Our first new project for 2009 will be an 8.5M racing catamaran from GRAINGER, branded ICEBOX. If you are a serious sailor looking at competing under the new 8.5 metre rule in NZ or Australia or you are in SE Asia and just want to clean up the rest of the fleet, watch for this one!
GRAINGER Explains The IceBox Design Concept...
"IceBox is a brand new design which pulls together a whole bunch of design technology we've used on race winning boats like Taeping, FlatChat, the Raider, and Cynophobe, and we've sized it all to fit the Open 8.5m Rule developed by the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club to stimulate class racing without breaking the bank.
To comply the boat has to be no more than 8.5m long, 6.5m wide, and no more than 12.6m from the water to the top of the mast. The minimum weight is 900kg, and apart from that the rules are pretty simple. A version of this design with a taller rig and bigger sail plan will also be offered for racing or cruising in the lighter airs often experienced in Australian waters (the Marlay Point Race in particular) and in South East Asian Waters."
(www.graingerdesigns.com.au)
