invert – that really isn’t fast. Push too hard and the boat will slow down, largely from the drag of submerging the leeward float and crossbeams. If you’re still overpowered and the main is luffing, it’s time to reef. Downwind is different, but we’ll get onto that later.

After we put a reef in the main, our boat speeds upwind remained largely the same, and the boat was much happier. I came away feeling reassured that even a little trimaran like this would be pretty difficult to capsize, and there were always plenty of warning signs telling me to take my foot off the pedal a little.

Article continues below…

trimaran 8 metre

Catamaran sailing skills: Mooring and anchoring a multihull

How do you make an average passage speed of 7 knots, fit in three double cabins and a huge saloon…

Monohull multihull

Monohull or multihull: which is best for blue water?

As former editor of Yachting World, David Glenn has plenty of experience of both monohull and multihull cruising. Here he…

Tacking and gybing a trimaran

Everyone knows that multihulls don’t tack as well as monohulls. Straight hulls and wide beam don’t lend themselves to turning, especially when coupled with the displacement and fixed keels of big cats. Trimarans are a little easier, with a single central daggerboard to act as a pivot, and one or other of the floats will generally be clear of the water. On the downside, light displacement means that there isn’t much momentum to keep you going through the turn and plenty of windage to stop you.

trimaran 8 metre

On a trimaran the central daggerboard helps the boat to turn by providing a central pivot point that catamarans lack

Speed is your friend. Build speed up before the tack to give you as much momentum as possible. The helm needs to steer positively into and through the turn, and if necessary, keep the jib backed on the new windward side to help the bow through the wind. Don’t worry about scrubbing speed off, but you don’t want to get stuck in irons.

When it comes to gybing, speed is again key. The turning bit isn’t going to be an issue as you’ll be scooting along, but the faster you’re going, the less load there will be on the sails. The more you slow down, the more the true wind will pile up.

Trimaran sailing skills

Tacks took a bit of practice. It felt plain wrong to jab the tiller across the boat, slamming a big break on in the water but I ended up putting us through the tacks far too slowly, losing a lot of speed. A more aggressive approach worked better. On the Astus, the traveller was between me and the tiller, so the tiller extension needed to be swung around the stern behind the mainsheet onto the new side.

Similarly, old habits of controlling a gybe needed to be modified. With the asymmetric set, we were planing at well over 10 knots, and the ideal is to stay on the plane. Heading dead downwind and centring the main lead to a more violent manoeuvre than flying into the gybe as fast as possible and, as the boom was never that far out thanks to the apparent wind angle, it didn’t need much extra controlling.

Coming up onto the wind after the gybe helped the asymmetric around the front of the jib and to fill on the new side. Stay too deep and it’ll get blanketed by the main. Once we had built up some apparent wind, we could bear away again.

trimaran 8 metre

You’ll be on a course deep downwind before you know it, hitting speeds in the double digits

Downwind in a trimaran

Upwind cruising may be fun in a multihull, but bearing away and going with the wind is what it’s all about. Easily-driven hulls, a generous sailplan and light weight mean you can be up and planing, leaving displacement boats wallowing in your wake.

The big difference comes from apparent wind. If you’re in a boat that can do 15 knots downwind in 20 knots of true wind, the resulting wind angles can really mess with your head.

To get going then, says Brian Thompson, ‘Use those leech tell-tales again when sailing downwind and reaching to set the correct twist through the mainsheet, and use the traveller to set the correct angle of the whole sail to the wind.’

As the wind and your speed builds, bear away and trim the main accordingly.

In theory, you shouldn’t need to ease the traveller at all, but you may need to if you want to sail deep downwind. As the gust fades, you’ll find the boat slows down, so you can come back up towards the wind a little to pick up some more breeze, and then bear away as you accelerate again.

trimaran 8 metre

Bear away as the boat accelerates. Your course will be something of a slalom as you look to keep a consistent wind angle

This results in something of a ‘slalom’ course, and will also be accentuated if you’re sailing down waves, but that’s all quite normal for apparent wind sailing. Ultimately, you’re looking for a consistent apparent wind angle, even if the resulting wake isn’t straight.

It’s worth remembering that apparent wind reduces the felt effect of the wind, so you need a sailplan to suit the true, not apparent wind speed.

I found that the boat was more sensitive to having a balanced sailplan and trim downwind than upwind, largely because you’ve got almost double the canvas up, with the bowsprit as an extra lever. When weather helm built, I needed to ease the mainsheet to increase twist to depower so that I could bear away. I must admit, getting the boat balanced, sailing fast and light on the helm at 15 knots was something I came away feeling I needed more practice at.

Reviewing the images, I suspect the asymmetric was sheeted in too hard, with too much twist in the main.

trimaran 8 metre

Getting a float fully submerged is when it’s time to back off

On the water

Unfurling the gennaker worked best on a beam reach, giving plenty of airflow over the sail to help it fully unfurl. This was also roughly the fastest point of sail, ideal for getting up some speed for apparent wind sailing. We mostly had the sails set for a close reach, even when we were beyond 120º off the true wind on a broad reach.

It was possible to soak deeper downwind, but lose the apparent wind benefit downwind and our speed dropped off dramatically, prompting us to point a bit higher to find some more speed.

As the boat powered up, it paid to hold a slightly higher angle than I would have done in a monohull for the boat to properly take off and get up into double digit speeds – topping out at 15 knots. Lymington to Cowes would have taken us just half an hour at that speed. It’s easy to give yourself a heck of a beat back!

We were sailing on a pretty flat day, so didn’t have to contend with any waves to speak of. On the recent RTI this is what caused the capsizes of at least two multis, a sobering reminder that you need to sail much more conservatively in lumpier conditions.

trimaran 8 metre

The bows want to point downwind, so a stern-first approach works with rather than against the boat

Coming alongside

A 650kg boat with no draught and plenty of windage feels dreadfully skittish when manoeuvring in confined spaces. Straight hulls with no forgiving curves and fragile-looking sharp bows make berthing tricky. You’ve got a couple of advantages on your side, however. In the Astus, the floats are at pontoon height making stepping off easy.

Whether you have an engine in each hull of a cat, or one in the central hull of a tri, there’s also a lot more leverage to play with to turn the boat and drive her on or off the pontoon. A steerable outboard gives you even more options.

If the boat has a lifting keel or daggerboards, put them down if there’s enough depth to give you a pivot and to resist drifting. Think about getting corners onto the pontoon, rather than putting the boat alongside. On tris, you won’t be able to get to the bow to fend off as it’s too narrow. You can rig a fender up forwards on a line, and two fenders are enough on the flat sides.

trimaran 8 metre

Steering with the outboard towards the pontoon will drive the stern in more; steer away to drive the bow in more

Offshore wind

Coming onto the pontoon with wind blowing off, it worked well coming in stern first. If there’s a tide running, you’ll want to be heading into the tide, so find a spot down wind and down tide to start your approach so you come in at an angle.

On our first attempt we had a bit of tide under us to start with so we came in at a much steeper angle, almost 90º, although this worked out OK in the end.

The crew could then step ashore, taking a line from the stern quarter round a cleat.

Drive forwards against the line and the bow will obediently drive up towards the pontoon, bringing you flat alongside. Getting off was simple, releasing the bowline, and allowing the bow to swing out the before slipping the stern line.

trimaran 8 metre

Coming in astern and stopping upwind of the berth meant the bows blew towards the pontoon far to quickly

Onshore wind

Getting onto and off a pontoon with onshore wind proved rather trickier. On our first attempt we came in stern first. The issue was that once we were just upwind of our desired berth and stopped, we lost steerage and the bow immediately blew off with alarming speed towards the pontoon.

Going ahead would only increase the force of the impact, while going astern only increased the bow’s sideways drift. I managed to back out without smashing the bow, but only just, and ended up awkwardly stern to the wind with the bows pointing at the pontoon.

On our second attempt we came in bows first but having aimed at the berth, I had to motor the stern to leeward to stop the bow hitting, making for a rather forceful coming alongside.

On take three, I came in forwards and began ferry gliding towards the berth early, keeping the bows to windward of the stern. Being able to steer with the outboard meant I could go ahead to keep the bow up, and go astern with the engine pulling the stern down toward the pontoon. In this way, it was possible to come in pretty well controlled and parallel to the berth.

trimaran 8 metre

To get out, motoring astern against a bow line pulled the entire boat clear before slipping the line

Leaving was a different proposition all together, as I didn’t want to drag the bow along the pontoon, or to drive hard onto it to spring off. Instead, we rigged a slip-line from the forward cross beam. Going astern against this, and then turning the engine towards the wind, I could pull the stern, and the rest of the boat, out and away from the pontoon.

Keeping power on astern, once we’d reached a decent angle, we slipped the line and went astern, finding steerage way almost at once, with the bow following obediently in our wake with more control than I had anticipated.

Whether the wind is blowing onto, or off the pontoon, you want the engine to be driving or pulling the boat off the pontoon with a line on the corner you are going away from. That way you avoid point-loading fine ends where it’s hard to fender.

trimaran 8 metre

You’ll want a bridle to reduce swinging, but keep the pick up lines on the bow as backup

Anchoring and mooring a trimaran

While mooring a catamaran is complicated by the lack of a central bow, things should be simpler on a trimaran, and they are, mostly. Picking up a mooring buoy from the main hull bow with a low freeboard and dropping the pick-up line onto a cleat is easier even than a monohull.

The bow may be narrow, but for any lines that pass through a ring on the buoy, you still need to take it back to the same cleat to avoid chafe. That should be it, but windage from the two extra bows and the lack of keel mean the boat can dance merrily around the mooring buoy in a breeze.

trimaran 8 metre

Rig the bridle so the buoy sits to one side to stabilise the boat

In practice, we found that a trimaran benefits from a mooring bridle in the same way that a catamaran does. It can’t be rigged from the floats’ bows, as there are no mooring cleats, so a line passed around the outboard ends of the forward beams gave a pretty good angle, again with long lines passed through the mooring and back to the same side. The main pick-up lines stay as a safety backup.

The other trick is to rig the bridle asymmetrically so that the buoy sits to one side or the other, just enough to not be dead head to wind, making it much more stable in the wind.

On the plus side, the lack of draught or keel means that you’ll nearly always be lying head to wind, so the cockpit remains nice and sheltered whatever the tide’s doing.

We ran out of time on the day to try anchoring, but rigging a bridle, effectively a long snubber to a point on the anchor chain in a similar way wouldn’t be tricky.

If you needed not to swing, or to behave more like deeper boats nearby, hanging a bucket over the stern can help, or there’s always anchoring with a kedge, either out ahead in a V, or in line astern.

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Barrett M80

Barrett M80

DIY tri capturing imaginations

Wayne Barrett has been building boats for 50 years, many of them world renowned. His latest venture is a DIY trimaran kit that embodies his half-century of expertise and celebrates “the joy of building and sailing your own creation”.

Famed in multihull circles and the creator of high profile vessels such as ‘Trilogy’ and ‘Indian Chief’ designed by Tony Grainger, and ‘Traveller’, the 50-foot tri designed by Dick Newick, Barrett describes himself as “a little guy designing boats on the kitchen table in an apartment on the Gold Coast, with a nice view over the lake”.

He has built some “100 or so boats” over the years and his passion and prowess have inspired him to create the M80 trimaran, an 8-metre vessel designed with the home builder in mind; those with limited time or space, and some basic experience with hand tools.

The versatile M80 can be specified for cruising or racing and the larger 9-metre design will have a range enough to sail across the Atlantic.  

“In 2021, I’m planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a promotional exercise to showcase the vessel. It’s very manageable for single-handed sailing.”

The concept arose from Barrett’s belief that sailing should be within everybody’s reach.

“I’ve built quite a few complicated, high-performance multihulls over the years and I’m aware they consume time that’s way beyond what an amateur could devote to a build. I used the flat panel concept, adapted to tri design and put it out there for amateur or professional builders.

“A friend of mine I’ve been sailing with for 40 years needed a new modern Buccaneer 24, a plywood 24-foot Crowther around in 1966. I’ve built a few of them, and a B33, B40 and a Spindrift 37. I thought about it for a year or so, then did something about it.

The spiritual successor to the Crowther Buccaneer 24, the 24-ft ‘Mojo’, was originally designed with a central cockpit, a double bunk down aft and a galley and head forward, which I thought was a great concept. But I scrapped that idea and went with a conventional aft cockpit.”

The first boat, in Brazil, set sail just over three years ago and since then, Barrett has sold plans around the world.

“A mate of mine from Geelong, Andrew Johnson, is building one at Lightwave Yachts at Coomera on the Gold Coast with the guidance of Roger Overell. It’s well into the final stages and will be used for cruising. It’s made totally from carbon, so it’s light and strong.

“There’s another one being built in France, a 6-metre design being built in Melbourne and a 9-metre design close to completion in The Netherlands. I’ve sold 9-metre plans to Germany and one in Sydney, revised to be all flat panel, foam and round bilge, with aesthetics to suit that owner.”

The main attributes of the design that have such broad appeal are its simplicity and economical package.

“Initially the concept was built around plywood, which has been a common material for 100 years and most people are familiar with it,” explained Barrett. “The benefit of ply is that a guy can build it in his own shed, over time. But other than the 9-metre in The Netherlands, people are all keen on the foam and epoxy.

“Foam and epoxy is a bit more costly, but comparing the total price is attractive for an amateur builder. It can be built from CNC cut panels in a fraction of the time compared to some other options, alternatively you can build it from our easy to follow plan set for DuraKore, DuFlex or foam core kits.”

Barrett has worked with ATL Composites for the past 25 years on numerous projects, including the 9.2-metre ‘Trilogy’, which held the Aust Championship title for around 10 years, ‘Traveller’ and the 13-metre Gary Lidgard-designed cat ‘Saloon Bar’.

“I also built a 7.5-metre caravan which appeared on the ABC program, ‘New Inventors’ five or so years ago,” continued Barrett. “I used ATL Composites’ products, including foam and resins.

“ATL spent a lot of time scanning the surface of the moulds so we could get an accurate pattern for the shapes of the foam core. I built five of them, all custom designed and built, all traveling the country. It was a fantastic looking thing!

“ATL has always been fantastic to me, in their general support, timely supply of goods, always bending over backwards to help.”

For the M80 in build at Lightwave Yachts, the main shell structure, fore and side decks, and cabin sides were built with DuFLEX/foam panels cored with Divinycell H80 structural foam in a variety of thicknesses and reinforced with double bias E-Fibreglass skins. 

The cabin top and floats were strip planked with DuFLEX H80 strips with a 450grm uni-directional on either side to achieve the compound shapes and then reinforced with additional laminates to complete the structure. 

The project incorporated carbon fibre and E-fibreglass reinforcement, supplied by ATL, to provide stiffness and to achieve the weight specification for the project.

High performance KINETIX R246TX, a thixotropic epoxy, was used to laminate these reinforcements and WEST SYSTEM R105 and H206 was used for all bonding and coving, combined with WEST SYSTEM 413 Microfibre Blend and 411 Microsphere Blend powder modifiers to alter the consistency for the specific applications.

The M80 was faired with ATL’s unique Technifill XP which is a pre-filled epoxy fairing compound that is ultra-lightweight and very easy to sand.

Getting started is straightforward, according to Barrett. “People buy the plans, complete with DXF files and they can have all the flat components cut out with CNC or jigsaw by hand.

“If you have plenty of time, it’s cheap. An average handyman or woman, with basic experience with hand tools could put it together in their garage or workshop. In The Netherlands it’s being assembled under a tent to keep rain and snow out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way to boat the world over.”

M.O.S.S Australia

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Tri Review Header

Review of nine small, folding day-trimarans (2010)

by mike waters n.a.

Ful 19

As much as I like the basic concept of Jim's new boat, there are a couple of aspects that I need to mention. To put a light rig from a Hobie 16 on a boat that is FAR heavier and more stable than the boat for which it was originally designed, might prove too much for this mast, especially since the shrouds are more inboard than normal—so raising the mast compression. Normally, a Hobie would just 'go over' and so relieve the load—but not this beamy 800 lb twenty-footer! Also, the too-typical, puny 4-oz sail cloth of a regular Hobie 16 sail, is hardly man enough for this job. It's certainly a low cost start up solution and we've all admired Jim for his support to those with lesser means, but I think any builder should plan on something more substantial to be a better match for this cruiser. Finally, as the ama looks to be quite substantial in volume (guessing about 800 lbs buoyancy?), I have some concern for the strength of the single plank akas (cross beams) that act as swing arms for folding, should the builder decide to choose regular construction lumber. Sooner or later, someone will push this boat hard enough to bury an ama and that's a LOT of leverage on those arms, even if they are cleverly designed to act like huge flexible wooden leaf springs. But without seeing the details, I can only suggest that some good laminated material might be in order for these parts and perhaps Jim's plans already call for that or even some added carbon here as well. But I like the general concept and even though the boat will be no speedster, it's a design that can give a young couple on a small budget, a lot of weekend pleasure provided the conditions are within what the rig and swing arms can take.

Discovery 20

  • This particular Performance Index is simply a product of the principal things that affect multihull performance (LOA × BOA × Sail Area) all divided by the listed Weight. By taking the square root of this value, you then get a figure that very roughly reflects speed for comparison purposes. Yes, I agree there are a lot of factors NOT taken into account with this crude approximation, but the base figures used are easy to find and at least the general trend is indicated—and quite fairly so I believe.

TRIKALA 19 The Trikala 19 is from the board of imaginative designer Kurt Hughes. This boat was actually in production for a while in Spain but since then, a few have also been built by amateurs. A couple reportedly even cruised the Mediterranean in one! This is a boat design that always frustrated me—perhaps wrongly so.

Trikala 19

For me as a designer, the looks of a boat are almost as important as its performance and the Trikala looks quite stunning from the bow, with its long fine entry and streamlined deck lines. But then, as it opens out to encompass a very wide cockpit aft, it always appeared to me that something distracted the designer or he just lost interest, as the view from the stern quarter is not so elegant. It's no doubt practical but it's a shame that its wonderful efficient appearance from the bow could not in some way be maintained at the stern. But with that very personal comment aside, this is an interesting boat with no doubt a good performance. It would be a particularly interesting boat to build for someone wanting to learn about composite construction with a larger boat in mind 'down the road', as the Trikala is lightly built of foam core under fibreglass skins and would therefore provide a good learning experience. The boat does not fold in a conventional way but like some other small designs by Kurt, uses a sliding system with tubular akas, the port ones, sliding into tubes with Teflon runners behind the starboard ones—so the two sides are not exactly symmetrical—a factor that some potential buyers find disturbing, though the difference is purely cosmetic. (The larger 7 m, L7 by Mike Leneman, also uses a similar sliding system – though in this case he uses fiberglass channels—see my REPORT on SMALL TRIMARANS for more on the L7, available through my website.)

Strike 18

W17 This design of mine was created during 2009 and completed in 2010.  It's hard to review your own boat designs without being accused of inevitable bias, so I will simply tell you about it and point out the features I've incorporated and why.  However, time has now shown [2020] it's as good as I had hoped and expected her to be.

This is a primarily a boat 'to just enjoy sailing in'. She's designed to be comfortable, way drier than average, fast and efficient and is just at home on a weekend camping cruise as on the circuit.   With several boats now [2020] having each sailed and cruised over 1000 miles and with open sea passages of up to 60 miles safely accomplished, she is certainly proving very capable in experienced hands, employing intelligent sail reduction when things get rough.   Her seemingly simple hull forms give a very high efficiency and she has proven quiet and dry through a chop and with her wing mast and unique ama shape, shows an unusual ability to climb to windward with minimal leeway.   [Following an independent test and review by Wooden Boat Mag., I was asked to explain why the W17 performed so well with such simple shapes and my reply to this was published in the prestigious Professional Boatbuilding magazine #169 .. and is available to read on this website under 'Published Articles'].    

Sailing this boat is indeed a magical experience and dozens of boats are now (2020 update) being built in over 30 countries.   She's a little more time-consuming to build than others her size, but numerous owners have since dubbed her, 'The Miata of the Seas' .      For them, a few more hours is well worth the effect and this boat will take you to a whole new level above any production boat of this size out there .... and also cost you less.

W17

Comparison Chart  (created in 2010)

Model >> Fulmar 19 Windrider 17 WETA 4.4 Seaclipper 20 Discovery 20 Trikala 19 Strike 18 Cross 18 W17
Designer Blackline Prod Jim Brown Weta Marine Jim Brown Chris White Kurt Hughes Richard Woods Norm Cross Mike Waters
Description Cruise Tri Day Tri Sport Tri Cruise Tri Day Tri Day Tri Cruise Tri Day Tri Day Tri
Length 5.8m / 19' 5.3m / 17' 4.4m / 14.4' 6.1m / 20' 6.1m / 20' 5.8m / 19' 5.5m / 18' 5.49m / 18' 5.2m / 17'
Beam OA 3.35m / 11' 3.4m / 11' 3.5m / 11.5' 4.72m / 15.5' 4.65m /15.25' 4.12m / 13.3' 4.3m / 14.1' 3.57m / 11.6' 4.2m / 13.8'
Folded 1.83m / 6' 2.4m / 8' 1.7m / 5.6' 2.6m / 8.5' 2.6m / 8.5' 2.44 / 8' 2.4m / 8' 1.98m / 6.5' 2.2m / 7.2'
Float volume Low Medium Low Med-high Med-low High Medium Medium Med-high
Weight listed 118kg / 260# 145kg / 320# 100kg / 220# 363kg / 800# 238kg / 525# 245kg / 540# 272kg / 600# 181kg / 400# 190kg / 420#
Sail Area m² / ft² 7.43 / 80 13 / 139 11.5 / 124 20.4 / 220 21.8 / 235 19.25 / 208 19.2 / 204 16 / 175 18.6 / 200R
Sail source Custom Custom Gaastra Hobie 16 Custom Beach cat Beach cat Custom Custom
Construction Matl Vinylester Polyethylene Glass/foam Ply-epoxy Veneer-epoxy Composite Ply-epoxy Ply-epoxy Ply-epoxy
Cross beams - akas Vinylester Alloy tubes CF tubes Wood Wood Alloy tubes Alloy tubes Box beams Box beams
Estimated Matl. Cost ~$8000 ~$9500 ~$13000 ~$4000 ~$5000 ~$6000 ~$4000 ~$3500 ~$4000
Accessories Vinylester Al-alloy Carbon Hobie 16 x x Cuddy Wood Wing mast
Features s F&A sitting CF Mast Swing arms Beam fairing Telescopic Hinged Hinged Hinged+fairing
Plan Cost N/A N/A N/A $250 $295 $500 ~$230 $20 per sheet $195-> 230
Appearance Kayak style Day cat style Day cat style Large cockpit Large cockpit Large cockpit Large cockpit Large cockpit Large cockpit
Year of availability ~1995 ~2002 2007 2010 1986 ~1995 2009 ~1980 2010
Comfort good for 1 good for 2 sport sailing very good excellent very good very good good excellent
Space 1 2 2 4 4 4 3 3 3
P.I. = L*B*SA / Wt 64.3 81.2 93.3 85.2 136.5 97.3 86.3 91.3 112
Sq.Root of Perf.Index 8.01 9.01 9.66 9.23 11.7 9.86 9.29 9.55 10.6
Rough  speed comparison
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Austal to construct a wind-powered cargo trimaran for vela transport.

© Vela Transport

© Vela Transport

Austal announced that Austal Australasia has been awarded a contract to design and construct a wind-powered aluminium cargo trimaran for Vela Transport of Bayonne, France. The first-of-class, 66.8-metre high-value cargo vessel, based on a concept by VPLP of Paris and featuring a sailing system by MerConcept, will be constructed by Austal Philippines in Balamban, Cebu, and is scheduled for delivery in mid-2026.

The exact purchase price for the vessel cannot be disclosed for commercial reasons, however, is in the range of AUD 40–45 million.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said:

“Austal is delighted to be partnering with Vela to deliver this unique, sailing cargo trimaran—a striking looking vessel that will transport high-value goods across the Atlantic Ocean using 100% wind power.

“Austal’s proven experience in trimaran design offers Vela a large cargo space and greater flexibility while delivering superior seakeeping, efficiency, and performance. The shallow draft of the trimaran also allows greater access to secondary ports, facilitating access to Vela’s customers’ factories and warehouses.

“The use of sails for main propulsion, rather than conventional diesel-powered engines, is also expected to deliver a 99% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, compared with conventional container ships.

“Having designed and constructed 25 large trimarans for commercial and defence operators around the world since 2007, no other shipbuilder is better placed to deliver this impressive new ship for Vela, and the Austal Philippines team can’t wait to get started.

“Our thanks to the Vela team for their trust in Austal to deliver their first ever sailing cargo trimaran, a vessel that will undoubtedly play a leading role in promoting the decarbonisation and sustainability of the international maritime transport industry.”

Austal was selected after a global tender process lasting over nine months.

Jul 29 2024

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trimaran 8 metre

EAGLE 4.6 POWER TRIMARAN

trimaran 8 metre

- Efficient -Fast - Safe - Stable-

The Eagle 4.6 metre power trimaran is a practical and efficient powerboat that can be propelled at good speeds using a small outboard motor. The economical construction method, easily driven hulls, and the ability to be powered by small outboards make this a cost effective powerboat.

Widely spaced amas (outrigger hulls) make the Eagle extremely stable, and 10 individual watertight compartments make it nearly unsinkable. High stability makes the Eagle great for all forms of fishing, and the low amas make it easy to climb aboard after swimming or snorkeling. 

The slender, deep vee main hull cuts through chop easily, gives a much smoother ride than most monohull powerboats and requires less power to propel. With an 8hp outboard motor and outboard mounted hydrofoil, the Eagle has a maximum speed of around 15 knots, but is happiest and most efficient when cruising at around 10 - 11 knots. The Eagle is most suitable for outboard motors form 5hp - 15hp but can be used with smaller motors. In Initial testing the Eagle achieved over 9 knots with only 3.3hp*.

The Eagle is designed to work best with an outboard motor fitted with a hydrofoil. We recommend the SST-B Series Hydrofoil.

Stitch and tape plywood construction is simple and cost effective and the Eagle can be built by anyone with good DIY skills, although prior experience working with stitch and tape is recommended for this boat. 

*Test with 3.3hp outboard motor performed in calm conditions with one person aboard. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Length Overall: 5m (16ft)

Main Hull Beam Overall: 0.89m (2.9ft)

Main Hull Overall Length: 4.6m (15ft)

Beam Overall: 2.1m (6.9ft)

Max Persons: 3 Persons

Weight (Not including motor) : 100kg Approx

Eagle 4.6 Power Trimaran METRIC plans

Eagle 4.6 Power Trimaran METRIC plans

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Fall Hype Meter 2024

Mal and Jo are back to give out some recommendations for the latest and greatest in fandom

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The season is upon us to celebrate the hype of fall! Mal and Jo jump in to make their picks for all the latest fandom outings that you just can’t miss (06:39).

Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson Producers: Steve Ahlman and John Richter Additional Production: Arjuna Ramgopal

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Willow Nightingale Joins to Talk AEW ‘All Out’! Plus, a Worldwide Entrance Song Draft! 

The guys also introduce a new segment, Nostalgia Freakz! This week, they reminisce about the epic Kurt Angle milk truck segment.

Day One Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention

Alex Thompson Live From the DNC

Bakari and Alex talk about how the vibes are different from the RNC last month, the biggest wins for Democrats in terms of messaging and speeches, President Biden’s address, and what they’re most looking forward to from night two

Philadelphia Eagles v Baltimore Ravens

Eagles Deep Dive

Sheil is joined by Shawn Syed of SumerSports, and they take a deep dive into the Philadelphia Eagles offense with new OC Kellen Moore and what he’s bringing to Philly

trimaran 8 metre

Emergency Pod! First ‘Love Island USA’ Reunion.

Juliet and Callie had to meet again to recap the ‘Love Island USA’ reunion

Philadelphia Eagles v New England Patriots

Drake Maye’s Ascension With Mark Daniels

Brian chats with Mass Live’s Mark Daniels about Drake Maye’s rise following his solid performance in the Eagles game

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Ian, Ryan Hunn, Mayowa Quadri and Clive Palmer discuss Raheem Sterling, Brighton’s win against Everton and the state of play at Arsenal

Perseids to peak this weekend: When and how to watch the best meteor shower of the year

The perseids are active from july to september, but each year the dazzling meteor shower reliably peaks in august. this weekend is the time to see it..

Portrait of Eric Lagatta

There's a reason the Perseid meteor shower is considered to be the best of the year.

With its whizzing meteors and blazing fireballs, the celestial phenomena reliably puts on a spectacle every year for skygazers around the world. Yet perhaps the best part of the Perseids is that they peak not in the colder months like the Leonids of November or Geminids of December , but in the warm summertime.

And in 2024, that peak happens to be on track to occur this weekend.

Spectators who step outside at just the right time may be treated to the sight of up to 100 meteors streaking across the night sky per hour, leaving long wakes of light and color behind them. Even better, in a stroke of luck, this year's Perseids peak just happens to coincide with a potential appearance of the famed aurora borealis, or northern lights .

Here's what to know about the Perseid meteor shower and how you can see its peak this weekend.

Boeing Starliner: Starliner astronauts aren't 1st 'stuck' in space: Frank Rubio's delayed return set record

When does the Perseid meteor shower peak?

While the Perseids are active this year from July 14 to Sept. 1, the meteors are expected to reach a peak in activity Sunday and Monday, according to the American Meteor Society .

Lunar conditions from year to year have a strong influence on just how strong each Perseids display is during the annual peak. For instance, if a bright moon is above the horizon during the night of maximum activity, then the relatively faint Perseids meteors will be reduced and thus, difficult to view, the American Meteor Society says .

However, as long as skies are relatively clear this year, a half-illuminated moon should set by around 11:30 p.m. local time, making conditions favorable for viewing the Perseids, according to NASA . The meteor activity will then pick up from there and last until around dawn.

How can you watch the Perseids?

The Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere.

Once the moon sets, spectators should only have to contend with local light pollution and clouds that could interfere with the number of meteors they can see.

What causes the Perseids meteors?

Originating from the constellation Perseus, the Perseids are made up of leftover particles from  comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle .

Every year, Earth passes through the comet's debris trail, resulting in the Perseid meteor shower when the broken bits of Swift-Tuttle collide with our atmosphere at high speed – disintegrating and creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA .

Swift-Tuttle, which takes 133 Earth years just to orbit the sun a single time, was discovered to be the source of the Perseids in 1865 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Discovered in 1862, Swift-Tuttle is absolutely gargantuan – twice the size of the asteroid theorized to have wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago .

Though their Geminids counterpart are considered to be one of the strongest and most consistent meteor showers, the Perseids still result in anywhere from 50 to 100 meteors visible per hour under the right conditions.

The meteor shower is also famous for the fireballs it throws out. These large explosions of light and color can persist even longer than an average meteor streak, NASA says.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

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The complete list of trimarans.

There is no single trimaran that is best for everyone. Where some prefer luxury cruisers for long trips with family and friends, others might opt for a high performance racing tri for thrilling rides at breakneck speeds. With the recent spike in trimaran popularity, these days there is a perfect tri for every sailor. So to help prospective trimaran owners decide which boat is just right for them, we here at WindRider have put together a comprehensive list of the best trimarans on the market today! Read through for simple at-a-glance trimaran comparisons of boats both big and small, exhilarating and relaxing, and for all price points.

Jump to a specific sailing trimaran: Neel Weta Corsair WindRider Dragonfly Catri Astus Hobie Sea Pearl Farrier Sea Cart Multi 23 Triak SeaRail Warren Lightcraft Diam Radikal Challenger

trimaran 8 metre

Known for their award-winning luxury trimarans,   NEEL   is based in La Rochelle, the capital city of sailing in France. NEEL trimarans are built for fast cruising with an average cruising speed of about 10 knots, and are even configured to facilitate that sustained speed under motor propulsion. The NEEL 45 was notably named Cruising World’s Most Innovative Vessel in 2013, and by all accounts is an easy-to-sail, high performance boat that is just plain fun.

At a glance:

Models: NEEL 45, 65

Length: 45’ – 65’

Cost:   $$$$$

Use: Luxury cruiser

trimaran 8 metre

A fan favorite,   Weta trimarans   are fast, stable, and remarkably easy to rig. This single-sailor tri has a capacity of up to three, and the ease with which it can be transported and stored makes this a great, versatile boat for beginners. The Weta was named Sailing World’s 2010 Boat of the Year, and one ride is enough to know why: simply put, the Weta is an absolute ton of fun to sail regardless of skill level.

Models: Weta

Length: 14’5”

Cost:   $$ $$$

trimaran 8 metre

The high-end   Corsair trimaran   definitely holds its own in the categories of versatility, performance, and convenience. Boasting a rigging time of 30 minutes from trailer to sailor ,   the Corsair 42 – whose convenient folding amas makes trailering possible – is a simple option even for single sailors, though cabin space is suitable for two adults. These boats are wicked fast, capable of reaching speeds of 20+ knots, and were made for skilled sailors seeking solid construction and high performance vessels, not for beginners.

Models: Pulse 600, Sprint 750 MKII, Dash 750 MKII, Corsair 28, Cruze 970, Corsair 37, Corsair 42

Length: 19’8” – 37’

Cost:   $$$$ $

Use: Sports cruisers

trimaran 8 metre

Built for the sailor who wants to maximize the joys of sailing while minimizing any hassle, WindRider trimarans are notoriously fast, very safe, and a blast to sail from start to finish. With several models that can hold between 1 and 6 riders, including adaptive designs to allow participation from sailors of all levels of mobility, there’s something to suit every sailor’s needs. The WindRider 17, an exhilarating ride perfect for families or camper sailors, has been known to reach speeds of up to 20mph. This easy day sailor goes from trailer to sailing in under 30 minutes and is sure to fit in perfectly with whatever adventures you have planned.

Models: WR 16, 17, Tango, Rave V

Length: 10’11” – 18’3”

Cost:   $ $$$$

Use: Day sailor

trimaran 8 metre

The Danish-built   Dragonfly   trimarans come in a variety of models ranging from 25’ – 35’, all known for their spry performance, comfortable ride, and ease of use. Every model comes equipped with the unique “SwingWing” feature, a motorized system that can unfold the amas even while the boat is already underway – making it accessible to marinas and slips, and even makes trailering possible. Perfect for those who don’t want to sacrifice their comfort for high performance, the Dragonfly can breeze along at 13 knots while remaining one of the quietest compact cruisers out there.

Models: Dragonfly 25, 28, 32, 35, 1200

Length: 25’ – 39’

trimaran 8 metre

Designed for both safe cruising as well as for high speed racing,   Catri trimarans   will make your day. Especially noteworthy is the Catri 25, a stable yet wildly fast foiling trimaran with accommodations for up to 6 people. With profiles optimized for speeds of 25+ knots when foiling, this is no beginner’s sailboat. The special attention paid to stability in the foil design allows the Catri to be a single sailor vessel, even at foiling speed, with no special physical abilities. Whether you’re taking a small crew for longer rides at shuddering speeds or bringing the whole family along for a shorter, but still thrilling sail, the Catri is truly one of a kind.

Models: Catri 25

Length: 25’

Use: Cruiser/racer

trimaran 8 metre

A popular brand of trimaran in Europe,   Astus   has recently made its way to the US market to the delight of sailors on this side of the pond. Designed to offer maximum pleasure with minimum hassle, all models of Astus trimarans are fast to set up, quick on the water, inherently stable, and always a joy to sail. Their outriggers are mounted on telescopic tubes for easy stowage and towing, and can even be extended and retracted on the water for access to narrow passageways and monohull slips in marinas. With models in all sizes and price points, Astus trimarans are a great option for any sailor.

Models: Astus 16.5, 18.2, 20.2, 22, 24

Cabin: Some models

Length: 16’ – 24’

Use: Sport cruisers

HOBIE ADVENTURE ISLAND

trimaran 8 metre

Great for beginners and adventurers alike, the   Hobie Mirage Adventure Island   series is nothing if not just plain fun. With the option to use as a kayak or as a very basic trimaran, the Hobie is transportable, versatile, unintimidating, lightweight, and wonderfully affordable. The pedal system known as “Mirage Drive” allows a person to pedal the kayak using their legs for an extra kick of movement in slow winds. Amas tuck close to the main hull for docking or car-topping, adding serious ease and convenience to the exhilarating experience of the Hobie.

Models: Hobie Mirage Adventure Island, Mirage Tandem Island

Length: 16’7” – 18’6”

Use: Convertible kayak/trimarans

trimaran 8 metre

Best known for its use in camp cruising excursions, the   Sea Pearl   offers a roomy main hull and particular ability to sail in very shallow waters, making beaching and launching a breeze. The lightweight Sea Pearl trimaran is easy to tow, and the larger-than-expected cabin opens this vessel up for overnight adventures with plenty of storage space. The simple design makes the Sea Pearl notoriously low maintenance, and the ease it takes to rig and sail it add to the overall delight of owning this boat.

Models: Sea Pearl

Length: 21’

Use: Camper cruiser

trimaran 8 metre

Quick, lightweight, roomy, and trailerable,   Farrier trimarans   are made for versatility to fit every sailor’s needs. Different Farrier models are available in plan or kit boat form for those who appreciate building their boat themselves, but of course, also as the full production sail-away boat for the rest of us. Single-handed rigging and launching takes under 10 minutes from start to finish, minimizing hassle and getting you on the water fast. All non-racing Farrier designs use a minimum wind capsize speed of 30 knots or more to ensure safety for all those aboard. Add the roomy cabin and high speed capabilities to the equation and you’ve got a boat that is great fun for everyone.

Models:   F-22, 24, 25, 82, 27, 28, 31, 9A, 9AX, 9R, 32, 33, 33R, 33ST, 36, 39, 41, 44R

Length: 23’ – 39’4”

Cost:   $$$ $$

Use: Sport cruisers/racers

trimaran 8 metre

One of the biggest names in the game,   SeaCart   is internationally noted for its high performance trimarans that far exceed expectations for a production boat of its size. The SeaCart trimaran performs as brilliantly off the water as it does on with its super-light and efficient harbor folding system, making light work of trailering. Notoriously easy to manage and maintain, the SeaCart 26 One Design is the ultimate day racing trimaran, designed for both course and inshore/coastal distance racing. Absolutely worth the international buzz it has garnered, the SeaCart is a thrill from beginning to end.

Models:   SeaCart 26

Length: 26’

trimaran 8 metre

A high performance racer class, the   Multi 23   is a lightweight, powerful trimaran known for its wicked speed of up to 25 knots. Multi trimarans of both available configurations were designed to give beach cat thrills and speed without any of the stability or seaworthy concerns. Open ocean sailing is no issue for the Multi’s big bows, which do their job to keep her stable. Built for sailors with a need for speed, the Multi makes a perfect weekend boat for racers, especially those with a taste for boat camping.

Models:   Multi 23

Length: 23’

trimaran 8 metre

Another dual outrigger sailing kayak/canoe design,   the Triak trimaran   was designed to be effortless and fun, especially for beginners. Paddle the kayak with sails furled, use the foot pedals for an extra kick of momentum, or sail with just the mainsail – the only boat in its class to feature an asymmetrical spinnaker – for exhilarating speeds and a blast on the water. Car-top the Triak anywhere for a quick sail or plan for a week long expedition, but always count on having a great time on this easy little boat.

Models:   Triak

Length: 18’

Use: Convertible kayak/trimaran

trimaran 8 metre

SeaRail trimarans   are known for being affordable, light weight, trailerable trimarans that offer the perfect combination of exciting and relaxing experiences to a wide range of sailors. Whether it’s day sailing with your family, resort or camper sailing, SeaRail trimarans are ideal leisure vessels. Leave the hassle to the other boats – the SeaRail takes you from trailer to sailor in 15 minutes. But don’t let its reputation as a leisure tri fool you: if speed is what you want, rest assured that the SeaRail can deliver that as well.

Models:   SeaRail 19

WARREN LIGHTCRAFT

trimaran 8 metre

Warren Lightcraft trimarans , another example of a convertible kayak-to-sailboat option, are known for their aesthetically pleasing designs that are also, as the name implies, very light for simple transportation and ease of use. Convert the kayak into a fast, high performance sailboat in just minutes, fly around on the waves all day long, then simply car-top the 68lb Warren for a maximum enjoyment, low-hassle day on the water. Perfect for sailors and paddlers of all skill levels, the Warren Lightcraft is the best of both worlds and an absolute joy to sail.

Models:   Warren Lightcraft

Length: 15’6”

trimaran 8 metre

Built strictly with racing in mind,   the Diam 24   is a light, powerful one-design class trimaran and a notoriously exceptional performer. Boasting blistering speeds of up to 30 knots, Diam trimarans are not intended for beginners. For racers who crave the very best in terms of intense speeds, smooth handling and impeccable performance, the Diam is the red-hot one-design racing tri for you.

Models:   Diam 24

Length: 24’

trimaran 8 metre

For the sailor who prefers the finer things in life, the   Radikal 26   delivers. Perfect for bringing the whole family out for a day on the water, this high performance, trailerable sailing trimaran strikes the most luxurious balance between quicksilver speeds and a smooth, comfortable ride. The Radikal 26 trimaran is as convenient to transport and set up as it is pleasant to sail, with a folding system that minimizes rigging hassle and also makes this a trailerable tri. Built for a fast and comfortable sail rather than a hold-onto-your-seats thrill, one-the-water safety and overall pleasure makes the Radikal 26 what it is.

Models:   Radikal 26

Use: Sport cruiser

trimaran 8 metre

A solidly-built, single-handed trimaran, the Challenger also doubles as an adaptive design – meaning it is made to accommodate sailors of all levels of physical mobility. Best suited to lakes, the Challenger is a very safe, seaworthy boat for sailors of all ages and experience levels. Add to this the ease of owning, transporting and maintaining the Challenger trimaran and what you get is a simple, fun sailboat perfect both for beginners and those seeking a cheap thrill alike.

Models:   Challenger

At a glance comparison:

Astus 16.5, 18.2, 20.2, 22, 24 16’ – 24’ Sport cruiser Some models
Catri 25 25’ Cruiser/racer Y
Challenger - Day sailor N
Pulse 600, Sprint 750 MKII, Dash 750 MKII, Cruze 970, Corsair 28, 37, 42 19’8” – 37’ Sport cruisers Y
Diam 24 24’ Racer N
Dragonfly 25, 28, 32, 35, 1200 25’ – 39’ Luxury cruiser Y
F-22, 24, 25, 82, 27, 28, 31, 9A, 9AX, 9R, 32, 33, 33R, 33ST, 36, 39, 41, 44R 23’ – 39’ 4” Sport cruisers/racers Y
Mirage Island, Mirage Tandem Island 16’7” – 18’6” Convertible kayak/trimarans N
Multi 23 22’ Racer Y
NEEL 45, 65 44’ – 65’ Luxury cruiser Y
Radikal 26 26’ Sport cruiser Y
Sea Pearl 21’ Camper cruiser Y
SeaCart 26 26’ Racer Y
SeaRail 19 18’ Day sailor N
Triak 18’ Convertible kayak/trimaran N
Warren Lightcraft 15’6” Convertible kayak/trimaran N
Weta 14’5” Racer N
WR 16, 17, Tango, Rave V 10’11” – 18’3” Day sailor N

Did we miss one? Let us know. Tell us what you sail and what you like about each boat in the comments below.

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trimaran 8 metre

6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing

trimaran 8 metre

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Having a boat costs a lot of money, even when you are not using it, marina fees, etc. And once it is in the water most sailors never go very far from their “home marina” and sailing will be somewhat restricted. However, what if you could fold your trimaran and put it on a trailer, store it at your house, and go to a new sailing spot the next time?

Here are 6 of the best trailerable trimaran:

  • The Dragonfly series
  • Corsair Series
  • Windrider 17

Choosing the best trailerable trimaran (a multi-hull with three “hulls”) will depend on crucial factors like speed, durability, design, and ease of transportation. This article is here to help you get started with your research and hopefully help you on the way towards your dream boat!

Table of Contents

Cruising Trimarans That Can Be Transported

Cruising boats are made for multiday sailing either on the coast of your favorite sailing area or full-out blue-water ocean crossings. Extended living should be a priority in these designs.

1. The Dragonfly 25 and 28 (Dragon Fly Series)

Dragonfly is in the business of making the “best foldable trimarans on the planet” many would agree with this statement. Dragonfly is known for its commitment to easy trailering and ease of use, shown in designs for the Dragonfly 25 and Dragonfly 28.

The “Swing Wing” system on the linchpins is one of the key features of the dragonfly series. The system’s application makes it possible for the trimaran to narrow its beam as much as 50%.

Attesting to its Scandinavian manufacturing, most parts of the trimaran are made in-house. This guarantees quality and ensures that all used parts are above standard.

You don’t need to look further than the Dragonfly 25. Its centerboard slightly offset to port. Extra space is created in the main hull’s interior with a trunk buried under a settee. Performance-wise, the low drag and narrow hull shape allow the boat to reach blistering speeds.

Dragonfly 28 In Numbers

  • Length: 8.75m
  • Beam folded: 2.54m
  • Max crew: 5-7 people
  • Max Speed: 22+knots

Dragonfly 25 In Numbers

  • Length: 7.65m
  • Beam folded: 2.30m
  • Max crew: 4-6 people
  • Max Speed: 21+knots

2. Farrier F-22

New Zealand enters the trimaran manufacturing race with this premium sea goer. The vessel comes in two different versions: a performance variation with more horsepower and a full cabin cruising version. 

Compared to the dragon series the F-22 has the biggest allowance for space.

The F-22 is known for being one of the easiest trimarans to fold and load.

The sports version of the F-22 has some really good performance to offer. It has an aggressive spirit: you can mount a sail while leaving plenty of space for the boat’s fine entry and flared forward sections. The build quality is also topnotch—a lasting memorial to a principle that Ian Farrier always worked by: excellence.

Farrier F-22 In Numbers

  • Length: 7.0m
  • Beam folded: 2.5m
  • Max crew: 3-5 people
  • Max Speed: 20+knots

3. Corsair Series

This boat series has an exciting history. Farrier created it to promote his trailerable tri concept. However, the series is now independent with a top-class vehicle to its name.

The Corsair 760 is listed as providing some of the best performance and safety benefits to sailors.

Building off the spirit of excellence of the founder, the Corsair 760 has created a boat with comfort and racing potential. The boat can be tricky to handle at first, but it will be a breeze once you get the hang of it.

It is also worth noting that the corsair 37 is the largest trailerable trimaran on the market today.

Daysail Trimarans That Can Be Transported

Boats that are made for dayssailing are usually smaller, cheaper and more easily handled. They are perfect for those looking to enjoy a full day on the water in calm weather, but are usually less suitable for multiday events or rough sea sailing.

4. The Astus Models (20ft, 22.5ft, and 24ft)

If you’re looking for something small but still capable of doing day sailing, this 22.5-foot trimaran is for you. Built for speed and maneuverability, the Astus 22.5 has optional foils to optimize speed.

The modern design, coupled with the spacious interior, can fit up to four beds. Accordingly, this trimaran is suited for family outings. 

The Astus brand specializes in transportable trimarans, worth noting is that some models need a specific trailer whilst the smaller boats use a standard trailer.

5. Weta 14.5

The 2019 Weta trimaran is a 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) trimaran featuring a carbon frame, centerboard, rudder foil, and rudder shock. The hull is made from fiberglass and foam. The Weta is built for strength and speed based on these lightweight materials. 

The 2019 Weta trimaran is easy to sail and is worth considering whether you want to take a quiet sail, race with your friends, or take kids to a sailing lesson. It has a simple design and is easy to set up independently.

The small size makes it more suitable for daysailing in good weather rather than multiday cruising, although more experienced sailors will of course push the limits of this boat.

6. WindRider 17

The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market. It packs high performance for a low cost. This trimaran has a light rotating mast to boost performance, and a full-battened mainsail optimizes visibility. 

This sailboat is made from rotomolded polyethylene, which is more durable than fiberglass and demands less maintenance.

The WindRider 17 has a comfortable interior and can fit six adults. This is an ideal choice for social sailing for a couple or a family and friends. It’s easy to ride, and a shallow draft allows easy maneuverability. 

What’s the Largest Trailerable Trimaran?

The largest trailerable trimaran is the Corsair 37 , this multihull is built for single-handed cruising while still maintaining the ability to comfortably seat 6 people.

The Corsair 37 provides comfort, speed, and safety. It also contains just enough space to accommodate amenities like a propane stove, a sink, and other equipment.

The vessel is designed to be a performance cruiser. It features an aluminum rotating wing mast, carbon fiber bowsprit, and premium deck hardware. The corsair can still cut through the water with ease despite its size, putting the wind in your sails.

What Is a Catamaran?

trimaran 8 metre

A catamaran is a boat with two hulls (a trimaran has three) connected by a bridge deck. Catamarans usually offer more space than both monohulls and trimarans of the same length. The catamaran is usually somewhat slower than a trimaran but faster than a monohull. They are usually made of fiberglass or carbon fiber.

Catamarans come in all shapes and sizes. You can find straightforward sailing catamarans, perfect for those who are only starting their sailing journey. Larger sailing catamarans have become extremely popular for long-distance sailing.

There are also power catamarans, they have huge diesel-powered engines (sometimes electric) and no sails. Also called “power cats”, these boats can reach 30+kts.

Can a Trimaran Be Trailerable?

As discussed above, some trimarans are possible to put on a trailer and move to another sailing area or to be stored at home. This is usually not possible with catamarans but is sometimes possible with the trimarans that are fitted with foldable amas (the two outer “floats” or “hulls”).

Some trimarans can be trailerable, this is mainly due to the ability to drastically decrease the vessels beam, sometimes as much as 50%. This allows the trailer plus trimaran to be below the legal requirements of the road.

Final Thoughts

It has proven difficult to beat the trimaran in terms of speed. Through the ages, this type of vessel has proven to be immensely enjoyable in all kinds of sailing activities. These can range from sea adventures to waterborne relaxation in your free time.

Trimarans come in various types, foldable, for cruising or racing, etc. However, there is a common factor: many of the small ones are trailerable. This makes them easier to move than most other types of boats.

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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Fact-checking Joe Biden on Day 1 of 2024 Democratic National Convention

President Joe Biden speaks Aug. 19, 2024, during the first day of Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (AP)

President Joe Biden speaks Aug. 19, 2024, during the first day of Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (AP)

CHICAGO — President Joe Biden, in an often fiery speech, addressed a Democratic convention for which, until just a few weeks earlier, he had expected to be the one accepting his party’s nomination.

The audience in the United Center was appreciative, interrupting Biden with chants of "Thank you, Joe."

With his address, Biden outlined his purpose to the party: pass the torch to a new leader. Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, became the party’s nominee after Biden announced in July that he would cede the nomination he had already clinched, following age-related concerns visible in his June 27 debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

Biden focused his address on threats to democracy from extremism, at times raising his voice in anger. "We came together in 2020 to save democracy," he said. 

Harris made a surprise trip to the lectern earlier in the evening, speaking briefly and garnering  thunderous applause. "When we fight," Harris started to say, before the crowd completed the phrase, "we win." 

Shortly after an energetic speech from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton praised Biden. Alluding to Harris’ status as the second woman ever to head a Democratic ticket, Clinton name-checked other pioneering Democratic women, including presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm in the 1970s and vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro in the 1980s.

Multiple speakers during the hourslong program criticized Trump-era policies, including the Supreme Court appointments that enabled the overturning of the abortion decision Roe v. Wade, by repeating the slogan, "We’re not going back." 

Here are fact-checks of statements by a range of speakers at the convention’s first night.

Biden: "And you know, Trump will do everything to ban abortion nationwide."

Since April, Trump has repeatedly said he believes abortion legislation should be "left up to the states." Trump also told reporters in April that he wouldn’t sign a national ban.

As president, Trump endorsed a 20-week national abortion ban that House Republicans backed. Earlier in this election year, he floated support for 15- or 16-week federal abortion bans, news outlets reported.

Trump hasn’t said whether he supports other ways abortion could be restricted across the country, including using the Comstock Act to ban mailing abortion pills or other equipment used in abortion procedures.

DNC video advertisement: Trump said, "There has to be some form of punishment" for women who have abortions.

Mostly False .

Trump made this comment during a March 2016 MSNBC town hall, but the ad failed to acknowledge that Trump walked back the comment the same day after facing criticism. He said it was doctors, not women, who should be punished for performing outlawed abortions.

In the years since he made that statement, we found no evidence that Trump has repeated it or that he currently supports penalties for women who get abortions.

trimaran 8 metre

Biden: "Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin, seniors with diabetes will pay $35 a month."

Half True .

The Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed in 2022, capped out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month for Medicare enrollees starting in 2023.

Drug pricing experts told PolitiFact that most Medicare enrollees likely were not paying $400 a month before these changes, and research supports that. One government estimate found that people with diabetes enrolled in Medicare or private insurance paid an average of $452 a year — not a month. Uninsured users, however, paid more than twice as much on average for the drug, or about $996 annually.

Costs and other factors vary, experts said, so it is possible that some Medicare enrollees might have paid that much in a given month.

Biden: "Trump wants to cut Social Security and Medicare."

Mostly False for Social Security and Mostly False for Medicare.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. 

More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview , Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security: "There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting." However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump’s campaign website says that not "a single penny" should be cut from Social Security.

On Medicare, Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut the health care program for seniors.

During his presidency, Trump released four successive annual budgets that proposed cutting Medicare. However, experts are divided on how much those cuts would have hurt beneficiaries had they been enacted.

Biden: "The result of the executive action I took: Border encounters have dropped over 50%. In fact, there are fewer border crossings today than when Donald Trump left office."

Mostly True. 

Biden’s data needs context. Illegal border crossings in July were lower than in December 2020, Trump’s last full month in office.

But experts caution against attributing changes in immigration to a single policy. The executive action, which limits people’s ability to apply for asylum at the southwest border, took effect in June, so it’s unclear whether the declining trend will continue.

In July, Border Patrol encountered migrants crossing between ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border about 56,408 times, a 52% drop from the approximately 117,900 in May. 

From October 2020 to January 2021 — Trump’s last few months in office — Border Patrol encountered immigrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border about 71,200 times, on average. In December, Trump’s last full month in office, there were 71,140 encounters.

Biden: "On (Trump’s) watch the murder rate went up 30%, the biggest increase in history."

The number of murders in the U.S. rose by 5,795 from 2019 to 2020, when Trump was president. That’s a jump of about 35%, making it the largest one-year increase since such data began being systematically recorded in the early 1960s.

However, crime data analysts generally attribute most of the reason for the murder spike to a confluence of the coronavirus pandemic and the social upheaval following George Floyd’s murder, not Trump’s actions.

Biden: The average semiconductor industry salary "will be over $100,000 a year, and you don't need a college degree."

Mostly False . 

The average salary in the semiconductor industry is around $170,000, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association, a trade group, and Oxford Economics. This figure includes all jobs within the industry and not only those that don’t require a college degree.

The most a person makes without a four-year degree is about $70,000, according to a 2021 report from the Semiconductor Industry Association and Oxford Economics.

Biden: During his tenure there has been the "smallest racial wealth gap in 20 years."

Biden referred to 2022 Federal Reserve data that showed a modest decrease in the wealth ratio between white and Black Americans. For every $100 the average white family had in wealth, the average Black family had $15.75.

That was the smallest gap in 20 years. However, economists use two measures to assess the racial wealth gap. By a different measure — the dollar amount difference in wealth — the gap widened between white and Black Americans to its largest disparity since 1989.

Biden: "We have 1,000 billionaires in America. You know what their average tax rate (is)? 8.2%."

Today, the richest Americans pay an effective tax rate of more than 20% on the income the government counts under the current tax code. Biden’s 8% figure compares their tax payments with an amount that includes income that is not currently taxed under law. This makes it a theoretical figure, not something anyone is supposed to pay under the law.

trimaran 8 metre

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Trump "fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made his own kind of history: the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions."

It’s unclear whether Trump fell asleep during the Manhattan trial that ended with the former president found guilty on all counts. The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reported that Trump "appeared to nod off a few times, his mouth going slack and his head drooping onto his chest." But Trump and his team have rebutted the he-was-sleeping claims. 

Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

The U.S. Constitution doesn’t prevent Trump from running for president following his conviction. Convicted felons have run for president in the past.

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.: Trump calls for "the termination of all rules, regulations and articles, even those in the Constitution."

In 2022, Trump said on Truth Social that election fraud could be the basis for the "termination" of rules found in the U.S. Constitution. We rated Trump’s statement Pants on Fire .

"A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!" Trump wrote.

There is no mechanism for the "termination" of constitutional rules because of undesired election results.

Days later Trump sought to walk back his words, posting again on Truth Social , "The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to ‘terminate’ the Constitution," and called it "disinformation and lies."

trimaran 8 metre

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio: Sen. J.D. Vance has "been busy writing the foreword to the book from the Project 2025 guy."

In June, before Trump selected him as his running mate, Vance, R-Ohio, wrote on X that he was "thrilled to write the foreword" for Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts’ forthcoming book, "Dawn’s Early Light." Marketing materials for the book also feature Vance’s name on the cover as foreword author.

The Heritage Foundation led Project 2025 and Roberts, who has promoted the work, has often been described as the project’s leader and architect. The Trump-Vance campaign has sought to distance itself from Project 2025, and Vance has said Roberts speaks neither for him nor the campaign.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.: "Want to have a child, but need IVF? Too bad. That’s shut down, too (under Trump)."

In February, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered children, prompting some clinics in the state to pause in vitro fertilization treatments. After backlash, Alabama lawmakers passed legislation to shield IVF providers from civil or criminal liability and clinics resumed treatment.

Some Republicans in Congress say they believe life begins at conception, and that fertilized eggs should be granted full rights and legal protections. But Trump hasn't embraced that position.  

On April 8, Trump released a video on his abortion position in which he said that abortion legislation should be left to the states and that he supports making it "easier" for families to have babies, not harder. "That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments, like IVF, in every state in America," Trump said. "I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby." 

The Republican National Committee’s 2024 platform , written by appointees of the RNC and the Trump campaign, supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitution’s 14th Amendment . (Trump doesn’t include this on his core promises list .) If established by legislation, fetal personhood would provide legal rights to embryos and fetuses and could curtail the practice of IVF, experts say.

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif.: "While schools closed, and dead bodies filled morgues, Donald Trump downplayed the virus. He told us to inject bleach into our bodies."

At a 2020 White House press briefing, Trump asked William Bryan, a Department of Homeland Security undersecretary, to study whether ultraviolet light could be effective "inside the body" to treat COVID-19 or whether disinfectants could combat the virus "by injection inside."

After Bryan said his lab did not study disinfectant injection, Trump clarified that using disinfectants "would not be through injection." Trump later told reporters he was being "sarcastic" when referring to injections.

Garcia’s statement contains an element of truth; Trump did suggest studying these possibilities. However, Trump never instructed Americans to inject disinfectants to combat COVID-19.

PolitiFact Chief Correspondent Louis Jacobson, Senior Correspondent Amy Sherman, Staff Writers Samantha Putterman, Sara Swann, Loreben Tuquero and Maria Ramirez Uribe contributed to this story. 

Our convention fact-checks rely on both new and previously reported work. We link to past work whenever possible. In some cases, a fact-check rating may be different tonight than in past versions. In those cases, either details of what the candidate said, or how the candidate said it, differed enough that we evaluated it anew. ​

Our Sources

Sources linked in story.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by politifact staff.

trimaran 8 metre

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trimaran 8 metre

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domus-yacht-concept-underway

Groundbreaking 40m zero-emission trimaran concept Domus unveiled

Rob Doyle Design and Van Geest Design have collaborated to present Domus, a 40 metre sailing trimaran with interior volume that rivals a 60 metre motor yacht.

With speed, space and eco-conscious cruising at the forefront of the design, Domus aims to become the first truly zero-emission yacht over 750 gross tonnes.

“The uniquely designed combination of solar power, hydro-regeneration technology and hydrogen fuel cells gives Domus unlimited range with zero emissions,” the design team said.

“An optimised system of solar power and battery storage allows the yacht to motor during daylight hours and then transfer over to the battery system at night. This also means that Domus is fully silent with zero emissions while at anchor.”

Alongside veritable eco-credentials, Domus has been designed with performance in mind. To reduce drag and improve speeds, it will be able to heel at an angle of two degrees. This will also ensure a comfortable cruise with minimal rolling.

The yacht’s interior space covers 783 square metres split between two decks. There are six guest cabins in total, with four VIPs and two sizeable owner’s suites each equipped with their own lounge area.

Amenities include a cinema room, gym and saloon with a bar. Domus also hosts a spa area with a swimming pool.

The word Domus means a single-storey house built around an atrium, with many rooms opening up off the central atrium. The yacht borrows aspects of this design to create a lofty, open feeling on board.

Working together on the project, Rob Doyle and Van Geest Design have done extensive research into the practicalities and safety elements associated with trimarans. “We strongly believe if you want the benefits of multihulls at a 40-metre-plus size the only practical solution is a trimaran," the design team added.

“Just because superyachts are what they are now, does not mean they should stay this way. We were constantly looking at every aspect of the design and saying, 'is there a better way'? We truly believe that this project will redefine what a multi-hull sailing superyacht can be."

Alongside the 40 metre concept, the design duo are working on a larger version of the concept for a shipyard.

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trimaran 8 metre

Trimaran - 10 Things You Should Know About the Trimaran

  • The launch by Austal of the longest multi-hull vessel ever is physical proof that a shipyard has finally found a way to tap the huge potential of a vessel type that was actually invented many centuries ago by the Hawaiians: namely the 'trimaran' or stabilised monohull. We can at last design a vessel for speed and comfort without one (design goal) compromising the other.  
  • Austal can make the main (centre) hull long and slender to gain higher speeds with today's engines AND at the same time design the side hulls, which are necessary to make this long hull stable, in a way that means that the roll action of the vessel can be "tuned" for comfort.  
  • But the design is complex: of all the shipyards in the world it is only Austal that has proven it has the skills and experience to carry out the development. So many aspects must be taken into account in optimising the design: the number of combinations is almost unlimited.  
  • Today catamarans dominate the high speed vessel market around the world: their wide decks, ability to load bow and stern, and their efficiency through the water have meant this very versatile platform accounts for over 70% of all high speed ferries being delivered. Their versatility and economy will mean that catamarans will remain a major part of the market going forward too. But in many cases where a catamaran today plies a route through difficult sea conditions the trimaran will provide a premium service for the discerning operator.  
  • The enhanced sea-keeping of the trimaran will help operators offer better service on existing routes plus also begin operations on new routes where, until today, sea conditions had made them too challenging.  

For example, an operator investigating a new route discovers that for sea keeping (passenger comfort) a 100 metre long catamaran is required. This platform has the capacity for 1000 passengers and 250 cars by nature of the large box-style garage deck and superstructure of the catamaran design. The cost of this vessel is proportionate to the volume and power required to operate at high speed (40 knots). Unfortunately the operator does not have the capacity to fill such a vessel so he cannot afford to purchase or operate the 100 metre catamaran. A smaller catamaran i.e. 60-70 metres with the appropriate passenger and car carrying ability will be unable to handle the sea conditions and so will likely lead to the demise of the business through passenger dissatisfaction and cancelled sailings.

With the trimaran design it is now possible to build a 100 metre vessel with the same or better sea keeping as the 100 metre catamaran but without the correspondingly large box-style garage deck and superstructure. The trimaran can effectively be a long slender monohull only with side supports. The car carrying and passenger volume is located only above the centre hull and can be adjusted to equate to that of a 40 to a 100 metre catamaran.

The cost of the vessel therefore becomes proportionate to the desired capacity rather than overall length as the flexible nature of the trimaran design allows construction volume and powering requirements to more closely follow capacity requirements.

The trimaran enables the operator in this example to achieve both the capital investment and sea keeping suited to his particular route.

  • Endorsement of the trimaran design has come from the highest possible levels. In the commercial market Fred. Olsen, S.A. is a world leader in developing high speed vessel technologies. It was due to the foresight and determination of Fred. Olsen, S.A. that we see the first (and world's largest) trimaran launched by Austal on September 25, 2004. The 127m long, 30m wide "Benchijigua Express" is a trail-blazing and revolutionary craft.  
  • The other major endorsement of the trimaran concept has come from the US Navy who has chosen the Austal trimaran (the team is led by giant US defence contractor, General Dynamics) as one of two vessel types that will go through final design this year and move into production during 2005. The project is the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and ultimately the US Navy sees a need for up to 60 of these vessels.  
  • The trimaran has already become the basis of a large high speed vehicle ferry and a surface combatant project. Other applications that are already emerging include passenger-only ferries, patrol vessels and supply vessels. In some of these applications the benefits of the trimaran comfort at zero/low speed will also be utilised. The trimaran also has a very low wake-wash and this is a vital characteristic that can be exploited on ferry services close to communities.  
  • May 2005 is a big month in the history of high speed transport. Following the delivery from Austal via the Cape of Good Hope the full promise of this technology is shortly to be realised in service.

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Sails

Wayne Barrett has been building boats for 50 years, many of them world renowned. His latest venture is a DIY trimaran kit that embodies his half-century of expertise and celebrates “the joy of building and sailing your own creation”.

21 April 2020

Advertisement

Famed in multihull circles and the creator of high profile vessels such as Trilogy and Indian Chief designed by Tony Grainger, and Traveller, the 50-foot tri designed by Dick Newick, Wayne Barrett describes himself as “a little guy designing boats on the kitchen table in an apartment on the Gold Coast, with a nice view over the lake.”

He has built some “100 or so boats” over the years and his passion and prowess have inspired him to create the M80 trimaran, an 8-metre vessel designed with the home builder in mind; those with limited time or space, and some basic experience with hand tools.

The versatile M80 can be specified for cruising or racing and the larger 9-metre design will have a range enough to sail across the Atlantic.

“In 2021, I’m planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a promotional exercise to showcase the vessel. It’s very manageable for single-handed sailing.”

thumb img

The concept arose from Barrett’s belief that sailing should be within everybody’s reach.

“I’ve built quite a few complicated, high-performance multihulls over the years and I’m aware they consume time that’s way beyond what an amateur could devote to a build.

I used the flat panel concept, adapted to tri design and put it out there for amateur or professional builders.

“A friend of mine I’ve been sailing with for 40 years needed a new modern Buccaneer 24, a plywood 24-foot Crowther around in 1966. I’ve built a few of them, and a B33, B40 and a Spindrift 37. I thought about it for a year or so, then did something about it.

The spiritual successor to the Crowther Buccaneer 24,  Mojo, was originally designed with a central cockpit, a double bunk down aft and a galley and head forward, which I thought was a great concept. But I scrapped that idea and went with a conventional aft cockpit.”

The first boat, in Brazil, set sail just over three years ago and since then, Barrett has sold plans around the world.

“A mate of mine from Geelong, Andrew Johnson, is building one at Lightwave Yachts at Coomera on the Gold Coast with the guidance of Roger Overell. It’s well into the final stages and will be used for cruising. It’s made totally from carbon, so it’s light and strong.

“There’s another one being built in France, a 6-metre design being built in Melbourne and a 9-metre design close to completion in The Netherlands. I’ve sold 9-metre plans to Germany and one in Sydney, revised to be all flat panel, foam and round bilge, with aesthetics to suit that owner.”

The main attributes of the design that have such broad appeal are its simplicity and economical package.

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“Initially the concept was built around plywood, which has been a common material for 100 years and most people are familiar with it,” explained Barrett. “The benefit of ply is that a guy can build it in his own shed, over time. But other than the 9-metre in The Netherlands, people are all keen on the foam and epoxy.

“Foam and epoxy is a bit more costly, but comparing the total price is attractive for an amateur builder. It can be built from CNC cut panels in a fraction of the time compared to some other options, alternatively you can build it from our easy to follow plan set for DuraKore, DuFlex or foam core kits.”

Barrett has worked with ATL Composites for the past 25 years on numerous projects, including the 9.2-metre Trilogy, which held the Aust Championship title for around 10 years, Traveller and the 13-metre Gary Lidgard-designed cat Saloon Bar .

“I also built a 7.5-metre caravan which appeared on the ABC program, ‘New Inventors’ five or so years ago,” continued Barrett. “I used ATL Composites ’ products, including foam and resins.

“ATL spent a lot of time scanning the surface of the moulds so we could get an accurate pattern for the shapes of the foam core. I built five of them, all custom designed and built, all traveling the country. It was a fantastic looking thing!

“ATL has always been fantastic to me, in their general support, timely supply of goods, always bending over backwards to help.”

Getting started is straightforward, according to Barrett.

“People buy the M80 plans, complete with DXF files and they can have all the flat components cut out with CNC or jigsaw by hand”.

“If you have plenty of time, it’s cheap. An average handyman or woman, with basic experience with hand tools could put it together in their garage or workshop. In The Netherlands it’s being assembled under a tent to keep rain and snow out. Where there’s a will, there’s a way to boat the world over.”

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FAO 7.8 meter trimaran ocean capable?

Discussion in ' Multihulls ' started by Steel Hull , Sep 30, 2023 .

  • fao trimaran
  • wharram tiki 26 catamaran

Steel Hull

Steel Hull Junior Member

Gentlemen, please general opinion on this design; FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/vesseldesign/sol-2a Could a FAO 7.8 meter trimaran, properly build, decked over, with a minimalist cabin and low aspect junk rig, do the same kind of offshore and ocean voyaging as a Wharram Tiki 26? Drogue or sea anchor can be used when conditions get too bad. Built in buoancy. Solo sailing most or with max. 2 persons. Emphasis on safety not speed. Or is it a complete bad idea? I know I am comparing a tri vs a catamaran. But I like the looks of the design, relatively easy and economic to build, the fact that I can build her in my shed and she can easily be trailed and stored. Can be shipped in a 30ft container. Low hp outboard engine. Thank you in advance for the input!  

oldmulti

oldmulti Senior Member

Steel Hull. The FAO 7.8 mtr tri was designed for near shore fishing and transport etc. Yes it could cross an ocean if sailed by some very good sea people but there are several issues to deal with. The floats are small, modern ocean going tri's have larger floats. Larger floats provide more stability to minimize the chance of capsize. The problem with multihulls is you can be capsized by large waves as much as you can be capsized by wind forces. If you put larger floats on this design you will need stronger cross arms (beams) to deal with the extra stability. This leads to the second problem the weight of this tri in its basic form is 1770 lbs. This is a light weight for a 26 foot trimaran. After you modify it to add a cabin and make it ocean crossing capable you will add 100's of extra pounds of weight and if you have larger floats and crossbeams you will add more weight. This is not good and can compromise a reasonable design. An alternative may be EG a Scarab 8 mtr tri that can be built in plywood and is designed to be an ocean crosser. Very good plans available at $150 Australian at: Plans for the Scarab 8 folding trimaran http://www.teamscarab.com.au/Scarab8Des.html Start from a design intended to be a good safe cruiser that will have a resale value. The one thing I have learnt over my time is if you start cheap and modify you will end up with a boat that requires constant maintenance and never really achieves what you want. If you like EG a Tiki 26 then build one. Plans are a very cheap part of an overall build and in the end save you money and time as you will not be guessing about what is needed to be made stronger or EG how much material is needed to buy etc. Hope you find what you want.  
Oldmulti, thank you for the clearly explained answer. I appreciate it and draw my conclusions from it and will look forward to other designs and the Scarab you suggested. (in fact, I already have the plans for the Scarab 650 but that dates from years ago with a different mindset) Thanks again!  

kapnD

kapnD Senior Member

The FAO7.8 looks like a quite capable hull for minimalist cruising, as long as weights are not excessive. This boat is specifically designed to carry a big load of fish safely, so adding a bit of weight is not going to sink it!  

gonzo

gonzo Senior Member

Converting that boat to steel is going to make it heavier. Why don't you stick to the original design?  
KapnD thanky you for your opinion Dear Gonzo, you accidentally mixed it this conversation up with another thread. This is about the capability of the FAO 7.8 meter tri... Thank you for the reply anyway  

Cheevo

Cheevo Junior Member

You may find the Van-2 design interesting as well. Lengthen the design and strip plank it and you will have a fine grass roots vessel. FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/vesseldesign/van-2  

waterbear

waterbear Senior Member

I say yes, you can take that design offshore. Whether it's a good idea really boils down to your own tolerance for risk/discomfort. People have crossed oceans in Hobie cats, dinghies, paddle boards, west wight potters, etc, so I don't see why that trimaran can't do the same. That said, there are probably better boats out there for your time/material costs. As for the Tiki 26, I think the perception of seaworthiness has as much to do with Wharram's marketing than anything else. Good boats, but there are more modern easy-to-build designs that I suspect are just as seaworthy, if not more so.  
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Boat Design Net

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COMMENTS

  1. TELSTAR 8M

    The TELSTAR was designed and built by Tony Smith in Britain from the early 70's through about 1980. The UK TELSTAR production was somewhere around 200 boats - first there was the TELSTAR 26 and around 1977 the TELSTAR 8m, which featured a fatter/roomier main hull. There was also a TELSTAR 35 and a version of the 8m which had outer hulls which ...

  2. Telstar 8M

    Telstar 8M is a 26′ 2″ / 8 m trimaran sailboat designed by Tony Smith and built by Sandwich Yacht (UK) between 1970 and 1981. Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. ... 8 meter/Std 1981 250-260 8m ? ? Standard boat produced in USA. T 36 1978 T35 (1 - 8) 35' 470 11000. A new TELSTAR 26 is now available from:

  3. 16 Best Trimarans For Sailing Around The World (And a Few For

    Although slightly longer than the Dragonfly 28 with its 32-foot (9.8-meter) length, the Dragonfly 32 has a max speed of 23+ knots (42.6+ km/h), making it one of the fastest trimarans for racing. ... The 2019 Weta trimaran is a 14.5-foot (4.4-meter) trimaran featuring a carbon frame, centerboard, rudder foil, and rudder shock. The hull is made ...

  4. Trimaran boats for sale

    Trimaran sailing vessels pricing. Trimaran sailing vessels for sale on YachtWorld are offered at an assortment of prices from $21,899 on the relatively more affordable end all the way up to $1,564,910 for the most luxurious model vessels. Find Trimaran boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld.

  5. RCSails

    Nightmare MK VIII - Mini40 Class Trimaran. The Nightmare MK VIII is the latest design from Austrian designer Ernst Zemann who has been designing multihull models for years. The Nightmare is designed to be able to sail on one float, it is a stable design which is not pitch poling easily. Look the pictures and the video clips of our boats.

  6. Wayne Barrett M80

    The versatile Wayne Barrett M80 can be specified for cruising or racing and the larger 9-metre design will have a range enough to sail across the Atlantic. "In 2021, I'm planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a promotional exercise to showcase the vessel. It's very manageable for single-handed sailing.".

  7. M80

    The versatile M80 can be specced for cruising or racing and the larger 9-metre design will have a range enough to sail across the Atlantic. "In 2021, I'm planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a promotional exercise to showcase the vessel. It's very manageable for single-handed sailing.".

  8. Trimaran boats for sale in United States

    Find Trimaran boats for sale in United States. Offering the best selection of boats to choose from.

  9. International Eight Metre Association

    The International Eight Metre Association brings together a passionate community dedicated to the elegance and tradition of 8 Metre sailing. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or new to the class, explore the rich history, discover upcoming events, and connect with sailors from around the world.

  10. Wow, that was fast! Why trimarans are SO much fun to sail

    Trimaran sail trim. One of the biggest differences between a cruising monohull and a multihull is how the mainsail is trimmed. Leech tension on a yacht is often largely controlled by the kicker and the backstay, while the mainsheet sheets the mainsail in and out, predominantly controlling the angle of the boom to the centreline, and there may be a short traveller.

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  12. DIY tri capturing imaginations

    He has built some "100 or so boats" over the years and his passion and prowess have inspired him to create the M80 trimaran, an 8-metre vessel designed with the home builder in mind; those with limited time or space, and some basic experience with hand tools. ... "In 2021, I'm planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a ...

  13. Men's 100m final results: Noah Lyles wins gold in photo finish

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  14. Report on Nine Small Folding Trimarans

    Considerably smaller in fact at only 4.4 m length overall—little more than 150 mm (6") longer than the now famous Laser dinghy. But with its B/L of 0.80 this boat is VERY stable athwartships and together with its narrow hulls, can therefore be driven faster than any Laser.

  15. Austal to construct a wind-powered cargo trimaran for Vela Transport

    Austal announced that Austal Australasia has been awarded a contract to design and construct a wind-powered aluminium cargo trimaran for Vela Transport of Bayonne, France. The first-of-class, 66.8-metre high-value cargo vessel, based on a concept by VPLP of Paris and featuring a sailing system by MerConcept, will be constructed by Austal ...

  16. Trimaran

    USA-17—a 90-foot-long (27 m) trimaran, type BOR90. A traditional paraw double-outrigger sailboat from the Philippines. A trimaran (or double-outrigger) is a multihull boat that comprises a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls (or "floats") which are attached to the main hull with lateral beams. Most modern trimarans are sailing yachts designed for recreation or racing; others are ...

  17. Eagle 4.6 Power Trimaran

    The Eagle 4.6 metre power trimaran is a practical and efficient powerboat that can be propelled at good speeds using a small outboard motor. The economical construction method, easily driven hulls, and the ability to be powered by small outboards make this a cost effective powerboat. Widely spaced amas (outrigger hulls) make the Eagle extremely ...

  18. Fall Hype Meter 2024

    Fall Hype Meter 2024 . Mal and Jo are back to give out some recommendations for the latest and greatest in fandom . By Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson Aug 20, 2024, 8:01am EDT

  19. Gallery: Inside the largest trimaran in the world White Rabbit

    The 84 metre White Rabbit was launched in 2018, becoming the world's largest trimaran. The multihull superyacht is the fifth in a series of White Rabbits and follows two Feadship monohulls, a 36-metre catamaran built by Austal and a 61-metre trimaran built by North West Bay Ships. The owners loved their 61-metre White Rabbit but were looking ...

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    Here's what to know about the Perseid meteor shower and how you can see its peak this weekend. Boeing Starliner:Starliner astronauts aren't 1st 'stuck' in space: Frank Rubio's delayed return set ...

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    America still has three athletes in the 100-meter hurdles: Masai Russell, Alaysha Johnson and Grace Stark. The women's 4×100 relay is usually a massive rivalry with the Jamaicans. But their ...

  22. The Complete List of Trimarans

    These boats are wicked fast, capable of reaching speeds of 20+ knots, and were made for skilled sailors seeking solid construction and high performance vessels, not for beginners. At a glance: Models: Pulse 600, Sprint 750 MKII, Dash 750 MKII, Corsair 28, Cruze 970, Corsair 37, Corsair 42. Cabin: Yes.

  23. 6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing

    The small size makes it more suitable for daysailing in good weather rather than multiday cruising, although more experienced sailors will of course push the limits of this boat. 6. WindRider 17. The 17.4-foot (5.3-meter) WindRider 17 is one of the more versatile trimarans in the market.

  24. PolitiFact

    On April 8, Trump released a ... Browse the Truth-O-Meter More by PolitiFact Staff Donald Trump stated on December 8, 2021 in an interview with Hugh Hewitt: Gas prices were "$1.86 when I left" the ...

  25. trimaran sailboats for sale by owner.

    Weta Trimaran 4.4 meter: Length: 14.5' Beam: 11.5' Draft: 0.5' Year: 2021: Type: racer: Hull: fiberglass trimaran: Location: Tampa Bay Clearwater, Florida; Asking: ... 47.8' Nautor Swan Sparkman and Stephens 47 Gaeta Italy Asking $134,000. 27' Catalina C-27 Chula Vista Safe Harbor Bayfront Marina, California

  26. Zero-emission trimaran concept yacht Domus unveiled

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  27. Trimaran

    Phone: 61 8 9410 1111. Fax: 61 8 9410 2564. Email: [email protected]. The launch by Austal of the longest multi-hull vessel ever is physical proof that a shipyard has finally found a way to tap the huge potential of a vessel type that was actually invented many centuries ago by the Hawaiians: namely the 'trimaran' or stabilised monohull.

  28. DIY tri

    He has built some "100 or so boats" over the years and his passion and prowess have inspired him to create the M80 trimaran, an 8-metre vessel designed with the home builder in mind; those with limited time or space, and some basic experience with hand tools. ... "In 2021, I'm planning to sail the 8-metre boat up to The Whitsundays as a ...

  29. FAO 7.8 meter trimaran ocean capable?

    Could a FAO 7.8 meter trimaran, properly build, decked over, with a minimalist cabin and low aspect junk rig, do the same kind of offshore and ocean voyaging as a Wharram Tiki 26? Drogue or sea anchor can be used when conditions get too bad. Built in buoancy. Solo sailing most or with max. 2 persons. Emphasis on safety not speed.