This sailing cat is a development of the slightly larger 18.5m ‘Cat – Ion’ for a German couple who are very experienced cruising and racing sailors. It is being built in Germany at the Kneirim yard on the Keil Canal out of resin infused carbon fibre with foam cores and honeycomb cores in certain areas (not infused).
The design is slightly ‘de-tuned’ in some areas compared to its larger sisters. The centre boards will be straight symmetric sections compared to the asymmetric boards on the other bigger cats and the rudders will not be retractable or fitted with a T foil. The rig will be rotating and the mainsail reefing will be a conventional slab system compared to the boom furlers on the other cats. The change to the boards will make the boat a bit easier to sail when short handed and as the rudders are the deepest part of the boat and vulnerable to occasional grounding in shallow water not having the foil on the bottom will avoid breaking them off if they hit the bottom.
The interior layout is specific to the clients brief with the focus on a spacious owner’s area in the stbd hull and comfortable guest accommodation on the port side with a small twin berth crew cabin fwd. The boat will be fully equipped for live aboard cruising with all the required fittings and features, laundry, air conditioning, water making, pop up large TV, etc.
The sail plan is extensive. Designed to cover all the options required to sail the boat to optimal performance when cruising or racing.
Motive power is provided by 2 Yanmar 75hp sail drive units.