Cirrus Icon Development

Dagger length and 'trained monkeys' ....

We will post a photo of NS dagger alongside a 'typical' centreboard for a 14' hull soon.  The point is that we are not aiming at ultimate performance within a liberal development rule set - we are offering very high performance within a SMOD package and 'easy' handling.  The NS foil is just over 1.5m long - inserting/raising it obviously is more difficult that raising a centreboard - irrespective of the depth related issues.  A conventional centreboard of Blaze / Phantom / MR length is less efficient but this is the compromise we accept.

Mike L.    

Want to try an ICON  ?? 

We are starting work on the 'plug' next week (you make production tooling from a plug).  It will incorporate a lot of changes and while it is still inspired by the NS14 it would certainly not measure as one as in production ICON will be both longer and wider plus carry further sailplan and spar changes.  New hull lines are being developed and the 'look' ... will be even more gorgeous.  And a few surprises are still to come.

Anyway hull 002 is now puely available for rig testing work while we do all the even more expensive stuff away from the water and will not be modified further.  It is the one in most of the photos, now has a centreboard and will give a strong flavour of the production version. 

A lucky few will have the chance to try it now as well - so if you are pondering over 'what next' and think the ICON approach might suit you get in touch and maybe get a hands-on preview yourself ....

Mike L. 
  

Mike, Will you have the icon on the water for the
Burghfield open day on May 1st?

So whats happening here now?

Bill
Australian President
NS14 Association

As Peaky has prompted a responce .....

The NS input was/is very valuable and the eventual boat will still 'look' NS inspired.  However it will be based on a different design brief that results in a larger hull that is unrestricted by the NS rule set.  In short we could not produce what was needed without over compromising our plans if we had kept it near 'pure' NS.

We wanted a larger sailplan for the 'local' market and  we also wanted to incorporate a fair bit more volume in the hull - so bigger overall and with new lines throuighout is the order  In summary the ICON hull will be longer at approx 4.5m and wider at around 1.94m, with centreboard.  We will retain a vertical and very fine bow but we also end up with more wetted area with the new lines - but that is more than offest by the new rig.  The NS input is very important but we are incorporating many other 'good ideas' seen on classes as well.  After three months water testing  we do now appreciate why the Tasar development all those years ago was also quite a bit different to the NSs of that day.  

There will be quite a few real surprises to come ... not to be revealed for a while and for the detail on those everyone will just have to wait and see !

Cheers - Mike L. (aka Blaze720)