It is called Mataran MK3. The name is already scary. She is the brand new ICE 33, which we saw launched a few days ago in the Garda waters of Padenghe at the West Garda Marina. A boat designed for pure racing, designed by the Italian hand of Umberto Felci with a specific goal in mind: to design a ten-meter monohull that would be easy to sail and fast on the water to win in both IRC and ORC. A diktat: uncompromising performance and longevity. The promise is that the ICE 33 does not become obsolete at the first technical change at the formula level, but instead remains competitive for a long time.
WATER LINES: THE EXPERIENCE OF FERNS ON THE OPEN
The hull of the ICE 33 is the result of fifteen years of study by Umberto Felci, who has designed open boats that are still hard to beat. Two names front and center: the 10-meter Open Bravissima and the 50-footer Vento di Sardegna, which accompanies Andrea Mura on his oceanic exploits. The characteristic of these hulls, the designer tells us, is to be “round with high stability of shape. The basic concept, starting from this assumption, is to model a hull that at small heeling angles is as thin, submerged and not very wet as possible, and then change geometry at high angles, where the goblet shape goes to offer new supports and allows to increase the overall righting moment.” And the result is what? “Little frictional drag and little wave resistance at low angles providing excellent performance at wide, low-wind bearing swaths associated with increased righting moment as heel increases.”
THE BEST TRIM IS LIKE ON SKIFFS
If we wanted to make a comparison regarding the best setup for best performance, it would be skiffs. The boat should be carried as flatas possible making the most of the generous maximum beam and crew weight, until, as the wind increases, it is also necessary to take advantage of the additional power made available by the torpedo and hull shapes.
THE FIN STRUCTURE AND THE RETRACTABLE OUTBOARD MOTOR
An interesting element is precisely the fin structure, which together with great efficiency and stiffness offers an ergonomically important element i.e., the transverse seat that, in the case of long races in a small crew, allows a very comfortable standby phase. Another treat is the retractable outboard engine lift system that allows the engine to completely disappear with a sliding door.
CARBON MAST AND PBO RIGGING
Themast is made of high-modulus carbon with PBO rigging. Also in carbon we find pulpits and candlesticks. The sail plan was made by the Blue Phoenix sailmaker. The sail area upwind, with square top mainsail, is 72 sq. m. while at the carriers it is 210 sq. m.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET.
Project: Felci Yachts
Shipyard: Ice Yachts
Length: 9.99 m
Larg: 3.43 m
Disloc: 1950 kg
Pesc: 2.5 m
Mainsail: 45 sqm
Genoa: 28 sqm
Gennaker: 140 sqm
Engine: 10 hp
