Cirrus Icon Development

Surely a sealed mast just needs a drain hole at deck level to empty? That bit won't be inder the water when the boat is on its side. Admittedly, it could be a problem if you do turtle, but a small hole with air pressure behind it won't fill too quickly.

I have a sealed superspar on my phantom and even with a fair few capsizes there has never been any water in that sloshes around. Just make sure that all of the rivets, and other fixings are truley sealed and it will be ok. The benefits massively outweigh not having a sealed one. Less likely to turtle and also not full of water when it comes up to throw the mast over like a pendulum. Mind you do miss the amusing spectacle of fountains of water jetting out through the lower holes in the mast.

There are bound to be a few queries.

1) Drainage - The boat will completely self drain;  The plug does not show (yet) the substantial cutouts.  No need for bailers etc.
2) Cockpit depth - the floor is lower than previously and the boom will be a little higher than with test rigs.   Plenty of room and nice and simple.
3) Sealed mast -  not truly sealed as you always need a modest drainhole in the foot.  However it is a longish mast without 'easy access' for water and  the boat sits on its side in a very well bahaved manner.  Yes we have tested this aspect and although the side decks might seem large (read v comfortable) there is much less volume under them than the photos might suggest.  The very light rig also makes righting especially simple.
4) Handicap - not up to us guys !  We get  knocked if we do suggest a low figure and we get knocked if we suggest a high one.   But as a physical statement of just what exactly is possible in a modern and simple 2 sail design we are ... more than delighted.  
5) Ideal crew weight ? ... to have as wide 'band' was our objective.  The rig is very adaptable - judge for yourselves shortly.   You can safely assume it will be higher than for a N12 but that does not mean you necessarily need 2 x rugby types either - it is a wide boat with plenty of leverage.  
6) Hull Material - not polyester but we are trying both vinylester and epoxy.  Incidentally the NS hulls used for rig development were polyester but very strong and light  and well constructed so there is not too much wrong there either if you build to a high standard.  
7) Thwart - not needed in my own opinion - I changed my own mind on this one but it is an option that has always been considered and may be available at launch.   

We are hoping Y&Y preview / test the boat before too long - we are far too biased now of course  so you will either have to wait a while for the views of others or come along yourselves for a 'go' (a much better bet really)

Mike L.  (aka Cirrus)

 

Hi All

I've just looked at the photos again on the forum here and you may not bee seeing them as they should be !  The perspective is a bit squashed up.  Try clicking on them and clicking 'view image' or similar - this should help see what it really looks like. 

Mike L.

PS - When ?  A few weeks ....  but not long now. 

Its been a long time but thanks for all the interest.  Without the +ve feedback from the last Dinghy Show onwards the Icon project would have not have run.  We positively know now that you will not be disappointed.

Sorry about the photo aspect ratio!  It took me an age to uplaod the photo's on the new forum and it seems pretty random as to whether they look squashed or normal.  Please can we have a means of posting pictures stored on our PCs back again!