Sailing tiller RW 6: A test of the wooden Pfiffikus from regatta icon Hubert Raudaschl
Yes, you should know Hubert Raudaschl; he is one of the greats in sailing. The Austrian represented his country at no fewer than ten consecutive Olympic Games between 1960 and 1996, holding the record for the most participations until 2012. He brought home a silver medal twice, once in the Finn (1968) and once in the Star boat (1980). He has also won numerous world and European championship titles in various boat classes. No-one will be able to top this record in a hurry.
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However, Raudaschl does not want to rest on his laurels. The trained boat builder and successful sailmaker from Lake Wolfgang is always on the lookout for new challenges. His latest project is the sailing Zille. These simple working and fishing boats, which are particularly common on the lakes of the Salzkammergut, are usually rowed, rigged, propelled or powered by a small outboard motor.
Raudaschl would now like to add another form of locomotion to these already very diverse uses of wooden barges - with sails and wind power.
It couldn't be simpler
Zillen builder Anton Witti in Wesenufer on the Danube offers the right boats for the job. Now in its eighth generation, Witti builds more than 150 zillas a year, making him the leading manufacturer of this type of boat, which is also known elsewhere as a "Plätten" or "Weidlinge". Together, Witti and Raudaschl have developed a concept for teaching zillas to sail.
Compared to the simple, conventional rowing barge, the sailing zills are built with two guide fins that extend aft a good distance below the flat bottom. They prevent drift when sailing and ensure that the boat sails in a straight line. That is why they are indispensable. In addition, a long rudder with high leverage is attached to the boats.
Hubert Raudaschl has developed a suitable sail for this, based on a standard Laser rig (mast and main boom), to which a so-called Marco Polo sail is attached, a combination of gaff and lateen sail with a free-flying luff. The entire rig is very light and is only inserted through the mast sleeve in the gill. This means it can be assembled and disassembled in no time at all. This can even be done on the water. The two-part mast, the spars and the furled sail can be stored lengthways in the bilge without getting in the way. The cloth can also be set and recovered with a halyard. However, you have to get used to sailing with the long, attached steering belt. And the course changes, especially the manoeuvres, also require strength. It works quite well and quickly if the boat is manoeuvred onto the new course with the rudder. Once under way, however, the Zille can be steered quite well and it also holds its course. It makes surprisingly good progress.
With just six knots of wind for the test on Lake Constance, the new development still manages to reach a speed of just under four knots with half the wind.
The sailing zille is very wobbly at first; getting in and out of the boat can be a challenge for the inexperienced, but the boat is certainly more stable in harbour than a Laser. Due to its angular shape and flat bottom, it is also quite stiff from a certain heel - so stiff that you can swim without hesitation and pull yourself back on board over the sides. Nevertheless, the sailing cill could capsize under certain circumstances. However, the boat does not capsize immediately due to the closed mast profile.
Built entirely from spruce and larch wood, the Zille is unsinkable. It is easy to right after capsizing. However, it takes time to empty the open hull with the bailer. In addition, the full boat is very unstable during this time.
Zillen in three sizes
The sailing zillas are offered by builder Anton Witti in three different sizes. The RW 5 has a hull length of five metres (for a maximum of four people), the test boat, the RW 6, six metres (up to five people), and the seven-metre-long RW 7 should be able to travel and sail with up to six people. The two larger models have the same rig with a sail area of 12.5 square metres. Hubert Raudaschl will build a sail with 11.0 square metres for the smaller RW 5.
The sailing dinghies can be easily transported on the trailer and launched via the slip ramp. This makes them an exciting and attractively priced alternative to conventional travelling dinghies.
YACHT assessment of the RW 6 sailing zille
Unusual but exciting alternative to the conventional travelling dinghy with a wide range of uses and options for sailing and rowing. Attractively priced.
Design and concept
Very robust solid wood construction
Versatile utilisation options
Sailing performance and trim
Good directional stability, suitable for shallow water
Sluggish controls
Equipment and technology
Lightweight, well-functioning rig
Easy transport on the trailer
Technical data of the RW 6 sailing tiller
- Design engineer: Raudaschl/Witti
- Torso length: 6,00 m
- Width: 1,34 m
- Depth: 0,22 m
- Weight: 165 kg
- Mast height above waterline: 5,58 m
- Mainsail: 12,5 m²
Construction method
Planked spruce hull. Frames built from larch wood
Shipyard
- Base price ex shipyard (without sails): 5105 €
- Price ready to sail: 8133 €
- Shipyard: Anton Witti, Boat and Zillenbau, 4085 Wesenufer (Austria); witti-zille.com
The article was first published in 2017. The sailing tiller is currently no longer available from the shipyard, there are no current prices.
