Trimaran Identification

[VBsail]

Saw this design today. Looked to be about 45' long and amas were almost flush with the water at the bows. Any thoughts?

[Nautes]

It looks old.

[Apollo19.5]

My eyes now hurt

[Redreuben]

Low float volume and draggy beams so no power upwind

[Cavalier MK2]

It reminds me of John Westell's Ocean Bird. Similar ama concept. Those sailed well, the amas were wave piercing. If the beam isn't too great the main bow can handle the lift.

[catsketcher]

Cav - I reckon you are on the money - I was going to say it looks like an Ocean Bird (a Westell tri)

John Westell designed some truly awful looking tris. His swing wing designs looked agricultural and had really low volume amas. But he will be forever in our hearts because he designed the absolutely sublime dinghy - the 505. They are truly exquisite designs. (But the tris are terrible)

[Cavalier MK2]

Hello Phil, the looks might be best described as an acquired taste but according to to contemporary accounts they sailed well as a cruising tri in the day. There are a few still around and they almost never come on the market. Nobby Clark who sold more tris than anyone loved them.