Weta Trimaran
|
Class symbol | |
|
Weta racing in the High Sierra Regatta | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Roger and Chris Kitchen, Tim Clissold |
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Year | 2006 |
| Design | One-design |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 1-3 adults / max 240 kg (530 lb) |
| Hull | |
| Type | Open trimaran |
| Construction | Carbon fiber, fiberglass and foam |
| Hull weight | Approx. 100 kg (220 lb) |
| LOA | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Beam |
3.5 m (11 ft) (rigged) |
| Hull Appendages | |
| Keel/Board Type | Centreboard |
| Rig | |
| Rig Type | Fractional Bermuda or Marconi rig with gennaker |
| Mast Length | 5.6 m (18 ft) |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 8.3 m2 (89 sq ft) |
| Jib / Genoa area | 3.2 m2 (34 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 8 m2 (86 sq ft) |
| Upwind Sail Area | 11.5 m2 (124 sq ft) |
| Total sail area | 19.5 m2 (210 sq ft) |
| Misc | |
| D-PN | 78.5 |
| RYA PN | 950 |
The Weta 4.4 Trimaran is a 4.4 metre (14 foot) sailing dinghy conceived and developed in New Zealand from 2001-2006 by Roger and Chris Kitchen and others with design by TC Design's Tim Clissold.
Design
The boat is constructed from fibre glass and carbon fibre, and is popular as a racing boat or for recreational sailing.[1] It has added stability and righting moment from the trimaran amas or floats.
Recognition
The Weta Trimaran is recognized as one design class by Yachting New Zealand,[2] the French Sailing Federation,[3] and the Royal Yachting Association in the UK.[4]
Awards
In 2010 the Weta Trimaran was awarded Boat of the Year by Sailing World magazine.[5]
Builds
There are two distinct builds of the Weta Trimaran, the 'original build' and the '2015 Weta'.
Original build
From 2006 to 2014 the 'original build' was manufactured in China for Weta Marine and sailed internationally[6] with 1000 boats sold to date with the largest fleets in France and the USA.[7][8] Its sails were manufactured by Dutch windsurfing sail-maker Gaastra.
The design evolved over time:
- Color changes (Most boats were produced to four RAL color codes: Red (3020), Yellow (1018), Green (6018), Light Grey (7035). Some very early boats featured alternative red and yellow hues)
- Three rudders
- New deeper daggerboard
- Mylar sails
- Minor modifications to forestay tack fitting
- Optional furling jib
- Optional mainsails:
- Small training mainsail
- Heavy weather mainsail
- 'Resort' mainsail (Dacron)
2015 Weta
In 2014 the new 2015 Weta was announced.
Structural and cosmetic improvements include:
- Deck (screecher furler cleat on cockpit side, swaged stays, Liros ropes and optional hiking strap, enhanced grip, new raised foredeck detail for enhanced strength and durability)
- Floats (Precision fit Killwell carbon beams via vertical join. Switch to Nairn hatches.)
- Sails (Switch of manufacturer to North Sails)
- Centrecase (precision fit via nylon pile)
- Trampoline (improved alignment via Ronstan custom carbon pads)
- Rudder bar and gudgeons (strength and durability enhancement)
In September 2014 the first of the new '2015 Weta' build were shipped to customers in the US.
Performance
- Top recorded Speed: 20.68 kn (38.30 km/h; 23.80 mph) by Tom Kirkman, USA.
- Rigging time: 20 minutes
Events
- October 18–19, 2014: ACT Multihull Championships 2014, Canberra, Australia.
- September 21, 2014: Bart's Bash
- September 5–7, 2014: Juana's Good Time Regatta, Navarre Beach, Florida, USA.
- April 25-28th, 2014: Corsair Trimaran Nationals, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA.
- March 7–9, 2014: (Second annual) Wetafest, Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida, USA.
- February 6–9, 2014: 5th annual Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Charlotte Harbor, Florida, USA.
- July 5–7, 2013: 3rd Weta National, Notre-Dame-Des-Monts, France.
- June 22–23, 2013: 24 Hour Weta Regatta, Lorient, France.
- July 2013: High Sierra Regatta, Fresno Yacht Club, USA.
- September 26–28, 2012: European Championship, Muiderberg, the Netherlands.
- December 2011: First New Zealand Weta National Championship, Lake Taupo, New Zealand.
- August 2, 2009: 44th Lake of the Woods International Sailing Association Regatta, Kenora, Ontario, Canada.
See also
References
- ↑ "Sailing World". Weta Trimaran Best Dinghy. Sailing World. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ↑ "Yachting New Zealand". Directory of All Class Associations. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ↑ "Federation Francaise de Voile". Les Associations de Classe. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ↑ List of boats with RYA Portsmouth Numbers#cite note-RYA2013-1
- ↑ "Small Trimarans". How to Set Up a Weta Trimaran in 15 Minutes. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ↑ Link text, Access date 30/06/2001.
- ↑ http://wetamarine.com/about/news/705-weta-celebrates-1000-boats
- ↑ http://www.wetamarine.com/owners/weta-world-map
- ↑ "British Weta Class Association: The Boat - Development".
- ↑ "BoatDesign.net". Weta Trimaran-sailing worlds best dingy. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
External links
- Weta Marine
- TC Design
- Weta classe France
- British Weta Class Association
- Australian Weta Class
- Weta Class of North America
- Video of the High Sierra Regatta Race 1 Weta Tri, "Mary Ann", Fresno Yacht Club's "High Sierra Regatta", July 2013.
- to celebrate the 1000th boat sold