Sassy
Prout
Sirocco
Catamaran
Sailing
Sassy has the usual Prout 'minsail' rig with mast stepped aft and large roller reefing
Genoa designed to prevent the lee bow burying.
She also has a behind mast
mainsail reefing system and MaxiRoach mainsail (new
in 2012). Given the small main and easy
to reach mast I thought initially that this was rather unnecessary but it makes
the rig incredibly simple to use. All
sail can be set or furled literally in seconds.
Fitted to the inner forestay is
a small roller reefing staysail. This is
only 33ft2 but helps to windward especially when the genoa is reefed
as the large slot between genoa and main is then reduced. She sails well to windward.
A tri-radial cruising chute with
snuffer makes for superb downwind sailing.
With the adjustable tack led to either bow this can be carried from
reach to dead run. A telescopic spinnaker
pole is useful to steady either genoa or chute on a run.
She can carry full sail up to
about force 6 (but to windward in seas it is more comfortable to reef).
Sassy is very directionally
stable and on a close reach will often hold a steady course all by herself allowing
me to sit on the foredeck and daydream!
Areas:
Staysail 3.08m2 33ft2
Main 9.29m2 100ft2
Cruising
Chute 41.8m2 450ft2
The self-draining cockpit is superb
and well protected (especially with the new sprayhood - 2018) with plenty of
space. Wheel steering (hydraulic) and
easy to hand sheets, winches and reefing lines.
The bulkhead compass is forward
of the wheel with log/echosounder, GPS repeater engine panel and switch panel
under a perspex cover.
Adjustable bracket for tablet
for navigation and AIS next to the wheel.
A Raymarine
wheelpilot is great for those light wind motoring
days.
The photo shows the new
Simple to connect with control
lines led directly to the rudders then back to the windvane position. A by-pass valve close by (under the white
hatch) disengages the hydraulic steering.
(Photo is of leaving
The cockpit is well laid out
with Lewmar 30ST (2018) and Lewmar
24 winches for the genoa and the outer Lewmar 16
23-speed winches for the spinnaker. I
tend to use only the starboard winch (self-tailing) for the genoa when
single-handed as then all sail handling is done within reach of the wheel. I hardly have to move when tacking.
The hydraulic steering gives no
feel but does mean that the rudders stay where they are put - a great boon for
single-handed sailing.
Instrument are directly in front
of the wheel and incude a Plastimo
Contest bulkhead compass and Nasa Clipper Log/Sounder, GPS repeater, switches
and engine controls under a perspex cover. Adjustable bracket for navigation and AIS
tablet next to the wheel.
The Yanmar
2GMF (fresh water cooled) engine is in excellent condition and starts reliably
the instant the button is pressed (and without any throttle unless it is really
cold).
Four new flexible engine mounts.
Injectors serviced.
New 55A alternator, new water
pump with speedseal, new belts and all new coolant
pipes and fuel pipes.
New lift pump.
Also new starter and service
batteries and all new wiring.
Parts are readily
available. A good website for these is Ribs
Marine with many exploded diagrams for parts selection.
12 gallon stainless tank.
The engine drives a 15x11"
prop via the usual Sillette Sonic Mk2 lifting and
steerable leg - enables tighter turns.
Anchoring is well catered for
with a 10kg Delta stowed in a foredeck locker with 15m of 8mm chain and 90m of
14mm nylon multiplait. A custom made bow roller extending over the
bow (for self-stowage) and Lofrans Royal manual
windlass means it is easy to handle. The
anchor rode is marked every 5m with markings shown on inside of hatch.
Stability
Sassy has never yet given me the
slightest worry of capsize. It is
obvious when its time to reef but the standard calculation are interesting
anyway.
Read the Catamaran Stability
article by James Wharram and Hanneke Boon for
background information and examples of the formula.
Static stability is the maximum
wind speed in steady conditions.
Dynamic stability is the maximum
wind speed allowing a safety factor for gusts and waves.
Static
Stability = 
(constant is
6.3 for metric, 14 for imperial units)
Dynamic Stability = 0.6 x Static Stability
where
W = Weight (lightly loaded for worst
case) = 2400kg
CC
= Beam between hull centrelines =
2.76m
SA
= Sail Area (main+genoa / main+chute) = 27.96m2 / 51.09 m2
CE
= Height of centre of effort =
4.27m / 5m (the 5m is a bit of a guess)
Main
+
Static
Stability = 33knots (top of 7)
Dynamic
Stability = 20knots (top of 5)
Main
+ Cruising Chute
Static
Stability = 23knots (low 6)
Dynamic
Stability = 14knots (4)
This all seems about right. In flat water with a steady force 6 she will
sail well and fast to windward under full sail and feel comfortable. In gusty conditions or a heavy sea she feels overpressed and it is more comfortable to take in a few
rolls of genoa.
Catamaran
Prout
Sirocco
Sassy