Drifts for all (your) tastes / 1

The dinghy market offers a boat for every type of sailor. From models designed to introduce children to the sport safely, in singles or doubles to catamarans with the latest foils. And finally, the fierce challenge issued to the single drift par excellence: the laser. Two names? The new Melges 14 and Luca Devoti’s D-Zero. In the next installment we will feature other dinghies, including instructional boats designed for group outings with the instructor on board.

TOP CAT K 4.5
A catamaran that is sporty but also designed for younger children. A split mast is available upon request, allowing convenient transportation of the entire boat on the roof of a car. Bayonet rudders are inserted into a special box that opens upon impact, unlocking the safety device. Even in the raised position, the wheelhouse fishes enough for proper navigation. Length. mt.4.50, width. mt.2.21, weight 115 kg, sup. vel. 13.50 sqm – catamaransport.co.uk

TOPAZ TAZ
A light little drift, perfect for kids. It has an open stern to facilitate the exit of water embarked while sailing and is easy to right in case of a capsize. The hull is made of Trilam thermoplastic material, which makes the boat rigid and sturdy for a weight of 40 kg, handles at the bow and stern to easily carry it even on the car. The equipment, with the split shaft, can be conveniently transported by car. Lung. 2.95 – Larg. 1.20 – Weight 40 kg – Sup.vel. 5.39 sqm – price 2,500 euros – topboats.co.uk

D-ZERO
An innovative single designed by Italian Olympian Luca Devoti. A boat with aggressive lines but also simple. At 4.40 meters long, slightly more than the Laser and slightly less than the Finn, and 1.42 m wide, it has in its extremely low weight, just 43 kg for the hull rising to 60 a the rigged boat, one of its strengths. Characteristic flared prow. The rigging includes a mainsail only, rigged with halyard on a carbon mast. Lung. 4.40 m – Larg. 1.42 m – Weight 60 kg – Sup. vel. 8.2 square meters – devotisailing.com

MELGES 14
Built by Melges and designed by Reichel / Pugh, the 4.267-meter-long (and 1.584-wide) Melges 14 has a weight of 54 pounds and a half. The mainsail, rigged on a carbon mast and boom, can be 9.1 or 7.8 square meters depending on the configuration chosen (mid-range, less demanding, or full-range, with more sail area). The boat features a wide cockpit (so as to reduce rolling) and open aft. The shape of the edge is square. Data: Length. 4.27 m – Larg. 1,584. – Weight 54.5 kg – Price 8,000 euros – melgeseurope.com

NACRA 17
Catamarans are returning to Rio 2016, with the only constraint that Olympic crews be mixed: ISAF has in fact opted for the Nacra 17, produced by the Dutch shipyard of the same name. The very light hulls are constructed of composite (epoxy, fiberglass and carbon), the rigid platform provides control and stability, and the shape of the bows is designed to best cleave waves and reach high speeds. Special features of the Nacra 17 are the curved drifts, capable of lifting the bow downwind out of the water, allowing the hulls to “fly” . Data: Length. 5.25 m – Larg. 2,59. – Sup. vel. 20.10 square meters – nacrasailing.com