Design
DSS
goes Cableless
The creative talents of Infiniti Yachts and Doyle Sails – between them responsible for two of the biggest breakthroughs in modern performance yachting – have joined forces to produce something more than special
The Infiniti 52 is the first modern racing boat to be designed and engineered to take full advantage of Doyle Sails Cableless technology – built around a highly efficient, single transverse DSS foil, providing proven performance but without the cost of more complex class-driven foil solutions. The DSS foil provides significant righting moment which allows you to design the boat for a smaller crew, sometimes half the number of a comparable yacht. According to Stu Bannatyne, four-time Volvo Ocean Race winner, though DSS has been around for a long time only recently has it started to gain mainstream traction: ‘I have raced and sailed on many foil- assisted monohulls – including Rambler 88, Wild Oats XI, Charal (Imoca 60), Wild Joe and Maverick (Infiniti 46),’ he says. ‘All of which provided valuable input into the ideal foil arrangement and concept for the new Infiniti 52.’
A simple-to-operate and reliable single transverse foil gives the best solution for this target market – a foil that starts working at low boat speeds (around 11-12kt) when reaching and running to provide righting moment and reduce displacement resulting in a faster, more comfortable ride.
‘At higher speeds (16kt+) the foil will provide really significant gains resulting in speeds far superior to 50-60ft traditional monohulls’. When upwind sailing in heavy airs and/or waves it will act as a stabiliser
78 SEAHORSE
– reducing pitching and making the ride more comfortable and faster!’ When looking for gaps in the market, popular wisdom would suggest that 52ft is a little crowded in the performance sector, so you need to bring your A-game – something that redefines the genre. Traditionally 52ft has been a good size for both inshore racing and coastal/offshore racing. It is is big enough to be comfortable offshore but small and light enough to have that exhilarating dinghy-like feel. Two versions of the Infiniti 52 have been developed, the R for racing-focused owners and the RC for those who would like to combine a more versatile interior with the outstanding performance. The top requirement for potential owners was a competitive platform that can be raced or cruised with minimal maintenance, crew and systems, and so, coupled with the single DSS foil option, we settled for an appendage package with a fixed keel and single rudder.
Central to the design philosophy was an efficient, reliable swept three- spreader carbon mast with a sail and rig plan optimised for coastal racing, plus a workable, comfortable yet lightweight interior with standing headroom, good bunks and a heads/shower option.
With a very efficient triple heading configuration designed for early use of single and multiple staysails when reaching and downwind, performance jumps markedly
Top: the new Infiniti 52 is the first yacht designed and engineered to maximise the competitive advantage of Cableless sail technology. With only half the headstay loads of a typical
modern 52ft racer, there is scope for dramatic
weight saving in all of the hull and rig structures. Above: the forerunner of the new 52, the Infiniti 46 Maverick has proven herself to be able to beat TP52s on the water in spite of being 6ft shorter
compared with existing set-ups for this size of boat.
Utilising Doyle Sails Cableless technology during the early design phase enables the rig compression and sail loads to be reduced by up to 50 per cent, resulting in reduced weight for mast, rigging and boat structure – a huge driver for overall improved performance and comfort. The final sail inventory is tailored to suit each customer’s racing programme and the applicable rating rules. Extensive use of Doyle Sails CFD tools means that every sail is optimised to ensure smooth crossovers and optimum performance.
Finally, the design needed to look awesome – fast can be seriously good looking!
When you set out to sail with a small crew you have to focus on efficiency. The Infiniti 52 combines many synergistic design features, resulting in a fast, easy and fun boat. The design team includes experts in rig design, sail design, interior/ exterior design styling, engineering and naval architecture. This is a
CARLO BORLENG
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