yacht designed holistically, as opposed to separate parts combined. Benefiting from 15 years of designing and building different foil-driven yachts, it sets a new standard. On top of the extensive design process, several independent studies were undertaken using recent race data from yachts of the same size, comparing different design elements and VPPs for the same races. Historic data was then compared with different rating bands. This process clearly identified where the design could be improved and the strengths and weaknesses of each iteration leading to the final package. The design evolved constantly in partnership with the sail design and development, taking into consideration subtle alterations in foil geometry and dimensions. ‘Tank testing, CFD and other tools are key parts of the design process,’ explains the Infiniti 52’s designer Hugh Welbourn, ‘but equally important are the results from existing DSS yachts and feedback from skippers and navigators. All of which has been brought together into a design that redefines the genre. Watching the Infiniti 46 sail past most of the TP52s in the 2019 Sydney-Hobart Race and in the final approach to Tasmania be in front overall of the eventual winner, Ichi Ban, prove that the potential for a larger Infiniti yacht to be competitive is very real.’
The question is always asked about the rating and when use of the DSS pays? The key is to have a foil that works over as wide a range of conditions as possible, both in terms of wind speed and true wind angle. The single transverse DSS foil has optimised geometry to provide good
Top: a very clean and simple deck plan with all controls led back to just four or eight powered
winches and a sailplan optimised for coastal racing with three sets of swept- back spread- ers and a very long bowsprit. Above: the pure racing version of the Infiniti 52 has a stripped-out lightweight interior that is practical for offshore passage racing with comfortable bunks, stand- ing headroom and a heads/ shower option. A racer-cruiser version with an ownerʼs cabin in the forepeak and a well equipped galley is also available
lift/drag ratios at low to moderate speeds, enabling an early transition from displacement sailing to the faster high righting moment, lower drag and smoother sailing regimes. A simple system of powered winches and sail controls means that a crew of eight can handle the boat easily without any compromise in performance. They can race it hard by trimming sails efficiently 24/7 to ensure the maximum performance benefits are extracted from the sails and DSS foil. Fewer crew actually means more performance when using the DSS foil.
The 52-footers have dominated all types of racing in recent years and the Infiniti 52 builds on that pedigree. By starting with a very efficient size and optimising it for coastal sailing, the overall package is ready to win races.
The racer/cruiser version was developed from the same hull. It benefits from a more versatile interior with the forward area able to be utilised as a master cabin, with en-suite heads. The galley is more appropriate for short-handed sailing with friends and family but also perfectly appointed for offshore racing and passages. The mainsheet is handled by a captive winch, reducing the amount of rope in the cockpit, and there is a self-tacking jib. This allows the 52 to be sailed and enjoyed two-handed while retaining performance and thrill. Tests on the Baltic 142 Canova reveal that the DSS foil reduces pitching by 42 per cent and heeling by 30 per cent, so there is much less need for crew on the rail and the RC version takes advantage of that. Gurit have been involved in the development of DSS for the past 15 years, working alongside the designers and builders for projects as large as the 142ft Canova and as groundbreaking as the Infiniti 46 Maverick. ‘The Infiniti 52 allows us to benefit from their extensive experience in not only the TP52 class but also the current generation of foiling IMOCA 60s, ensuring a structure that is not only extremely light and stiff but robust enough for
offshore sailing,’ says Infiniti Yachts managing director Gordon Kay. Over the years Gurit have engineered dozens of DSS foils, without a single failure. As for all Infiniti yachts Gurit materials are used, which have repeatedly proven themselves to be the leader in the market for performance and reliability. The rudder, quadrant, bowsprit and DSS foil are supplied by Isotop Composite in France, long regarded as leaders in the supply of high-quality carbon appendages. Lighter, faster, smarter – what’s not to like?
www.infinitiyachts.com
www.dynamicstabilitysystems.comq
Composite Builders, based in Michigan, USA, are partnered with Infiniti Yachts as the exclusive builder of the Infiniti 52. Led by Brian MacInnes, Composite Builders have an impeccable track record in performance. After four America’s Cup campaigns with the Oracle Racing team resulting in two USA victories and two winning Volvo Ocean Race teams, ABN Amro and Team Ericsson, MacInnes brings a wealth of experience in producing race- winning yachts.
‘Having raced at the top of the sport for 30 years and knowing what it takes to win I was seriously impressed by the Infiniti 52 and the team who developed it. A yacht like this is the reason we set up Composite Builders, to be able to build the best and to have a yacht that matches our skillsets as builders,’ says MacInnes. ‘We’re perfectly set up for producing these yachts and expect to have the first one sailing this winter. Our resources include CNC capabilities and a team of machinists, allowing us to build complex tools and moulds inhouse.’ Composite Builders can also automate precision fabric cutting, core cutting and finish detailing as well as having flexibility to cure parts under high compression and a large 2,300sq ft batch oven.
SEAHORSE 79
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118
