Super maxi

For new maxis like Neville Crichton's new Shockwave designer Jim Pugh says they have thrown away the rule book

While Reichel-Pugh are churning out maxis such as this (another three of their maxZ86s are on the drawing board or in build), they are also principle designers for Team Dennis Conner, which, considering the recent encounter of USA-77 with Davey Jones' locker, is perhaps not their best advertisement at present. However Pugh says that their America's Cup research has taught them a lot when it comes to hull forms.

"Because we can put the volume where we want it without regard to any rating rule, they're quite a bit different to what we've done before. There's the trade off between beam waterline to length, and that comes down to a question of stability. They're pretty big sail plans, and they're still relatively narrow boats with reason flare to incorporate the water ballast. And then the appendages are the same - we have the latest appendages on these boats which is great, because we've also learned quite a bit in our studies."

The relevance of AC design experimentation to offshore racing boats seems unlikely, but Pugh disagrees. "We find it is pretty relevant. There are a lot of trends in the hulls that you can apply to these boats, particularly when you are not tied by any rules." More specifically this includes aspects such as the hull losing, rather gaining, drag when it heels.

When it comes to appendages Pugh cannot be specific but says "we've certainly come a long way with them. They tend to get more high aspect, but you end up with that reasonable draft limit to get into harbour. You reach a point where there are other issues to deal with in terms of the materials you are going to build the fin out of. Then there is the tip velocity you can have with a piece of metal. We are really excited about the appendages and the whole concept in general."

Both the new Shockwave and the maxZ86s will be capable of 30+ knot speed spinnaker or more likely jib top reaching. "On Zephyrus, when they went in their IMS [ie slowest] configuration the highest speeds were 25 knots tight jib reaching, and that was pretty much their first sail, and they were still lacking stability even with the heavier bulb on. With water ballast it should be a lot more."

Pugh doesn't reveal any more about the rudder housing failure that caused USA-77 to sink, other than there was some damage forward when she hit the bottom and that she is repairable to new again.

Of perhaps more interest is that Reichel-Pugh are soon to launch their latest creation - this time a canting keel, twin foil boat, called Wild Oats. She too is expected to be taking part at Hamilton Island Race Week. More on her later....

Dimensions:
LOA: 27.43m
LWL: 24.00m
BEAM: 5.60m
DRAFT: 4.40m
DISP 22,000kgs
WATER BALLAST 6000kgs
IM 32.00m
J 10.50m
ISP 36.00m
SPL 14.00m
P 34.00m
E 12.00m

Proud new owner Neville Crichton