Dario's Lab

On the Water

Another very satisfying milestone today: First sail of the new A Cat prototype.
A grey day on the Harbour with light winds building toward only six to eight knots.
Flat water and no traffic.
Worked through the list of checks and maneuvers to prove the most critical structural attachments and fittings.That fantastic feeling of sheeting on and accelerating for the first time in a new boat puts all the hard work into perspective and reminds us why we do what we do.

The outing was uneventful which is the best possible outcome for such a session.

Now the programme of bedding in and working up gets underway.
There will certainly be small refinements to come as each complex situation sheds light on the robustness of our design process.
But we are very happy right now.

This is a good time to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to all those who helped make the project a reality.
Special mention should go to:

Aptec Composites for machining the plugs.
Eastern Suburbs Smash Repair for final finishing and painting.
Harken for the hardware fitout.
Fiberfoam for the mast.
Stevie Brewin and Landenberger for the sails.
Signs and Cosigns for the stickers.

And others, too many to list for supporting the build.
A valuable outcome of the build has been the identification of a robust supply chain.
Since we are contracting the major components, knowing we have a reliable network of competent partners makes a big difference.
This will ensure maximum value to the customer.

The next prototype is well underway and official specs will be released soon.
Interest in the boat has been overwhelming and we encourage everyone to drop us a line and inquire about booking a production slot.