AC34 & A-Class: New Zealand Nats, Scaled Proto(?) by Mike Drummond
This seems a retro, old H16 tramp platform like A-Class. But don´t let this feature foul you. You are seeing the latest design from Mike Drummond, head of Oracle Design Team.
As seen at the NZ A-Class Nats this January 2012. Event won by Pete Melvin, another top designer/racer and current responsible for ETNZ ACups designs, on his A3 with curved foils.
It seems Mike had a little tuning on the first races as he has several dns and then went on a good run for some top 5 results over 19 boats.
One interesting thing to look at, is comparing the overall hull profile against the current A-Class benchmark design, the DNA. Check how the elevated platform matches dna deck height.Click images to enlarge.
This in my opinion can only be a testing ground for the AC72s. The hulls shape is a scale down version of USA17 Amas. The rocker lines seems to match DNA ones.
Will contact Mike to see if he can gave us some clues on the targeted features with that platform. Weight? at first glance don´t think so, but I need to check with Arno a possible comparison on a carbon platform like that and a ‘standard’ a-class deck laminated weight. Although on a second thought just look the deck material that was removed overall on the entire lenght compared again with the dna….
From the H16 experience and beyond that tramp tubes are made of carbon, they are one piece though for sure, I think they cannot be stiffer than a curved/angular beam & a deck joint.
I think there’s more than weight, like lowering grav center, but weight is key there also, I will get feedback from some top pros and get back to it.
NZ A-Class website a-class.org.nz/results_2012_nationals.htm
Results: a-class.org.nz/downloads/temp/2012_nzadca_nats_overall.pdf
Photos: picasaweb.google.com
I really wonder how stiff such platform will remain over time, the HC16 is probably the fluffiest platform existing today.
However, the sidestays are for example not attached to the outside of the hull but rather on the inside, this should reduce torsion no?
The comparison with DNA is interesting. Except for the forward 40 cms or so the rest of the rocker seems the same, as it is probably the case between all a-cats nowadays.
There are two distinctive evolutions in my opinion compared to the DNA; forward 40 cms have added rocker + the deck is very very rounded. Both must probably ensure the (uncontrolled)diving phenomenon to be reduced or stopped altogether. The other a-class proto Race Extrem (posted earlier on this fantastic website 🙂 )has the same feature and – to a lesser extent – the other most current a-class designs from other brands than the DNA.
Underwatership design (except rocker) is not comparable with the pictures at hand.
Interesting development …
Flyer
I'm sorry but I must to contradict you, rocher is much more than DNA. looking at with attention is very similar to V1R Bimare, especially the lines of forward!
The pics don't show much of the shape of the hulls.
Elevated tramp is weird and silly whats the idea behind it ?
Not light not stiff not streamlined,not ergonomic… But cool anyway?
Looks like an highly impractical solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
What about the boards ?iheard they were j-shaped.
Hope to hear some background info from Mike himself
you can see the boards in the first picture under the boat at the back…
Note that I am not Head of Design. The Oracle Racing design team has many talented people and is led by
Dirk Kramers and Michel Kermarec lead the overall design;
Mario Caponnetto and Joseph Ozanne head the wing aero design;
Scott Ferguson – head of wing design
Mickey Ickert – sails
Manolo de Ruiz Elvira – hulls
Mike Drummond