What Kind of Rig is This?

[a64pilot]

It’s on a Cat, seems to be dual masts that are very high aspect airfoils, with what looks to be trim tabs on the trailing edge, and they must be able to rotate.
There are dual self tacking jibs also that I have to think contribute the majority of sail power?

[LoudMusic]

Is this it?

https://www.chriswhitedesigns.com/a47-mastfoil

[Peregrine1983]

Originally Posted by LoudMusic

Is this it?

https://www.chriswhitedesigns.com/a47-mastfoil

Yep. I knew the moment I saw it that it was a Chris White. I drool over those boats...

[Dan GB]

Originally Posted by Peregrine1983

Yep. I knew the moment I saw it that it was a Chris White. I drool over those boats...

As a matter of interest, what is the verdict on this rig? Been reading what I can find about it, seemed to hold a lot of promise, but then it all went a bit quiet? Great admirer of the boat, the designer, but did this aerofoil rig arrive at some consensus conclusion?

[Souzag818]

It's a Chris White Cat. Met a guy and his wife who had just picked theirs up in Columbia, if I remember correctly. They were taking it up to the NE. It's a mast foil rig, and he raved about how efficient it was. Nice cat, well made with lots of good ideas...

[Imprezza72]

Originally Posted by Dan GB

As a matter of interest, what is the verdict on this rig? Been reading what I can find about it, seemed to hold a lot of promise, but then it all went a bit quiet? Great admirer of the boat, the designer, but did this aerofoil rig arrive at some consensus conclusion?

Looks like #12 is under construction in Chile at Alwoplast.

[onavegador]

Nice cat but prone to capsizing, if I remember right and also regarding the #a built. I think this is the toll you have to pay for the performance.
Sorry nothings against, I admire them but as a singlehander she is out of my reach. (As the grapes in La 'Fontaine´s story).

[a64pilot]

The rig looked heavy, and I wondered about stability

[Imprezza72]

Originally Posted by onavegador

Nice cat but prone to capsizing, if I remember right and also regarding the #a built. I think this is the toll you have to pay for the performance.
Sorry nothings against, I admire them but as a singlehander she is out of my reach. (As the grapes in La 'Fontaine´s story).

I haven't heard of any 47's that had capsized, there was an early issue with the masts that has been taken taken care of as far as I know.
The 57's a different design altogether, had 2 that capsized 1 was admittedly the captain's error, the second was most likely caught up by a water spout or severe wind shear.

[a64pilot]

So, how well does it sail without using the jibs?
It should be able to sail on any point, including directly into the wind?

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

So, how well does it sail without using the jibs?
It should be able to sail on any point, including directly into the wind?

Nope, needs a windmill for that one.

[billgewater]

It would be good to see more commentary on this innovation. Catamaran design seems to be in hiatus. Bigger, more junk on board, condominiums for retirees.
It seems that the builders are all chasing the well heeled and charter market but real innovation often occurs at the other end of the market place.
This forum should be the place innovations are explored and reviewed. In detail.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Nope, needs a windmill for that one.

If it works like it looks like to me, understand this is just me looking a the thing and having read nothing.
They way I assume it’s done is to position the “Wings” to the relative wind so that the lift vector is longest and in the direction you want to sail.
If so then you ought to be able to position them so that the lift vector is straight forward.
Although to be honest, just looking at them, they seem too small, unless of course they are in a very high speed airflow, then the lift could be substantial.
They also have to be fully symmetrical airfoils, and that also hurts performance.
Also it appears that they have a long trim tab at the trailing edge?
I assume it’s movable and maybe there to control camber?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by billgewater

It would be good to see more commentary on this innovation. Catamaran design seems to be in hiatus. Bigger, more junk on board, condominiums for retirees.
It seems that the builders are all chasing the well heeled and charter market but real innovation often occurs at the other end of the market place.
This forum should be the place innovations are explored and reviewed. In detail.

I don’t know, just looking at it, it doesn’t look like an inexpensive boat to me, way out of my price range I’m sure.

[Sand crab]

To answer some questions:
The A47 is a $1.5 Mill plus boat so not for everyone.

All the reviews raved about the mast foil rig. Chris White invented and patented it.

The masts are carbon fiber so I expect fairly light for what they are. They are semi rotating and I think the forward mast may be pivoting dead on to the camera in the first pic. Maybe that was on purpose to show the foil.

All CW boats are really high performance. Not one of them has ever been close to average, they are way above that.
The A47 also has an adjustable keel fin for even better pointing.


https://www.chriswhitedesigns.com/mastfoil-discussion