Riverwind – 14.5m Fast Gulf Cruiser
This lifting keel performance cruising yacht has been designed for an experienced yachtsman and features a lifting keel for shoal cruising capability. A generous but easily handled sail plan is married to a slim and highly efficient canoe body. Stability is provided through a laminar flow bulb and deep draft with the lifting keel fully down. The displacement to sail ratio at just over 29 is commensurate with race boats and offers outstanding performance throughout a range of wind strengths, particularly in the light thanks to the very low wetted surface area. A graceful sheer and elegantly raked stem compliments this performance.
Construction is of E-glass foam sandwich composite with use of carbon fibre in selected areas such as the centrecase that extends only to table top height and is supported only at the hull by transverse floors. With the bulbed lifting keel reacting against the top of the case, transverse stiffness was paramount to prevent unacceptable rocking of the main salon dining table under sail. Carbon provided the ability to achieve this within the internal space constraints of the salon. Carbon strapping of the centrecase has also been utilised in order to isolate the glass hull under grounding conditions dispersing the peak loads into the shell over a considerably larger fore and aft area.
Specifications
LOA 14.5 m
DWL 12.35 m
Bmax 3.85 m
DISPL 7000 kg
DRAFT 2.9 m