Wētā Trimaran
 Class symbol | |
 Weta racing in the High Sierra Regatta | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Roger and Chris Kitchen, Tim Clissold |
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Year | 2006 |
| Design | One-design |
| Name | Wētā Trimaran |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 1-3 adults / max 240 kg (530 lb) |
| Hull | |
| Type | Open trimaran |
| Construction | Carbon fiber, fiberglass and foam |
| Hull weight | Approx. 120 kg (260 lb) (fully rigged) |
| LOA | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Beam | 3.5 m (11 ft) (rigged) 1.7 m (5.6 ft) (on trailer) |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | Daggerboard |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Fractional Bermuda or Marconi rig with gennaker |
| Mast length | 6.6 m (22 ft) → 6.6 m (22 ft) |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 9.3 m2 (100 sq ft) [1] (Sq. Top) |
| Jib/genoa area | 3.2 m2 (34 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 8 m2 (86 sq ft) |
| Upwind sail area | 20.5 m2 (221 sq ft) (Square Top) |
| Racing | |
| D-PN | 84.0 1-up, 86 2-up |
| RYA PN | 950 |
The Wētā 4.4 Trimaran is a 4.4 metre (14 foot) sailing dinghy conceived and developed in New Zealand from 2001-2006 by Roger and Chris Kitchen and others with original drawings by TC Design's Tim Clissold.
Design[edit]
The boat is constructed from fibreglass and carbon fibre, and is popular as a racing boat or for recreational sailing.[2] It has added stability and righting moment from the trimaran amas or floats.
Recognition[edit]
The Wētā Trimaran is recognized as one design class by Yachting New Zealand,[3] the French Sailing Federation,[4] and the Royal Yachting Association in the UK.[5] It has been approved for the Paralympics[6] and World Masters Games.[7]
Awards[edit]
In 2010 the Wētā Trimaran was awarded Boat of the Year by Sailing World magazine.[8]
Builds[edit]
There are two distinct builds of the Wētā Trimaran, the 'original build' and the '2015 Wētā' which was created from a new mold and included (mostly internal) hull revisions. In April 2017, Wētā announced the availability of a foam-core Wētā which as well as being stiffer is right on the minimum weight of 120Kg in the class rules.
Original build[edit]
Early prototypes were produced in New Zealand but from 2006 to 2014 the 'original build' was manufactured in China for Wētā Marine and sold internationally.[9] In 2020, 1300+ boats have been sold to date with the largest fleets in France and the USA.[10][11] The original sails were manufactured by Dutch windsurfing sail-maker, Gaastra.
The design evolved over time:
- Color changes (Most boats were produced to four RAL color codes: Red (3020), Yellow (1018), Green (6018), Light Grey (7035). Some very early boats featured alternative red and yellow hues). Current 2020 colours are White, Grey, Blue, Yellow or Orange.[12]
- Three rudders
- New deeper daggerboard
- Mylar sails (dacron optional)
- Minor modifications to forestay tack fitting
- Optional furling jib
- Optional mainsails:
- Small training mainsail
- Heavy weather mainsail
- 'Resort' mainsail (Dacron)
2015 Wētā[edit]
In 2014 the new 2015 Wētā was announced with a switch to a new manufacturer,[14] Xtreme Sailing Products (XSP), based in Singapore (with the factory in nearby Batam, Indonesia). XSP produced a new mould and made structural and cosmetic improvements, including:
- Deck (screecher furler cleat on cockpit side, swaged stays, Liros ropes and optional hiking strap, enhanced grip, new raised foredeck detail for enhanced strength and durability)
- Floats (Change to seamless construction and removal of rear lip. Switch to Nairn hatches.)
- Sails (Switch of manufacturer to North Sails)
- Centrecase (precision fit via nylon pile)
- Trampoline (improved alignment via custom carbon pads)
- Rudder bar and gudgeons (strength and durability enhancement)
In September 2014 the first of the new '2015 Wētā' build were shipped to customers in the US.
2017 Foam Core Wētā & Square Top Sail[edit]
In April 2017, Wētā announced the availability of a foam-core hull (right on the class weight limit of 120Kg) and bi-radial cut 9.3 m square top mainsail (compared to the original Pin-head 8.3 m mainsail. Nearly all Wētā built since 2018 have been foam core and the Square Top sail has been adopted as the standard sail for racing in most regions.
2020 Self-tacking jib kit[edit]
In February 2020,[15] Wētā announced the availability of a Self-Tacking Jib kit designed to be retrofitted to existing hulls or as an addition to new boats. The kit allows tacking without adjusting the jib sheets and includes a slightly smaller jib which is 3.0sqm. Around 6% less sail area than the standard jib at 3.2sqm.
2020 Twin Tiller Extension kit[edit]
In August 2020, a twin tiller extension kit was announced. The kit consists of a second tiller extension, bolts to attach both extensions to the tiller and a shock-cord and ring system to prevent the inactive tiller dragging in the water. The benefit is that you no longer have to pass the tiller around the stern when tacking.[16]
2022 Branding Revision[edit]
In April 2022, the branding was changed from "Weta: Fun. Fast. Easy" to "Wētā: Life's Better". The addition of the macrons was made to properly align with the Māori language definition.
Performance[edit]
- Top recorded speed (best 10 second average): 21.4 kn (24.63 MPH) by Tom Kirkman, USA
- Rigging time: 20 minutes
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Weta dealer update April 2017
- ^ "Sailing World". Weta Trimaran Best Dinghy. Sailing World. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ "Yachting New Zealand". Directory of All Class Associations. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ "Federation Francaise de Voile". Les Associations de Classe. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ List of boats with RYA Portsmouth Numbers
- ^ "Hansa 303 named as one of new Para World Sailing classes". 12 November 2016.
- ^ Auckland 2017 - https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Weta-to-be-part-of-the-World-Masters-Games/
- ^ "Small Trimarans". How to Set Up a Weta Trimaran in 15 Minutes. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
- ^ Link text, Access date 30/06/2001.
- ^ "Weta News & Events | Weta".
- ^ "Weta Community". www.wetamarine.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02.
- ^ "Lightweight and simple, rig and launch by yourself in 20 minutes. | Weta".
- ^ "British Weta Class Association: The Boat - Development".
- ^ "Introducing the 2015 Weta".
- ^ "New Self Tacking Jib - A Game Changer!". Weta Marine.
- ^ "Twin tiller extension kit available now". Weta Marine.
- ^ "BoatDesign.net". Weta Trimaran-sailing worlds best dingy. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
External links[edit]
- Wētā Marine
- TC Design
- Wētā Australia
- Wētā classe France
- British Wētā Class Association
- Australian Wētā Class
- Wētā Class of North America
- Wētā Forum, Buyers Guide and Wētā Wiki - everything you need to know in one place
- Video of the High Sierra Regatta Race 1 Wētā Tri, "Mary Ann", Fresno Yacht Club's "High Sierra Regatta", July 2013.
- to celebrate the 1000th boat sold