Since 2005, the Vela Cup has been contested at various locations in Italy between university teams sailing with boats they have developed themselves and according to strict regulations, which have one thing in common: no less than 75 per cent renewable raw materials were used in their construction. On the one hand, the technical aspect is assessed, i.e. the engineering performance and how strictly the building regulations have been adhered to. And then, of course, the sailing skills.
The Sail.Ing project at the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences (TH OWL) has been running for several years and has already produced a wooden skiff. At the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf, the current project was presented on a joint stand with Kiel University of Applied Sciences, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and the Association of German Engineers (VDI). Five universities from East Westphalia-Lippe and Westphalia are involved in the project with teams of between five and 15 teachers and students, totalling around 100 people.
14-footer based on the classic model
The result will be a modified 14-footer based on the classic model. The completely over-rigged, open centreboard boat originally comes from Australia, where the first championship was held in 1898. In 1928, the World Sailing Federation awarded the 14-footer the status of an international class, the first class ever to do so.
The 14-footers have always been more innovation-driven than almost any other class and have evolved into ultra-modern skiffs with double trapeze, battened big-head mainsails, asymmetric spinnakers and T-foils.
Corona prevented participation in the Vela Cup 2021
While these modern 14-footers are laminated from carbon fibre and their hulls only weigh around 75 kilograms, their wooden ancestors weighed in at around 100 kilograms. Despite this, some are still sailed in a classic classification at regattas.
The project was due to compete in the 2021 Vela Cup, but the event had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the students had already completed their skiff under sometimes adverse conditions and severe restrictions. The wooden planing dinghy was modelled on an RS 800 and equipped with a rotating centreboard box, among other things. How well the design would have performed is anyone's guess. YACHT accompanied the project and took part in the maiden voyage:
Sustainability as a building concept
Now a model is to be built at the TH OWL using modern composite materials made from renewable raw materials. These are being developed and tested in student research projects. The plans have already been drawn up in this way. They show a clinkered outer skin made of wood sandwich on plywood frames and with a foil on the rudder blade. The veneer-wrapped boom and the gennaker pole made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic are based on experience with the wooden skiff. The first trim runs are planned for spring 2024.
Until then, however, the students are still looking for more helpers. Boat builders, experienced regatta sailors, sailing enthusiasts, people with their own ideas. "Sail.ing is open to new team members from universities and industry," emphasises volunteer project manager Dr Natascha Wolski. More information and news about the project can be found on the Page of the university.
