The fan base for multihulls is small. But after testing the Corsair Dash, you can't help but wonder: why? Because the sea flea is so nimble that the lack of space and comfort pales into insignificance.
And it's not just the speed that's impressive. Okay, that's not quite true. Of course, it's mainly the speed. Sliding across the water at 5 Beaufort with a top speed of 18 to 20 knots makes up for almost everything. Even the fact that the Dash tends to sail wet.
Even in waves, it remains unproblematic. If the leeward swimmer drifts into a sea that is in the way of the small tri, it brakes sharply, but shows no tendency to plug and a few seconds later it is back towards the 20-knot mark uninhibitedly.
Even light winds suit it. Thanks to its low weight of 1.05 tonnes ready to sail, it accelerates at the slightest breeze. From 8 knots of wind, it makes 6 knots of speed at the cross, and with a kind of code zero screacher, it almost reaches wind speed on reach courses. At the same time, it is light and yet easy to feel on the rudder.
With a length of 7.40 metres, some compromises have to be made below deck. The amount of space is roughly equivalent to that of an 18-foot small cruiser. But: everything you need to live is there. Only the price is really hefty: with all the trimmings, the Corsair Dash 750 costs a hefty 76,190 euros - as much as a 32-foot cruising yacht. But it doesn't do 20 knots.
The complete test now in the new YACHT 1/2011, on newsstands from 22 December.
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
