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Dart 16

Dart 16
Class symbol
Boat
Crew2
Hull
Hull weight125 kg
LOA4.80 m
Beam2.30 m
Rig
Mast length7.50 m
Sails
Mainsail area10.40 m2
Jib/genoa area2.70 m2
Spinnaker area11.53 m2
Racing
RYA PN863

The Dart 16 is a one-design 4.80 m long sailing catamaran. It is designed to be sailed by two people. It races off a Portsmouth Yardstick of 863.[1]

History

The Dart 16 Race was first built in 1997.[2]

Design

The Dart 16 is a modern beach catamaran that is fast, affordable, and seaworthy. Like most Dart catamarans except for the Dart 20 EXP it lacks the main boom, as well as daggerboards, spreaders, and complicated trimming mechanisms.

The lower part of the hulls have skegs typical for a beach catamaran. The most noticeable difference to the popular Dart 18 and Sprint 15 catamarans is that the hulls are made out of Tecrothene, a thermo plastic. This material is very impact- and scratch-resistant, but somewhat heavier and harder to repair than fiberglass. The kick-up rudders are similar to the Hobie 16.

The rigging consists of a rotating aero-dynamically shaped aluminum mast held by a forestay and two shroud wires. There is a trapeze for the crew.

The mainsail does not have a boom. It is fully battened and is controlled by a main sheet with a 6:1 mechanical advantage. The main sheet system has ball-bearing block system with a ratchet and jamming cleat.

The option of a gennaker sail is available.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Dart 16 Race". Sailboat Guide. Retrieved 25 May 2024.