Future Cherub

[Neil C.]

Those R-Class boys have been busy. New Dan leach design on full foils. See full story on www.rclass.org

[daryl_wilkinson]

Nice... anyone got a set ordered yet?

[ross_burkin]

Hmmm, square section boom....interesting...

[sam_childs]

triangular shorley?

[Banshee Ambulance]

The standard L3 (i think its called) hull has got to be the best looking boat I have ever seen. How would it do as a cherub? I think they are a bit longer and you would need a retracting pole but it is a fine looking boat.

[ross_burkin]

Mr Tinner knows a bit about this. I think the L3 is too narrow but the new L4 measures.

[Neil C.]

The R-Class skiffs are very simiar to the UK Cherub, but there are one or two detail differences. They are a "restricted skiff" (hence the R-Class title), meaning they're on the whole a 12 Footer, with restricted sail area. A lot of the kiwi 12 Foot Skiff guys sail in R-Class events with the small rig on. The key differences are a longer waterline length at 3.9m, (12's and Cherubs are both 3.7m). There is no minimum weight, and interestingly no maximum beam! That's why if you look closely at the photo of the foiling R above, you'll see that it has a double set of trapezing racks. They stick on the extra-wide racks in R-mode, and remove the extensions for 12 regattas. The opinion seems to be that the L3 (above) is too narrow. Even very experienced 12 guys coudn't keep it going with the big rigs on, and have gone back to Woof hulls. They've recently launched the L4 (below), which is a different design altogether.

http://www.rclass.org/info/construction/l4-hull/L4_Hull_Shell.JPG/image_view_fullscreen

[daryl_wilkinson]

I'm ready for 'R' Class / UK Cherub unification... 

[JimC]

(hence the R-Class title),

Don't believe so. Kiwi classes in the days before the Cherub were mostly known by letters. The unrestricted 12 footers were the Qs, the unrestricted 18 footers were M, P is the Kiwi Oppie equivalent, Zs were a 12'6 one design (with spinnaker and no jib!) that was well capable of planing in 1921, X were 14' one design and so on through Is Ts, Ys etc etc. In the book I have at least there is no mention of any particular scheme for the choice of letters. Rs and Qs tend to be from Wellington and Auckland areas respectively.

[Stuberry]

Check out this shizzle!

In my opinion, when looking downunder to compare their ships with Cherubs we'll get a much better idea looking at the R-Class than the 12's. The 12's are designed to always be sailed totally overpowered, that's why shapes like the Woof work. R-class have very small sail area for the amount of righting moment, just like Cherubs. The L3 has completely wiped the floor at the last couple of Leanders, it works as an R, but as Neil says it's too skinny to work as a skiff. But as a Cherub...

The L4 is a bit wider, I haven't decided if it will measure as a Cherub yet. But it's interesting to note the L4 has a second spray rail, and they've modified the foiling L3 to also have another spray rail. The L4 was designed to be a skiff and an R-class, taking into account the fact the L3 was too skinny because it was designed purely as an R.

[ross_burkin]

So who is going to put the foils on first. When I get a bloody job sorted...

[Stuberry]

Daryl, is your boat a Banshee bottom with a Cardinal Sin deck?

[Tim Noyce]

Nope. The side deck bits are much wider on the Cardinal Sin. A point which I actually really like about my boat. It's wide enough for a whole foot rather than having to tip toe on the edge!

[daryl_wilkinson]

Daryl, is your boat a Banshee bottom with a Cardinal Sin deck?

No.

[Stuberry]

For those who like to follow developments but are less geeky than me:

http://www.rclass.org/info/construction/hydrofoils/hydrofoil-notes-january-2009