The shipyard in Ho Chi Minh City is thus presenting a current successor to the successful F-27 series (450 boats built) and the Corsair 28 (300 boats built). The format with a hull length of nine metres is particularly attractive for trimarans with flexible outriggers, as the width can be reduced to a roadworthy 2.50 metres at maximum size. This makes the new Corsair 880 a particularly exciting competitor to the Dragonfly 28 from Denmark, which can also be trailered (test in YACHT 14/2009).
The main difference between the two brands: On Corsair Marine trimarans, the side hulls are folded in via hinges in the beams, close to or even under the centre hull - a system that has proven its worth when testing numerous Corsair models. On the Dragonflys, the floats are swivelled backwards parallel to the central hull using an equally sophisticated mechanism.
Compared to its predecessor and sister models, the Corsair 880 now comes with significantly more voluminous side hulls and wave piercer-style bows. The construction by Perus Yacht Design is intended to provide more buoyancy for more stable sailing characteristics, while at the same time the hulls will go through the waves better. The centreboard in the central hull can be raised completely and the rudder system is only attached aft. This makes it possible to sail the Corsair 880 right up to the beach. In addition, the trimaran is positioned as low as possible on the trailer, which makes road transport easier and also facilitates launching and retrieving the boat via the ramp.
The Corsair 880 will be available to order in two versions. The standard boat comes with a rotating carbon fibre mast and self-tacking jib, and a carbon fibre bowsprit for a gennaker or code zero is also fitted. The basic version of the 880 will cost around 124,000 euros (at the current exchange rate to the US dollar, including 19 per cent VAT). The Sport version features an almost two metre higher rig (also made of carbon) with significantly more sail area, and the boat will also be equipped with a short overlapping genoa. And the bowsprit will also be longer, allowing the use of even larger and more powerful additional sails. The sporty version of the Corsair 880 has been announced for a price of around 140,000 euros.
In the saloon, the table can be lowered and converted into a double berth together with the sofa on the port side. Two people can also sleep in the foredeck, and another single berth is fitted under the cockpit floor aft. A small galley module and a separate wet room ensure suitability for touring.
The shipyard in Vietnam is apparently already working on the prototype for the new Corsair 880. The first ship is scheduled to arrive in Europe in autumn 2019. The first presentation will take place in January 2020 at the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf.
