Out95

I think I saw one of those boats or something similar out in southampton water last season

Hi all,

 

I thought you might like to see the press release on the boat. It explains a bit more about the design.

 

Cheers, Mark

 

The Out and Out Race Boat?

 

The 32 foot all-carbon OUT95 is an innovative high performance racing yacht. The OUT95’s futuristic looks are the first to catch the eye, but it’s her blistering performance that is going to make the biggest impact on the racecourse. Modern sportsboats transformed downwind sailing, the OUT95 makes these performance gains upwind and in light winds. Why limit yourself to half the fun?

 

 

Inspired by the Pacific Proa's ability to sail with only the Vaka (main hull) in the water in all but the very lightest winds, Neal Pawson penned an extremely narrow hull similar to that of a multihull combined with wide solid wings to give a large crew righting moment. The resulting winged wave-piercing monohull is designed to be fast in 'real time' and not rely on a favorable handicap to win.

 

Whilst being fastest with the wings flying clear of the waves, their high volume provides low drag reserve stability when in contact with the water. As well as making it simple and safe to sail the wings also provide a wide staying platform allowing a lighter rig and accommodation for four berths beneath a large uncluttered deck. Andrew Claughton (Design Head, ETNZ) completed the tank testing of the design at Southampton's Wolfson Unit in 2000, validating the design characteristics before construction was started.

 

 

The project includes a partnership of leading marine companies who are using the innovative OUT95 to push the barriers of technology and performance. Hardware is by Lewmar, rigging by Navtec, electronics by Silva, all held together by adhesives technology from Wessex Resins. Other project sponsors include clothing from Helly Hansen and CNC machining by The Cutting Room.

 

The OUT95 is specifically designed to compete in a wide variety of events worldwide. The result is a uniquely versatile and highly competitive racing machine incorporating a number of different sailing modes: water ballast for shorthanded sailing, five trapezes for fully crewed lake racing and a crewed conventional hiking IRC option.

 

Developed and built by Out and Out Solutions using pre-preg carbon on a Nomex core, Alex Ashworth Briggs, joint OOS director explained ‘Although we were striving for a lightweight product, we were also focussed on producing a boat that could easily be transported from event to event. This dictated a modular construction to allow the craft to be broken down into four components for ease of transport via trailer or container.' 'An extensive impact testing program also allowed us to optimise the hull and deck to provide a longevity not usual in such a lightweight structure.’

 

The OUT95 has a highly efficient carbon fiber rotating wing mast simply supported by shrouds and a single set of diamonds. The forestay is set back from the bow with a self-tacking headsail. The mainsail has a square cut top with full-length batterns and three reefs. There is the option of flying a code zero from the tip of the bow or a masthead asymmetric off a sprit. A lead bulb on a carbon fin keeps the boat upright on the mooring and prevents capsize when the crew gets it badly wrong!

 

Length	9.57m
Beam	4.80m
Draft	2.13m
Displacement	900kg
Ballast	360kg
Crew	5/6
Sail Area (up)	56sq.m
Sail Area (down)	130sq.m

Just to clear it up the name apparently (sorry if someone has already saild this) means outside 9 to 5 (office hours)

i think it looks cool. also i think their right about the wings not being too much drag in the water. i am only ignorant. please dont hurt me.

I was lucky enough to go for the first sail on the beast (you might have
noticed a Pawson involvement in the project - that's my brother, so
although I was sworn to secrecy I did get a sneak preview).

The oddest experience was leaving the dock feeling completely unsure
how it would behave, was this a Moth or a yacht? Were we going to be
swimming - I put my phone in a drybag just in case (I know I should have
had more faith!)... without the sails up the boat sits on one wing - first
impression is that it's twitchy, but flip it onto one wing or another and it
will happily sit there, and once you get a feel for it sailing, it's just like
balancing any boat - except it's more obvious when you have it at the
wrong angle.

How would I describe it? A cross between a 49er and a Mumm 30 with a
bit of VX40 thrown in is the closest I can get - the hull is so light it's
amazingly responsive to body weight - even mine at 58kg. Personally I
really felt like I wanted a trapeze to be able to move in and out of the
boat as I would on an RS800 or something, and I am looking forward to
trying it in trapeze mode when the boat hits the water again for the new
season. On a couple of gusts the whole boat really took off, slicing
through the waves... very quiet and like nothing I have sailed before. At
one point 'Ericsson' sailed past us and it was as though a naked blonde
had walked past, heads turned and followed our progress and you could
see them thinking, 'What the ****?!' The photos only tell half the story - if
you saw it in Southampton Water you'll know what I mean.

What else? Oh yes, the wings? If you get the timing wrong with reacting to
the gusts they hit the water and it does slow down, but it doesn't stop
dead ... keeping the thing going fast is about good crew work, just as in a
skiff.

I know this project has been under development for years, and it's been
really tough not to be able to write about it. We'll be running a full piece
in Y&Y in the next few months.