"Old School" Hardcore, '88 Roake 21/Hurricane 6.5

[Seafarer24]

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the Worrell 1000 (Once called the World 1000 and now called the Atlantic 1000), a 1000 mile beach catamaran race from southern Florida to Virginia.

The rules have changed many times, going from one-design on Hobie 16s to nearly unlimited, 21' "production" catamarans (even if the production run was very, very small). Currently they are a bit more tame than that. However, in 1988 the rules were as open as they ever got, and the worlds hottest sailor (and still the worlds hottest sailor), Randy Smythe, was at the helm of the worlds hottest beach catamaran (and still the worlds hottest beach-cat), the Roake 21 (aka the Hurricane 6.5).

The below picture is from that race, doing what is called the "Wild Thing". This consists of flying the windward hull while going downwind. Note the special trapeze rack which folds up on the leeward side so as not to interfere with rapidly passing waves.


You can go here for pictures and a brochure scan: http://www.catsailor.com/gallery/thu...s.php?album=81

The double-ladder rack shown (what the crew is sitting on in this picture) is one of the options. There was an even longer double ladder rack used on some boats(!), and a double trapeze rack which allowed the crew to trapeze side-by-side.

These boats have been radar-ed at just under 40 knots, while the designer claims 42 is possible. They must be pretty durable to complete the Worrell, which requires many beach landings and launchings, often through heavy surf, along with 1000 miles of very competitive racing.