weta trimaran max speed

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Compact Weta Trimaran Screeches Past the Big Boys on Biscayne Bay

Mini-multihull with aerospace-like attention to detail fills niche of high-performance day sailor.

The new Weta trimaran is designed in New Zealand, built in China, and imported into the U.S. by Nor Banks Sailing of Duck, N.C.

Photo by Billy Black

When it comes to the pure love of sailing, its hard to beat a small, light efficient boat whose sole mission is to harness the wind rather than provide a home afloat. And now that Hobie and others are moving toward heavy, flexible, roto-molded plastic, and lower performance “beach boats,” its no surprise that a new mini-multihull has come along to fill the niche.

During the few days immediately following the Miami Boat Show in February, Biscayne Bay, Fla., becomes a multihull playground where shallow-draft cats and tris strut their stuff. In a David-and-Goliath replay, the 14-foot-6-inch long Weta trimaran streaked like an agile mouse amidst a herd of elephants. The big cruising cats certainly offer sumptuous accommodations, but they lumbered in the fickle 10- to 12-knot breeze that touched down and lifted off the bays green water. At the same time, the Weta 4.4 scooted off on double-digit reaches, accelerating with each puff, and ghosted through the lulls. If enjoying an active sailing experience on Miamis aquatic frontyard was the plan of the day, the Weta won hands-down.

Conceived in New Zealand by father-and-son team Roger and Chris Kitchen, and designed with collaborative help from a handful of experienced sailors, this elegantly simple and finely built boat is a glowing example of mission accomplished. The company principals, an ex-mathematics teacher and his highly skilled Laser-racing son, bridged both a generation and engineering gap, and came up with the performance boat both had envisioned. The big challenge, however, was in creating a cost-effective boat with the strength-to-weight ratio needed for performance sailing. And a good part of the Wetas challenge was to mate an efficient design concept with the careful use of high-tech and mainstream materials along with exacting composite boatbuilding techniques.

Construction

A carbon-fiber and E-glass tubular framework connects the outer amas to the hull and successfully spreads rig and hull loads. The mast and sprit are also made of carbon fiber, but the light, stiff hull structure, daggerboard, and rudder are built using less-costly E-glass and Divinycell foam. Wetas key to fabrication success stems from the builders aerospace-like attention to detail. Vacuum-bagging and strict resin control results in the elimination of resin puddling and sloppy glasswork in hard-to-get-at areas, and offers excellent weight control. The 220-pound boat is as lean and fat free as a long-distance runner, yet retains the strength and stiffness needed in a high-performance sailboat. These boats are built in China, and they represent a new trend in Asian boatbuilding, an industry once known only for thick, resin-rich laminates and carved teak trailboards.

The deck layout and hardware selection make absolute sense, and show the value of continual input from accomplished small-boat sailors. Not only is there sensible layout of the sheet leads, cleats, and control lines, but all the gear works from either inboard or outboard hiking locations. When you first climb aboard the trimaran, youll find that theres plenty of room for two seated on the comfortable side deck of the main hull, and theres even room for big feet and the mainsheet tail in the full-length cockpit well. Sitting out to windward on the canvas trampoline, the tiller extension and sheet leads make sail trimming and screacher control a snap. Its hard to make a small boat really roomy, but the Wetas wide canvas side deck extension and main hull create plenty of room for a couple and a cooler.

Photo by Ralph Naranjo

The success of this pocket-sized trimaran also stems from its sailplan, a triple threat of main, jib, and easy-handling, furling screacher. The boomless mainsail, made by windsurfer sailmaker Gaastra, incorporates five full tubular battens that control draft and allow the mainsheet to be attached to a well-reinforced clew rather than a conventional boom. Its sculpted foot allows a crew to easily duck under during tacks but still keeps sail area maximized. Gaastra transferred quite a bit of its “go fast” sail shaping into the sailplan, including light tubular batten technology and X-ply and monofilm sail material. The high-tech Gaastra sail package, like the Harken hardware and carbon sprit and mast are all standard, and the result is a package primed for performance.

The upwind sailplan is that of a classic multihull with a big main (75 square feet) and small jib (23 square feet) providing enough drive to make ghosting in light air more than a possibility. Thanks to this efficient sailplan, tight sheeting angle, and a foil-shaped daggerboard, the boat points quite well-more like a one-design dinghy than a multihull. Steer a little wider and the roller furled “screacher” can add a virtual turbo boost. This 60-square-foot gennaker deploys like any roller furler but is trimmed via a single sheet led through both port and starboard leads. As a result, there is much less line to cope with and no sheet tails to drag in the water. To date, the top recorded speed has been 16.5 knots.

The ride is both exhilarating and responsive, sort of like sit-down windsurfing, lots of speed but fewer gymnastics. The helm is fingertip light, and the boats responsiveness takes a little getting used to in order to avoid oversteering. The slight up angle of the amas keeps the windward ama out of the water most of the time, reducing drag. Spray flies, and the boats proximity to the waters surface delivers an enhanced sensation of speed. In a way, it makes sailing more of a contact sport, best suited for warm water and sunny skies. Extending the sailing season means a commitment to good drysuit or wetsuit technology.

Putting the boat away is expedited by the handy beach dolly that comes as a standard component of the new boat. It captures the main hull and locks it in place for quick de-rigging or beach storage. It also eliminates the tendency to scar the hulls by dragging them up and down the beach. Rigging, and its end-of-session reversal, takes less than 20 minutes. This includes assembling the amas and hull, stepping the mast and sprit, and setting the sails. The boats user-friendliness is a tribute to the designers. Whether or not you enjoy multihull sailing, its hard not to give high marks to a well-thought-out sailboat.

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Home » Weta Trimaran

Weta Trimaran

“Life’s better with a Weta” they say!  The Weta is a fun, fast and easy Trimaran that appeals to sailors of all ages and abilities. 

10 reasons to love sailing your Weta!

• Incredible stability
• High performance – speed up to 20 knots
• Simple rig – no boom
• Versatility – sail solo or together
• Lightweight yet robust
• Compact storage
• No abs of steel required
• Rig and launch by yourself in 20 minutes
• Proven New Zealand design
• Capsize resistant and easy to recover

The fun bit – getting out and fast on the water – is easy, too, with the boat designed for ease of handling whether you’re a seasoned skipper or an enthusiastic novice. The three-sail design, boomless rig and minimum control lines mean you can make the most of the wind single-handedly, and even with the family on board, you can tack like a monohull but speed like a multihull, with absolute ease.

And when you’ve had all the fun you can take, everything packs down quickly and easily and stores on a surprisingly small footprint.

SAILING FOR EVERYONE Unlike other dinghies, the Weta is the boat everyone can use – in almost any conditions – all in one compact, easy package.

READY TO SAIL The Weta comes with everything you need to go sailing – three sails, custom aluminum beach trolley, sail bags, carbon rudder stock, carbon foils and custom foil bag.

COMPACT DESIGN The Weta packs down to the footprint of a Laser on a custom fit, lightweight beach trolley.

FAST AND EASY SETUP Lightweight and simple, rig and launch by yourself in 20 minutes.

ONE DESIGN CLASS Weta has an active strong base of racing fleets across the world.

CUSTOM HULL COLOURS Stand out from the crowd with a custom color options.

SAILS FOR EVERY WIND STRENGTH Redesigned by Norths in 2017, the bi-radial cut mainsails provide manageable high performance in all conditions. The Standard 8.3sqm Sail is great for beginners or strong winds. The Square Top (SQ) 9.3sqm Sail gives more speed in light winds and effortless power up to 20 knots.

UNCOMPLICATED DECK LAYOUT Screecher furler cleat on cockpit side, swaged stays, Liros ropes and optional hiking strap.

NO FITNESS FANATICS REQUIRED In most dinghies you quickly get tired when the wind gets up, but the Weta is comfortable to sail in nearly all conditions, whatever your ability or mobility.

SLEEK FLOATS With a vertical join, the clean look float has strong internal construction. Killwell carbon beams enable a precision fit with the main hull.

NORTH SAILS Proven quality, worldwide service.

PRECISION CENTRECASE Xtreme Sailing Products have 20+ years experience building quality sailboats, including the F18, 29er, 420 and Taser.

DRY HATCHES Quality Nairn hatches for a tight seal.

CUSTOM BLOCKS Captive carbon pads with Ronstan blocks for better trampoline alignment.

ROBUST RUDDER BAR & GUDGEONS Engineered for strength and durability.

SPECIFICATIONS

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East Coast Sailboats, Inc: 104 Shores Avenue, Point Harbor, NC 27964

Tel: 252-489-3491

  Wētā North America​

Weta trimaran weta sailboat one design high performance sailing dingy, weta class north america.

The North American Class Association of the Weta Trimaran .

Weta is a 14.5 foot trimaran used for day sailing with family and children as well as one-design racing. With its sleek design and lightweight tech materials, speeds of 20 knots can be reached.  Due to the Weta’s ease of handling, it’s perfect for the enthusiastic novice or seasoned skipper. It brings the best of both worlds together since it handles like a Monohull with the speed of a Multihull.

Owning a Weta has many advantages, one being the opportunity to Join WCNA . As a member of WCNA, we encourage you to join a Weta fleet. This is the best way to get connected with other Weta sailors, have the best sailing experiences and have FUN with new friends!

10 reasons to love sailing your Weta

Weta Marine Website

2010 boat of the year.

For more information,  CONTACT  WCNA .

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Comparing the WindRider 17 to the Weta Trimaran

Comparing the weta trimaran to the windrider 17 trimaran.

We frequently get asked how the WindRider 17 compares to Weta Trimaran, so we decided to make this page to explain how they are similar and dissimilar. We also want to give some of the positives of each boat

Similarities:

1. Both day sailors

2. Both small trimarans (very stable)

That is where the similarities between the two boats end. The WindRider 17 was designed to be a pleasure sailor for anyone to use, whereas the Weta was designed to be a racing sailboat that that was more stable than a small catamaran.

WindRider 17:

1.   Rotomolded.   This allows the WindRider 17 Trimaran to be used anywhere, anyhow without concern of damaging the hull.

2.   Capacity.   The WindRider 17 can carry up to 6 people, while Weta is limited to 3.

4.   Dryer boat.   The trampoline design and bow design ensure that the waves break beneath you, not on you. No need for a dry suit to sail this trimaran.

5.   Motor mount option.   While heretical to some, a motor can be a godsend when the winds die, when a storm is coming or when the current and wind and everything else are working against you.

6.   Versatility.   The WindRider 17 has more options, more cargo space, so choose the type of sailing you want to do. Then do it.

7.   Price.   The base price of the WindRider trimaran is less than that of the Weta.

Weta Trimaran:

1.   One class design.   Weta has a strong base of racing fleets across the world for those people interested in racing trimarans. If you are looking to race, and looking for a small trimaran, this is a great option.

2.   Carbon fiber.   The use of carbon fiber for the mast and akas helps lighten the boat.

3.   Very compact design.   When disassembled, the boat is only 14ft long and 5.5ft wide. This makes it great for people that have very little area for storage.

4.   Speed.   With 3 sails standard the Weta will be faster on the water than the WindRider.

If you are looking for a boat to race, then the Weta is the better option. However, if you just want more versatility at a lower price point, then the WindRider is your best option.

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• Description

Seller's Description

Up for sale is my 2015 Weta Trimaran. This boat is in excellent, maybe exceptional condition. Includes all regular options (road king custom trailer and launch dolly, screacher package), and tons of extra options: kevlar standing rigging (ss standard rigging never used), speed puck, recent custom cover (as the oem weta cover did not fit that well). Used lightly in summer only. Build number 1013. The Wetas built around #1000 are the best of the bunch in my opinion. No nicks , dents, scratches or any other damage on the boat; fibreglass dolly has minor chips and damage. tires have been replaced. Boat is located in Ontario, Canada; you won’t pay taxes if you’re Canadian and re-exporting to US will not cost anything extra either. Only selling to get larger trimaran

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

This listing is presented by SailboatListings.com . Visit their website for more information or to contact the seller.

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Adapting a weta trimaran for solo dinghy cruising - josé carlos sánchez.

January 14th, 2019

Gijón,  Asturias, Spain.

"Weta is made for speed" and it is a compact and light trimaran. Besides tris are stable platforms that can offer the most comfortable sailing. So, you have it all. Just control your speed in all winds and inhabit the boat.

1 Reefing One or two reefs can be installed on the dacron mainsail. Copy the original aluminium plate for the mainsheet hook (2-­-3mm alu sheet and some inox bolts). You will be able to face winds from F1 to F5, go fast or slow, reduce splash, maneuver in harbor, go trolling, take pictures, etc.

2 Oars 160 cms. oars can be rowed without hitting the amas and can be stowed under the outside crossbar of the trampolines, where they do not bother at all. They can be used as long paddles as well. The "rowlocks" are simply bungee cords attached to the aft aka. Rowing position can be on knees or seated on a traversed board. Rowing the Weta has limited effectiveness: oars are short, the position is not centered and it is difficult to progress against the wind.

3 Outboard bracket I designed this one because it only needs to drill one hole on the Weta´s fiberglass. It can be installed in less than a minute, does not interfere with sailing and does not load the boat too far back. Wood is not a single block, it covers an internal steel frame.

It is worth considering to install an electric outboard if your local conditions allow it. It will reduce pollution and you will not suffer noise and gasoline smell.

4 Stowage 4.1 Inspection hatch . Weta´s standar inspection hatch is too narrow. A 200 mm aperture hatch is wide enough to put ten-­-liters drybags inside the Weta´s cavernous locker. Mine is a Barton 40081 hatch. A bit wider could be even better.

4.2 Ten liters drybags . Six units of these drybags can stow almost all the gear for 2-­-3 days (sleeping bag, tent, food, water, stove, spare clothes, anchors, fishing gear, cameras, electronics...).

4.3 Headlamp support. A hook attached to the fore bulkhead can be used to tentatively hang up a headlamp to illuminate the locker. It will be useful not only at night.

5 Chest Made of 4mm plywood , it stows a lot of items you need instantly. Its two upper doors do not interfere with the tiller. It is portable and lets the water come out.

6 Bed The central cockpit is a comfortable niche to put your sleeping bag. It only needs to be dry.

6.1 Bulkhead. A wooden bulkhead adjusted with precision to de cockpit inner shape prevents to a large extent water entry. Adjust it tightly to the boat´s shape (save the Weta gelcoat with a plastic sheet and adjust the shape by using polyester putty). Add some neoprene, rubber or foam tape on the edge to seal any gap. I put the bulkhead right in front of the chest (not showed in the photos).

6.2 Plastic sheet. Now you can extend a plastic sheet (1.8 x 2,5 meters approx) to cover all the cockpit and the bulkhead, and make a dry "nest". Make sure there are no holes on the plastic sheet.

7 Tent A pyramidal tent fly can be hoisted by the mainsail halyard and fits the "round" surface of the Weta decks. Mine is a chinese "Flame´s Creed" 2-­-3 people hexagonal pyramid tent (bought from Aliexpress). A row can be used as a pole to plant the complete tent on the ground.

8 Stove The Trangia 27 stove fits perfectly into a 10 liters drybag and goes through the 200 mm inspection hatch. May be you can even make a cofee while (slow) sailing.

9 Anchors 9.1 Bottom anchors. The 200mm inspection hatch is wide enough to stow proper anchors for the Weta (I carry a 2.5 kgs. folding Grapnel and a 3.5 kgs. Britany).

9.2 Floating anchor. It is a must to be able to stop the boat on the water, face to the wind, to reef/hoist the mainsail.

10 Daggerboard case reinforcement Made by adding strong epoxy putty to the rear union of the daggerboard case to the hull. Just in case. Epoxy putty is incredible strong once hardened. I am not sure about what would happen but I would prefer to break the daggerboard...

11 Miscellaneous  Auxiliary stay to raise the mast . It permits to raise the mast by one person without risk of falling. Once the jib is installed, the auxiliary stay can be attached to the base of the mast. It will be used again to lower the mast.

Jib halyard quick tensioning system

Halyards bag

Stowage of the halyards inside the upper mast Having the halyards in place saves a lot of time. They can be stowed inside the upper mast. A bungee cord set them secure and tight.

Long rope and open climbing blocks to recover the boat whatever the situation you face (slope, sliding floor, mud...). Much better if the car does the traction although you can do it by hand as well. The complete kit remains in the car. You will also need a trolley front wheel.

Trolley front wheel  

Long items storage. Use the amas to stow your rods or long items. Tie them to prevent they go out of reach.

Rod holder This one fits into an aluminium tube (mine is from an arrow shaft) attached with duct tape to the "leg" of the rear aka.

Hope giving some help Happy Weta cruising! Jose Photo album here

Weta Trimarans

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