Project Detail
Specifications: | ||
---|---|---|
LOA | 6.40 m | (21′ 0″) |
LWL | 5.74 m | (18′ 10″) |
Max Beam | 2.13 m | (7′ 0″) |
Draft (keel dn) | 1.52 m | (5′ 0″) |
DSPL | 450 kgs | (992 lbs) |
Ballast | 185 kgs | (408 lbs) |
SA (up) | 25.0 m2 | (270 ft2) |
SA (dn) | 55.0 m2 | (593 ft2) |
Boat Show Impressions
In May 2012, for the second consecutive year, I attended the Korea Boat Show in support of Blue Galaxy, the builder of the XS-Spider one-design race boat. This was my first time seeing the production version of the boat, and I have to admit that I was very impressed by the workmanship and attention to detail. It was also my first time sailing the boat and I was extremely happy with how the Spider behaved. It’s beautifully balanced and fun to sail. I was also very humbled and appreciative that our XS-Spider was awarded the 2012 Innovation Award by the boat show organizers. This is a worthy acknowledgement for all the years of hard work that Blue Galaxy and Van Gorkom Yacht Design have put into this project and we are looking forward to a bright future with the boat.
Features of the XS-Spider One-Design Race Boat
Racing and Training
- A dinghy-like performance in a keel boat makes the Spider an ideal “crossover” platform and will be extremely popular with ages 15 through 50
- The Spider has the potential to create a strong youth program for any yacht club and encourage continued participation in its young adult members
- A great racing performance with the racing sail package (square-top main, vertical battened roller furling jib, and asymmetric kite)
- Three to four people in close exciting racing can sail this little rocket hard
- Many of the Spider’s design features make this one-design race boat an ideal platform for a teaching environment (special training sail package)
- The XS-Spider will maintain its leading edge appeal for many years to come and serve any yacht club well in attracting new members to their sailing program
- The boat has a lightweight structure yet it is tough enough to withstand the rigors of yacht club use
- The boat can easily be launched from a trailer via a single point hoist or from a boat ramp
Performance and Handling
- Sleek, stealthy canoe body with flat, stable, after planing-hull sections and a relatively high sail area/wetted surface ratio
- Low displacement/length ratio gives the boat a superior windward performance
- The XS-Spider has a high initial stability, yet is a very responsive boat to handle in most conditions
- The XS-Spider has a spacious and functional cockpit with a simple-to-sail deck layout
- There are no winches and no backstay
- The deck layout draws on the latest dinghy technology to make sail handling easy and quick
- There are hiking pads and a center-line foot chock that make for a comfortable ride when fully heeled
- Hydrodynamic efficient high-lift, laminar flow keel and rudder foils
Structural Features of this One-Design Race Boat
- Lightweight composite laminate includes epoxy, e-glass and foam sandwich construction
- The lifting carbon fiber keel fin and lead T-bulb firmly locks in place on a bearing saddle connecting the internal structure of the boat to the keel fin
- The high aspect ratio rudder is completely demountable with just one pin to pull
- The boat will be virtually unsinkable with floatation compartments built into the structure
Rig & Sails
- The mast and boom are lightweight Southern Spar aluminum sections
- The mast is a diamond rig system with an adjustable-while-sailing cap shroud tensioner
- A Harken & Boom Kicker vang system come as part as the basic package
- The roller furling jib has an integrated headstay system for easy sail removal and hoisting
- The retractable bow sprit is all carbon fiber
- The XS-Spider can be quickly rigged and de-rigged and stowed away with the minimum of fuss and space
Pricing
The preliminary costs from the builder for the XS-Spider are as follows: | |
---|---|
Hull & deck (e-glass, foam core & epoxy resin) | USD8500 |
Deck hardware package | USD2250 |
Sails & rig (training sail package, aluminum spars) | USD8250 |
Carbon fiber lifting keel fin with lead T-bulb | USD3500 |
Carbon fiber rudder | USD1500 |
Carbon fiber bow pole | USD1000 |
Miscellaneous | USD2500 |
Total | USD27,500 Ex Factory |
Note: This price is based on multiples of four one-design race boats, as that is the number of units that can be packed into a 40 foot shipping container (VAT and shipping/handling charges are additional). Options include racing sails (main, jib & kite), outboard and outboard bracket.
Contact VGYD or Blue Galaxy for more details.