Sebastian on board Project Amazon
The current generation of Open 60's is made from carbon fiber and other composite materials. Project Amazon differs that she is made of aluminum. Why ? Aluminum will dent, but not break as easily as composites. Therefore it is less likely that the boat will sink. Also, if you need to repair it via welding you can do that just about anywhere.
The next feature that you notice is the rig twin free standing masts in a cat ketch configuation. The rig is configured with two masts in a cat-ketch look. The forward mast near the bow is the 'cat' while the mast between the rudder and keel is the 'ketch' part. They are free standing especially compared to a more traditional mast. The traditional mast may have 500 seperate parts holding it up. Project Amazon's two mast combined had 6 parts holding them up.
The masts are made of 3 pieces of carbon fibre. Each mast has two bearings that allow it to rotate, bend and move up and down. The lower bearing allows mast rake to be adjusted. In addition to the large mainsails, this rig can fly various headsails.
What are the advantages of the kat ketch ? As mentioned above the fewers the wires, the less chance they will break therefore giving enhanced reliability. Second, without the rigging in the way, the booms can be pushed well forward allowing wing and wing sailing downwind. This should allow Project Amazon to sail deeper downind with less jibing involved. As an example Sceta Calberson which won the last Around Alone had to tack about 40 degress of a true downind course. This means she had to be 30 % faster to make up for the manuevering. Designer Sponberg doens't feel that other boats will be fast enough to overcome Project Amazon's lesser distnace sailed.
Third the unstayed rig should be more stable downwind than a normal rig. Conventional rigs with the boom held against the rig have a greater tendancy to round up. Rounding up is by no means fast. Project Amazon with its free standing masts, non round hull and substansial keel should round up less and be able to go faster easier and longer.
Hull- The hull is of a different shap. It is a flatter hull that should hold course better than a more rounded hull.
Air Vents- When the boat begins to plane, the air vents in the hull are opened. This will draw air into the water the boat is flowing on. this should make it easier to maintian higher speeds through reduced drag.
Appendages- The keel is assymetric. Project Amazon's keel can be made assymetric to provide greater lift and superior windward ability. The keel also can swing up to 30 degrees to increase the boat's stability. The twin rudders offer increased reliability through the fact that there are two rather than one. Since they are of a daggerboard shape, they can be pulled up to reduce drag.
What does it all mean ?- It is felt that Project Amazon should be a superior design both upwind and downwin. Downwind through the unique rig, where the boat should sail a deeper angle with greater stability. This could be especially important on the southern ocean legs. It also should point higher due to its appendages and stability. This could be important when approaching the stop over ports where headwinds are encountered.