Great interview, it just confirms what you've been saying all along about starting boat life. The comment about husband and wife going for separate practical courses is wise for the reasons mentioned, but is there a chance it might lead to two slightly differing view-points for a given scenario? I guess that's when captain 💩 happens!
Have to say Richard truly is a class act. I worked with him for a short stint over 20 years ago and behind the scenes he truly is passionate about the products he produced and the customers he served.
I am so impressed by Seawind as a company. They seem to understand that all this education of sailing and sailing catamarans in particular for people is only going to be good for sales. They seem really keen, not just to sell their boats, but to help people really understand what is going on with sailing and what is needed to sail safely all around the world. I'm sure that other manufacturers do this to a lesser extent, but Seawind seems to go out of their way to educate the masses about how they produce a craft that is safe, sturdy and built to last. Excellent work.
Thank you. We have been on our first boat for 6months now. We are living aboard, getting to know her and learning so much. She is a Seawind 1000. Every time we sail, we learn something new. We have done the crewing, courses and chartered before this, but, there is nothing like being on your own boat. You can’t get enough practice docking. Even getting comfortable using the dinghy on busy waterways. So many things things you have to adjust to when you are new to living aboard. I really enjoyed this episode. ❤️⛵️
Rewatching this again after a year. So much information and nuggets packed in this wonderful interview after first watching it a year ago… 1. Learn to sail on dinghy and then bigger boats - check 2. Join a local sailing club - check 3. Have your spouse learn separate from you - check 4. Join local races - check 5. Do some offshore races and passages - check 6. Put the time in - 8 years and going 7. Learn to be practical - ongoing 8. Keep boats uncluttered - in works 9. Learn your boat - that’s the plan
Hi Nick, You should not be so down on yourself about having spare parts. It's true with a newer boat, you probably do not need some of these parts as maybe an older one. As a parts ordered for all of our cars, parts have become a very challenging task when in time constraints from this new COVID based world that we are dealing with. Maybe you only need one spare, but it could be six to eight months for something that normally would have just taken a couple of weeks. I loved the advise about buying something if you find you need it, especially when it comes to creature comforts or cooking devises. If you are going to be dead in the water (no pun intended) by not having a simple and easy and hopefully light part, which should be stored close to an engine bay, then you should have spares. I know that sailing is not supposed to be on a schedule, but having to wait eight months (and I am serious) for a part could be a real headache. You did the right thing before and you can evaluate that when you get the new boat. Heidi
Very interesting video. In 1993 I was fortunate enough to talk with Richard at the Sydney Boat Show. We had our 40' mono on display at the show, and Richard had the then new Seawind 1000. After all the visitors had all gone I had a look through the 1000 with Richard and he explain his approach to how they were building the boats and why certain items had been setup. He had great ideas and came across as a very forward thinking person.
I learned to sail at the Orange Coast College Sailing Center in Newport Beach, CA back in the '70s. Before we could even start class we had to pass a test to show we could tread water for 15 minutes. Then we learned a couple of basic knots, and parts of a sailboat, how wind direction affected sailing, right of way, and more basics. Then we went to the Lido 14's and learned how to get on and off them safely, making sure the drain plug was put in and parts of that particular boat. Then she had us in small groups of 3 per boat and let us loose on the water in front of the sailing center and THAT"S when I discovered how great sailing was. We later moved up to the Shields, a 30' racer and we raced against each other learning to read the surface of the water to tell where the wind was, and wasn't. Further classes on much larger boats like Saudade, Scandalous, and Alaskan Eagle had us sailing to Hawaii or up the coast. I ended up in the early '80s buying the newly introduced NACRA 5.8 catamaran, which was beating almost every other cat on the water with its closest competition the SuperCat 20 and Tornado. I got to sail the Shields in Santa Ana Winds, which can get up to 45 knots easily. There was also the infamous Long Beach area known as 'Hurricane Alley'. Back then someone sailed a slightly modified NACRA 5.8 all the way to Hawaii. The history of NACRA is interesting. They started out trying to be a corporate sponsored racer in the 35' range. They did trials up in Long Beach but sponserships never came about as far as I know. Then they decided to design a downsized version the widely sold 5.2 and later expanded to other designs but they always kept their racing heritage.
My sailing experience started in 1975 when my father bought a 16 foot Sol Cat which was a earlier Nacra design catamaran. When the Hobie Cats started tipping over it was the perfect time to launch, I still remember my father and I trapezed out on one hull and flying that hull almost 2 feet out of the water for close to 3 miles continuous down the Florida inter-coastal waterway. A special day I will always treasure. If you want to sail buy some good deck shoes, Sperry or Timberland, and pass out some business cards with your name, cell phone and 'Trainee Crew'. Hit sailing clubs, chandleries, marinas, mailboxes of people with sailboats in their yards, whatever you can think of. If you work for it, it will happen!
A great interview with wonderful advice. The idea of starting small and working your way up. I’ve been sailing for 60 years and every time I leave the dock I learn how much I still have to learn. It’s the people who have been sailing for six months and think they know everything that get into trouble.
A very knowledgeable man with a very humble personality. Refreshing. When you got him talking the conversation was interesting. I think this exactly the kind of man I would want defining the company philosophy of a boat if I was buying one. I have never questioned the validity of your choice of a 1370....but this just reinforces the fact that you were dead on the mar,
Thank you for the motivation! I had the intent to retire at 40 and spend my days in the Whitsundays! Shame, that didn't happen and back in the real world I'm now 60 and MUST start sailing. So I think the tip on going to the local sailing club is the ticket I was looking for. There must be a need for crew in Pittwater or the Hawkesbury & its time I found out. Seawind is the dream boat. Congratulations on 2 boats in the top ten for 2020. No surprise and I hope to sail a 1260 some day soon. Cheers and stay safe. Bring on more info from Vietnam.
Loved your discussion with Richard! My first boat (against both your and his advice as I have zero experience) will be a Seawind. Your comment re: Kansas hit home; I reside in Colorado and will soon seek out local clubs.
Re the america's cup tech. I'd like to see the wingsail tech make it's way to cruising boats. Current cruising sails are tremendously inefficient and difficult to tune optimally. Lots of people have demonstrated reefable wing sails and wing sails made from sail cloth to make them easier to repair in remote places. The wing will be much more efficient and thus require less size/area for similar thrust. A free standing rig not only eliminates the weight of the standing rigging, but reduces compression loads in the structure. Regarding Richard's comments about partial-foiling, a South African professor named Hoppe invented the HYSUCAT (Hydrofoil Supported Catamaran) decades back which is used in many commercial power cats, e.g. ferries. The beauty is that you don't have the stability issues of a full foiling, but lifts the hulls partially out of the water.
Nick, all hung up on performance again 😂😂 The man was trying to tell you that it's a cruising boat first but you're not listening. I truly believe you've purchased the most workable boat for your requirements. Be happy with that
I'd take the gen set with two electric motors. The thought is that the battery bank and solar IS the back up. Yes, a becalmed blue hole would be difficult (but not impossible) to cross IF the gen set was down. Also... Yes, if you were in a hurricane hole and needed to run the motor to hold your spot in an anchorage then IF the genset was down you would probably exhaust your battery bank before the storm passed. Would the gen set ever go down while one of those circumstances happened? Probably not, but maybe. I'd rather gamble with handling that outcome and miss out on regularly doing many hours of gymnastics in cramped, humid, sweaty engine compartments. I don't even care if it costs more because my overall quality of life would improve.
What a great interview with a very very special guy, thank you so much letting us know more about Mr. Ward and the Seawind ethos and philosophy of sailing.
While I wait for my 1260 to be built I am finding great joy in watching channel. This one was particularly good, informative and totally entertaining. 🥰
Booked a Catamaran course in BVI to be certified to charter cats. Offshore sailing school. Have been sailing for years in mostly small 22 feet and less. Appreciated the perspective shared here. My advice is respect the sea. Keep sharing your videos. Thanks.
I think those who say "Go now, not later" refer to something else: They are talking about the cases when someone would wait until everything is perfect, planning and saving for it for a decade. The point they make is that nothing is ever going to be that perfect, so instead of delaying to the end of time, better do it now - and refine afterwards. The two ideas are not mutually exclusive. PS. ...Would you happen to know anybody who retired to the cockpit, reading? 😋
There are 2 cat's that are missing in the market, and I think Seawind would be perfect to step up and make them available: 1) A "Seawind 800" (a modern version of a Seawind 24) basically a spartan basic over nighter beach cat that someone could step up into from a Hobie cat and should be targeted at
You probably know already, but Seawind produced an 850 from 1991-1995. At least 25 built, all in Australia. There are still a few that pop up for sale. That transitioned to the 1000 that was started in 1994, and I think produced thru 2009. About 230 of them built. Many of us that now own 1160 Lites, made the jump from the 1000. I think Seawind quit making the 1000 because there was no profit in it. Today the Seawind "entry level" boat is the 1160.
Just an excellent frank interview. I've been working in electrified automotive powertrains in various forms since 2007, and 100% agree with you guys; high capacity alternators on efficient diesels with a big solar and LiFePO4 battery bank is and will be the best configuration for at least another decade. Pure electric is still a science project and a parallel hybrid system is too much extra transmission machinery that is not serviceable under way and definitely not in typical marinas. If the battery bank needs topping up just run one of the engines for an hour or two. Great interview!
@@charonstyxferryman well I have family in Tromso. I’m well aware of where the Arctic Circle is. So one person does it and it’s mainstream all of a sudden? Note I said another decade before all electric is mainstream.
@@charonstyxferryman I think that Dan and Kika are aware that there are constraints of Uma's systems. They have shown themselves to be willing to plan their cruising with knowledge of those constraints. (they will wait for the good wind instead of motoring on to meet a schedule). They also seem to be aware that what they are doing is, to an extent, pioneering. And I think they enjoy the pioneering.
Catamarans have gone from being a left-field choice a few decades ago to being the go-to choice for many, and rightly so. I'd argue the driving force in that change has been design - changes to length/beam ratios, centres of effort of the sail plan, keels (or lack of), hull hydrodynamics. They've made the chances of an unrecoverable inversion more remote whilst simultaneously improving live aboard comfort. With increasing adverse weather events the stable platform they offer could even become the preferred option for long distance cruising. As monohull fans it will be interesting to know your thoughts in due course.
Being retired AND older, I have enough trouble remembering what day it is without seeing Technical Tuesday on a Thursday! LOL Gave me a few moments of false security thinking about when I have to start cranking out the Christmas fudge, so if it's late I will fully blame it on you guys! LOL Well done on the interview, but I would have loved to see some B roll tossed in to show what you were talking about about the foiling. Probably would have set off warning bells for the YT licensing tho.
Good interview. Thanks. Foiling cruisers. It wasn't many years ago when the idea of an inexpensive consumer drone 'helicopters' were considered close to impossible. In fact if you look at how the previous generation of helicopters were flown it was with two hands doing different things at the same time. Eventually that became gyroscope and computer controlled. Consumer drones use cheap motion sensors and computer control. Where twenty years ago the only way a consumer could have a controlled 'drone' would be a RC airplane that you had to fly remotely. Now the drone does all the flying, adjusts for wind, and you just tell it where you want it to go or stay. I think the same thing could happen with foiling cruising cats. I don't think the issue will be safety or if it can be done. Computer control will make it possible. (I'm told that I'll have to reef my cat according to numbers, where as a mono-hull has a 'superior' method of how far is she heeling?) The issue may be whether or not the machines can make a foiling cat sail smoothly enough - iron out the bumps. I think charts will have to be improved, or there will be large 'no foil' areas where reefs are not reliably charted and where sand bars are constantly shifting. And then there are lobster pots.... No foiling in Maine. Boat length might be a factor. It would probably be a lot more difficult to foil a 32 footer 8' above the wave troughs than a 60 footer. Foiling cruisers might even usher in a period where crossing oceans at 20-25 knots is so efficient sailors choose to sail by day and heave-to for a night's sleep (especially if container ships keep dropping shipping containers.) Thinking about all the changes to sailing in recent years, integrated GPS, Predict Wind, better comms (Iridium, Starlink!?), lithium batteries, no more wood cores, (remote working!) there's a whole list - I don't think any of the boat builders really see what's headed their way. Sail boats, especially cats, I think are about to enter a boom phase. Covid might've kicked it off, but I think it's just going to grow so rapidly. (I'm just so happy I got my Seawind order in.)
Sailing Uma is the only sailboat I know of that is electric powered , They are up in the Arctic Circle at the moment and have been having problems keeping their lithium batteries charged
Not really, they've been charging from docks or using a generator a couple of times. Obviously they've been planning what they're doing but that's would be the same if they had a diesel engine (which would probably have broken in some way at some point).
During the conversation of generator and energy, why no mention of Integral ? Seems to to be the go to solution now (better than the Blamer/MasterVolt alternator - external regulator setup I think RR2 talked about in earlier video.
All major cruise ships are run by banks of generators. They have electric engines. I agree that going fully electric on a small boat is still in the future. In terms of seamanship the diesel engine remains the best workhorse. Put all the solar panels up on deck that you possibly can and they will reward you with less than 25% of potential output on an average day. Big double alternators on the engines and oversized battery banks will reduce the odds against your inevitable power consumption. A generator will even the odds a little more but it has to be a proper one. Stay away from high revolution light weight diesel sewing machines. Double the size of the biggest inverter you think you could ever possibly use and while you are doing that double the size of the battery bank. Getting off grid is an expensive exercise but it's rewarding if you do it right.
All the Seawinds seem to have a huge main and a small foresail. Other companies seem to be placing the mast further aft with a bigger foresail. Are Seawind concentrating too much on upwind performance? I prefer a larger foresail myself.
Great post. Would have been interesting to have been a fly on the wall to listen to the conversations that you had away from the camera as well...... lots of knowledge. The clip made me a bit homesick though... the Magpies warbling in the background was awesome.
How about one electric? I've commented in the past of this option giving the pros to this configuration. I don't understand the fixation of one over the other. You only need one to get out of a calm. An electric gives you instantaneous power like in a mob situation. With the new alternators, you have charging capability. You also get to regen with the electric under sail. Electric motors are near silent. Everyone always gives a sigh of relief turning off the motor. And many more examples. Just waiting to at least hear it as a possibility.
Sean that is what we’ve done on our 15m cat, and there are many advantages that are usually not considered. Like motor sailing in silence and with no fumes in the cockpit. Like motoring in the calms with just the solar array output during the day, and then on the batteries at night. Like fully electric galley. Like greatly reduced maintenance of the diesel. Etc, etc!
Instead of gensets, I’m surprised that a parallel hybrid propulsion system isn’t an option. It’s a robust solution that provides a majority of motoring with clean, quiet electric power.
Correct, what about: ICE - 1.clutch - e-motor - 2. clutch - prop. This could do everything: charge battery with ICE, 1C closed 2C open. Recuperating with prop, 1C open, 2. C closed. Run with ICE, all clutch closed. Run with electric, 1C open, 2C open. Don’t know why nobody uses this? Just need one combustion machine.
Nice dive into... mind you, you cannot get too technical for me, so the more of that the better, and I assume that as you manage to finally get to Vietnam, we will see more nuts and bolts and less beaches and..err.. views.. ;)
Outstanding interview with a leader in innovation, design and experience... The more high tech sailing gets, the less opportunity there is to achieve and feel good. Sitting at the helm station watching a computer screen sail the boat is not as rewarding as managing a sailboat yourself... Ask any classic sports car driver... The experience is diluted by technology... Tech for safety is a must, but tech to sail the boat, you might as well just drop a tab of acid, and watch youtube.. LOL
How about hydrofoil?, Can seawind combine catamaran and hydrofoil, so that it has the capability to cruise and also, take on speed, when needed. I think , it will be very interesting
When graphene is cheap, and easy to manufacter it will change the catamaran life the most. Carbon fiber is weak compaired to graphene structurally. The electric motors, navigation equiptment, computers, computer screens, and graphene capacitors will replace batteries of all types. We are just not there yet.
I’m not sure cheap graphene made in sheets large enough to build boats is going to be available anytime soon. What are your estimates for this being viable?
@@sailingrubyrose I replied on 12/17/2021, but the censors took it down perhaps it was too true. I can make it milk toast. If you can think it you can do it. Many countries are working on mass production of graphene. R. G. Letourneau wood be given a dream from Heaven of a new design of heavy equiptment then he built it. The man that gave us alternating current dreamed about a check valve that had no moving parts, and it works. This man was inspired from heaven he invented 3 things that are being used in Florida today. #1 Quantum bio-feedback #2 Regeneration of missing body parts eyes,limbs,organs,body systems, and burnt skin.#3 Regression to 20 yrs younger
I have to disagree with you on the electric motors with a genset issue. People are tinkering with their gensets all the time because they don't use them as much as they should be (an engine needs to be run for extended periods). If you have one to charge up the battery system that runs everything else on the boat, you will be running it more. With the hybrid system, you have a battery system to run the motors to get you out of the anchorage even if the genset fails. Your current system, with 2 engines and fuel systems, give you redundancy, but also give you twice the maintenance. I think I would rather have redundancy through a genset, solar panels, wind generation, and regen (through the motors) to refill the "fuel." One place where a purely electric boat falls short is extended motoring. If you are unwilling to wait out the wind (or lack thereof), you will not be happy with an electric motor. However, the addition of the genset allows you to extend the range of an electric boat beyond the battery capacity. I keep hearing "it's not ready yet." I would maintain that the systems are there to do it, but people are not comfortable with the change. If not now, when? Of course, after saying all this, I have to admit that I no longer have my electric boat because I moved to a larger boat. However, if the engine fails, I will give serious thought to replacing it with an electric motor and a smaller genset.
@@charonstyxferryman I had to do that several times with my boat after the engine died and before I put the electric motor in, but my boat typically lived on a mooring, which makes it easier.
Speaking as someone who has never sailed before in my life so my opinion is worth very little, but in regards to these foiling yachts being used by cruisers must be like using an F1 car as your daily runaround.
I'll wager that those wet windy days you talked about, when out sailing & had "the best time". I'll bet that wasnt cruising at 10 knots mate! Give me 25 knots & a boat with a skitish ass anyday😄👍
If you are in Australia, you might find one of 25 Seawind 850's built between 1991-1995. About 230 Seawind 1000's were built from 1994-2009 (I think that was the last year). We daysailed, raced and cruised a 2002 Seawind 1000 for 12 years before having a Seawind 1160 Lite built in 2018. That is currently what Seawind offers as their entry-level boat.
Is it price of batteries? I assume yes. What price kw have you been seeing that don't make sense? At what price per kWh will that flip so electric start making sense? How far off might that be?
I’m pretty sure it’s not cheaper, it’s almost 100% not faster, I have no insight into build quality, so therefore can’t comment. On a final note, the fact that it’s “available” doesn’t necessarily make it desirable.
I think the other main options are the leopard with its forward cockpit and the Bali. However in both these cases my opinion is that they don’t offer the flexibility of the Seawind. I would be interested to hear what your opinion regarding specific models is?
@@sailingrubyrose Why not extend the Bimini beyond the mast and add high energy solar panels. At 500w/panel you could generate 2.5kw and support the dinghy.
Great interview, it just confirms what you've been saying all along about starting boat life.
The comment about husband and wife going for separate practical courses is wise for the reasons mentioned, but is there a chance it might lead to two slightly differing view-points for a given scenario?
I guess that's when captain 💩 happens!
It will possibly lead to differing opinions. However the benefits of individually training outweigh the differences IMHO
@@sailingrubyrose And sometimes differing opinions are necessary so in some cases that negative may be a life saver!
Hope to place an order with Richard in the not to distant future, he is an inspiring person.
Have to say Richard truly is a class act. I worked with him for a short stint over 20 years ago and behind the scenes he truly is passionate about the products he produced and the customers he served.
I am so impressed by Seawind as a company. They seem to understand that all this education of sailing and sailing catamarans in particular for people is only going to be good for sales. They seem really keen, not just to sell their boats, but to help people really understand what is going on with sailing and what is needed to sail safely all around the world. I'm sure that other manufacturers do this to a lesser extent, but Seawind seems to go out of their way to educate the masses about how they produce a craft that is safe, sturdy and built to last. Excellent work.
Thank you. We have been on our first boat for 6months now. We are living aboard, getting to know her and learning so much. She is a Seawind 1000. Every time we sail, we learn something new. We have done the crewing, courses and chartered before this, but, there is nothing like being on your own boat. You can’t get enough practice docking. Even getting comfortable using the dinghy on busy waterways. So many things things you have to adjust to when you are new to living aboard. I really enjoyed this episode. ❤️⛵️
Rewatching this again after a year. So much information and nuggets packed in this wonderful interview after first watching it a year ago…
1. Learn to sail on dinghy and then bigger boats - check
2. Join a local sailing club - check
3. Have your spouse learn separate from you - check
4. Join local races - check
5. Do some offshore races and passages - check
6. Put the time in - 8 years and going
7. Learn to be practical - ongoing
8. Keep boats uncluttered - in works
9. Learn your boat - that’s the plan
Hi Nick,
You should not be so down on yourself about having spare parts. It's true with a newer boat, you probably do not need some of these parts as maybe an older one. As a parts ordered for all of our cars, parts have become a very challenging task when in time constraints from this new COVID based world that we are dealing with. Maybe you only need one spare, but it could be six to eight months for something that normally would have just taken a couple of weeks. I loved the advise about buying something if you find you need it, especially when it comes to creature comforts or cooking devises. If you are going to be dead in the water (no pun intended) by not having a simple and easy and hopefully light part, which should be stored close to an engine bay, then you should have spares. I know that sailing is not supposed to be on a schedule, but having to wait eight months (and I am serious) for a part could be a real headache. You did the right thing before and you can evaluate that when you get the new boat. Heidi
Very interesting video. In 1993 I was fortunate enough to talk with Richard at the Sydney Boat Show. We had our 40' mono on display at the show, and Richard had the then new Seawind 1000. After all the visitors had all gone I had a look through the 1000 with Richard and he explain his approach to how they were building the boats and why certain items had been setup. He had great ideas and came across as a very forward thinking person.
I learned to sail at the Orange Coast College Sailing Center in Newport Beach, CA back in the '70s. Before we could even start class we had to pass a test to show we could tread water for 15 minutes. Then we learned a couple of basic knots, and parts of a sailboat, how wind direction affected sailing, right of way, and more basics. Then we went to the Lido 14's and learned how to get on and off them safely, making sure the drain plug was put in and parts of that particular boat. Then she had us in small groups of 3 per boat and let us loose on the water in front of the sailing center and THAT"S when I discovered how great sailing was. We later moved up to the Shields, a 30' racer and we raced against each other learning to read the surface of the water to tell where the wind was, and wasn't. Further classes on much larger boats like Saudade, Scandalous, and Alaskan Eagle had us sailing to Hawaii or up the coast. I ended up in the early '80s buying the newly introduced NACRA 5.8 catamaran, which was beating almost every other cat on the water with its closest competition the SuperCat 20 and Tornado. I got to sail the Shields in Santa Ana Winds, which can get up to 45 knots easily. There was also the infamous Long Beach area known as 'Hurricane Alley'.
Back then someone sailed a slightly modified NACRA 5.8 all the way to Hawaii.
The history of NACRA is interesting. They started out trying to be a corporate sponsored racer in the 35' range. They did trials up in Long Beach but sponserships never came about as far as I know. Then they decided to design a downsized version the widely sold 5.2 and later expanded to other designs but they always kept their racing heritage.
Our overlords took my reply down I guess it was too true.
My sailing experience started in 1975 when my father bought a 16 foot Sol Cat which was a earlier Nacra design catamaran. When the Hobie Cats started tipping over it was the perfect time to launch, I still remember my father and I trapezed out on one hull and flying that hull almost 2 feet out of the water for close to 3 miles continuous down the Florida inter-coastal waterway. A special day I will always treasure.
If you want to sail buy some good deck shoes, Sperry or Timberland, and pass out some business cards with your name, cell phone and 'Trainee Crew'. Hit sailing clubs, chandleries, marinas, mailboxes of people with sailboats in their yards, whatever you can think of. If you work for it, it will happen!
A great interview with wonderful advice. The idea of starting small and working your way up. I’ve been sailing for 60 years and every time I leave the dock I learn how much I still have to learn. It’s the people who have been sailing for six months and think they know everything that get into trouble.
There is real merit to starting small
A very knowledgeable man with a very humble personality. Refreshing. When you got him talking the conversation was interesting. I think this exactly the kind of man I would want defining the company philosophy of a boat if I was buying one. I have never questioned the validity of your choice of a 1370....but this just reinforces the fact that you were dead on the mar,
Great interview, Richard is an Australian treasure , and one of Australias most successful catamaran builders
Thank you for the motivation! I had the intent to retire at 40 and spend my days in the Whitsundays! Shame, that didn't happen and back in the real world I'm now 60 and MUST start sailing. So I think the tip on going to the local sailing club is the ticket I was looking for. There must be a need for crew in Pittwater or the Hawkesbury & its time I found out. Seawind is the dream boat. Congratulations on 2 boats in the top ten for 2020. No surprise and I hope to sail a 1260 some day soon. Cheers and stay safe. Bring on more info from Vietnam.
Loved your discussion with Richard! My first boat (against both your and his advice as I have zero experience) will be a Seawind. Your comment re: Kansas hit home; I reside in Colorado and will soon seek out local clubs.
Re the america's cup tech. I'd like to see the wingsail tech make it's way to cruising boats. Current cruising sails are tremendously inefficient and difficult to tune optimally. Lots of people have demonstrated reefable wing sails and wing sails made from sail cloth to make them easier to repair in remote places. The wing will be much more efficient and thus require less size/area for similar thrust. A free standing rig not only eliminates the weight of the standing rigging, but reduces compression loads in the structure.
Regarding Richard's comments about partial-foiling, a South African professor named Hoppe invented the HYSUCAT (Hydrofoil Supported Catamaran) decades back which is used in many commercial power cats, e.g. ferries. The beauty is that you don't have the stability issues of a full foiling, but lifts the hulls partially out of the water.
Only down side I can see to a wingsail in the need to be keel stepped.
I love the fact that you guys take the time to do in-depth technical vids as well as sailing/lifestyle vids. Thank You!
Nick, all hung up on performance again 😂😂 The man was trying to tell you that it's a cruising boat first but you're not listening. I truly believe you've purchased the most workable boat for your requirements. Be happy with that
I'd take the gen set with two electric motors. The thought is that the battery bank and solar IS the back up. Yes, a becalmed blue hole would be difficult (but not impossible) to cross IF the gen set was down. Also... Yes, if you were in a hurricane hole and needed to run the motor to hold your spot in an anchorage then IF the genset was down you would probably exhaust your battery bank before the storm passed. Would the gen set ever go down while one of those circumstances happened? Probably not, but maybe. I'd rather gamble with handling that outcome and miss out on regularly doing many hours of gymnastics in cramped, humid, sweaty engine compartments. I don't even care if it costs more because my overall quality of life would improve.
You can motor on just the direct output of your solar array during the day, and save the batts for motoring in the calms at night.
I love the advice of "spend 6 months on your boat close to where someone can help" :)
Such a wonderful episode SRR Team!! Really enjoyed this interview ….what a gem Richard is and love his philosophy on life and sailing!
I've said it before, this will be a very well designed boat. We totally agree with your pov on gensets.
What a great interview with a very very special guy, thank you so much letting us know more about Mr. Ward and the Seawind ethos and philosophy of sailing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Never seen a video of yours that I don’t like. You are the coolest. This upload deserves applause.
Blessing your youtube feed once again....
While I wait for my 1260 to be built I am finding great joy in watching channel. This one was particularly good, informative and totally entertaining. 🥰
Booked a Catamaran course in BVI to be certified to charter cats. Offshore sailing school. Have been sailing for years in mostly small 22 feet and less. Appreciated the perspective shared here. My advice is respect the sea. Keep sharing your videos. Thanks.
Congratulations! Let us know how you get on
I think those who say "Go now, not later" refer to something else: They are talking about the cases when someone would wait until everything is perfect, planning and saving for it for a decade. The point they make is that nothing is ever going to be that perfect, so instead of delaying to the end of time, better do it now - and refine afterwards. The two ideas are not mutually exclusive.
PS. ...Would you happen to know anybody who retired to the cockpit, reading? 😋
There are 2 cat's that are missing in the market, and I think Seawind would be perfect to step up and make them available:
1) A "Seawind 800" (a modern version of a Seawind 24) basically a spartan basic over nighter beach cat that someone could step up into from a Hobie cat and should be targeted at
You probably know already, but Seawind produced an 850 from 1991-1995. At least 25 built, all in Australia. There are still a few that pop up for sale. That transitioned to the 1000 that was started in 1994, and I think produced thru 2009. About 230 of them built. Many of us that now own 1160 Lites, made the jump from the 1000. I think Seawind quit making the 1000 because there was no profit in it. Today the Seawind "entry level" boat is the 1160.
Just an excellent frank interview. I've been working in electrified automotive powertrains in various forms since 2007, and 100% agree with you guys; high capacity alternators on efficient diesels with a big solar and LiFePO4 battery bank is and will be the best configuration for at least another decade. Pure electric is still a science project and a parallel hybrid system is too much extra transmission machinery that is not serviceable under way and definitely not in typical marinas. If the battery bank needs topping up just run one of the engines for an hour or two. Great interview!
@@charonstyxferryman well I have family in Tromso. I’m well aware of where the Arctic Circle is. So one person does it and it’s mainstream all of a sudden? Note I said another decade before all electric is mainstream.
@@charonstyxferryman
Yes, it is exactly that.
@@charonstyxferryman I think that Dan and Kika are aware that there are constraints of Uma's systems. They have shown themselves to be willing to plan their cruising with knowledge of those constraints. (they will wait for the good wind instead of motoring on to meet a schedule). They also seem to be aware that what they are doing is, to an extent, pioneering. And I think they enjoy the pioneering.
Catamarans have gone from being a left-field choice a few decades ago to being the go-to choice for many, and rightly so. I'd argue the driving force in that change has been design - changes to length/beam ratios, centres of effort of the sail plan, keels (or lack of), hull hydrodynamics. They've made the chances of an unrecoverable inversion more remote whilst simultaneously improving live aboard comfort. With increasing adverse weather events the stable platform they offer could even become the preferred option for long distance cruising. As monohull fans it will be interesting to know your thoughts in due course.
Being retired AND older, I have enough trouble remembering what day it is without seeing Technical Tuesday on a Thursday! LOL Gave me a few moments of false security thinking about when I have to start cranking out the Christmas fudge, so if it's late I will fully blame it on you guys! LOL Well done on the interview, but I would have loved to see some B roll tossed in to show what you were talking about about the foiling. Probably would have set off warning bells for the YT licensing tho.
Good interview. Thanks.
Foiling cruisers. It wasn't many years ago when the idea of an inexpensive consumer drone 'helicopters' were considered close to impossible. In fact if you look at how the previous generation of helicopters were flown it was with two hands doing different things at the same time. Eventually that became gyroscope and computer controlled. Consumer drones use cheap motion sensors and computer control. Where twenty years ago the only way a consumer could have a controlled 'drone' would be a RC airplane that you had to fly remotely. Now the drone does all the flying, adjusts for wind, and you just tell it where you want it to go or stay.
I think the same thing could happen with foiling cruising cats. I don't think the issue will be safety or if it can be done. Computer control will make it possible. (I'm told that I'll have to reef my cat according to numbers, where as a mono-hull has a 'superior' method of how far is she heeling?) The issue may be whether or not the machines can make a foiling cat sail smoothly enough - iron out the bumps. I think charts will have to be improved, or there will be large 'no foil' areas where reefs are not reliably charted and where sand bars are constantly shifting. And then there are lobster pots.... No foiling in Maine.
Boat length might be a factor. It would probably be a lot more difficult to foil a 32 footer 8' above the wave troughs than a 60 footer.
Foiling cruisers might even usher in a period where crossing oceans at 20-25 knots is so efficient sailors choose to sail by day and heave-to for a night's sleep (especially if container ships keep dropping shipping containers.)
Thinking about all the changes to sailing in recent years, integrated GPS, Predict Wind, better comms (Iridium, Starlink!?), lithium batteries, no more wood cores, (remote working!) there's a whole list - I don't think any of the boat builders really see what's headed their way. Sail boats, especially cats, I think are about to enter a boom phase. Covid might've kicked it off, but I think it's just going to grow so rapidly. (I'm just so happy I got my Seawind order in.)
I spent 25 years sailing on other people's boats before finally buying my own - skippers are ALWAYS looking for crew!
Nice video. One of your best. Cheers !
Great conversation and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sailing Uma is the only sailboat I know of that is electric powered , They are up in the Arctic Circle at the moment and have been having problems keeping their lithium batteries charged
Not really, they've been charging from docks or using a generator a couple of times. Obviously they've been planning what they're doing but that's would be the same if they had a diesel engine (which would probably have broken in some way at some point).
Wonderful perspective.
During the conversation of generator and energy, why no mention of Integral ? Seems to to be the go to solution now (better than the Blamer/MasterVolt alternator - external regulator setup I think RR2 talked about in earlier video.
Disappointed that this wasn't a discussion about the evolution of catamaran design. It was just a long advertisement for Seawind catamarans......
Great session. I really enjoyed it
I love this video cult, before playing it.
Merry Christmas. Great vlog ❤️🇨🇦
I enjoyed the interview, thanks for posting.
All major cruise ships are run by banks of generators. They have electric engines. I agree that going fully electric on a small boat is still in the future. In terms of seamanship the diesel engine remains the best workhorse. Put all the solar panels up on deck that you possibly can and they will reward you with less than 25% of potential output on an average day. Big double alternators on the engines and oversized battery banks will reduce the odds against your inevitable power consumption. A generator will even the odds a little more but it has to be a proper one. Stay away from high revolution light weight diesel sewing machines. Double the size of the biggest inverter you think you could ever possibly use and while you are doing that double the size of the battery bank. Getting off grid is an expensive exercise but it's rewarding if you do it right.
All the Seawinds seem to have a huge main and a small foresail. Other companies seem to be placing the mast further aft with a bigger foresail. Are Seawind concentrating too much on upwind performance? I prefer a larger foresail myself.
Ruby rose 2, the seawind 1370 has a much larger fore triangle. The mast is much furth aft
Technical Tuesday on a Thursday. The worlds finally gone mad!
It's Friday for us down under!
Nice to see you again Richard. Sorry I missed you in Annapolis this year.
Great post. Would have been interesting to have been a fly on the wall to listen to the conversations that you had away from the camera as well...... lots of knowledge.
The clip made me a bit homesick though... the Magpies warbling in the background was awesome.
How about one electric? I've commented in the past of this option giving the pros to this configuration. I don't understand the fixation of one over the other. You only need one to get out of a calm. An electric gives you instantaneous power like in a mob situation. With the new alternators, you have charging capability. You also get to regen with the electric under sail. Electric motors are near silent. Everyone always gives a sigh of relief turning off the motor. And many more examples. Just waiting to at least hear it as a possibility.
Sean that is what we’ve done on our 15m cat, and there are many advantages that are usually not considered. Like motor sailing in silence and with no fumes in the cockpit. Like motoring in the calms with just the solar array output during the day, and then on the batteries at night. Like fully electric galley. Like greatly reduced maintenance of the diesel. Etc, etc!
What's the latest on your trip to VN? Christmas, Western New Year, and Tet in Saigon would make for a great experience for you both.
We 100% want to be in Vietnam for Tet! If you are local to Sài Gòn please share any suggestions. Keen to see it all
Instead of gensets, I’m surprised that a parallel hybrid propulsion system isn’t an option. It’s a robust solution that provides a majority of motoring with clean, quiet electric power.
Correct, what about: ICE - 1.clutch - e-motor - 2. clutch - prop. This could do everything: charge battery with ICE, 1C closed 2C open. Recuperating with prop, 1C open, 2. C closed. Run with ICE, all clutch closed. Run with electric, 1C open, 2C open. Don’t know why nobody uses this? Just need one combustion machine.
I need to start sailing.
come join us!
Really good information! I want to start small
What a great and insightful interview Nick & Terysa. A bit more dry than your usual, but informative nonetheless.
Nice dive into... mind you, you cannot get too technical for me, so the more of that the better, and I assume that as you manage to finally get to Vietnam, we will see more nuts and bolts and less beaches and..err.. views.. ;)
Hi, wondering where you are right now? Where was this filmed? :) And hello from Thailand.
Outstanding interview with a leader in innovation, design and experience... The more high tech sailing gets, the less opportunity there is to achieve and feel good. Sitting at the helm station watching a computer screen sail the boat is not as rewarding as managing a sailboat yourself... Ask any classic sports car driver... The experience is diluted by technology... Tech for safety is a must, but tech to sail the boat, you might as well just drop a tab of acid, and watch youtube.. LOL
I thought you might touch on the Antares Hybrid design. Would have liked to her your thoughts on that?
Excellant video.
"Curiosity" and her incredibly hard working "Wynn"-ing crew aside, I can't agree with you more on starting small and working your way up in size!
Loving the new RR2 logo!….very snazzy. Who is responsible for the logo design?
Ah thanks mate. It is our design. There is some pretty hot new merchandise coming out in the New Year!
@@sailingrubyrose cool! Looking forward to the new merch.
Didn't see the "How to start sailing link" mentioned at 3:58. Is it just my computer?
Very informative!
How about hydrofoil?, Can seawind combine catamaran and hydrofoil, so that it has the capability to cruise and also, take on speed, when needed. I think , it will be very interesting
Face it. The catamaran cruiser weighs way too much for foils to lift the boat out of water.
When graphene is cheap, and easy to manufacter it will change the catamaran life the most. Carbon fiber is weak compaired to graphene structurally. The electric motors, navigation equiptment, computers, computer screens, and graphene capacitors will replace batteries of all types. We are just not there yet.
I’m not sure cheap graphene made in sheets large enough to build boats is going to be available anytime soon. What are your estimates for this being viable?
@@sailingrubyrose I replied on 12/17/2021, but the censors took it down perhaps it was too true. I can make it milk toast. If you can think it you can do it. Many countries are working on mass production of graphene. R. G. Letourneau wood be given a dream from Heaven of a new design of heavy equiptment then he built it. The man that gave us alternating current dreamed about a check valve that had no moving parts, and it works. This man was inspired from heaven he invented 3 things that are being used in Florida today. #1 Quantum bio-feedback #2 Regeneration of missing body parts eyes,limbs,organs,body systems, and burnt skin.#3 Regression to 20 yrs younger
I have to disagree with you on the electric motors with a genset issue. People are tinkering with their gensets all the time because they don't use them as much as they should be (an engine needs to be run for extended periods). If you have one to charge up the battery system that runs everything else on the boat, you will be running it more. With the hybrid system, you have a battery system to run the motors to get you out of the anchorage even if the genset fails.
Your current system, with 2 engines and fuel systems, give you redundancy, but also give you twice the maintenance. I think I would rather have redundancy through a genset, solar panels, wind generation, and regen (through the motors) to refill the "fuel."
One place where a purely electric boat falls short is extended motoring. If you are unwilling to wait out the wind (or lack thereof), you will not be happy with an electric motor. However, the addition of the genset allows you to extend the range of an electric boat beyond the battery capacity.
I keep hearing "it's not ready yet." I would maintain that the systems are there to do it, but people are not comfortable with the change. If not now, when?
Of course, after saying all this, I have to admit that I no longer have my electric boat because I moved to a larger boat. However, if the engine fails, I will give serious thought to replacing it with an electric motor and a smaller genset.
@@charonstyxferryman I had to do that several times with my boat after the engine died and before I put the electric motor in, but my boat typically lived on a mooring, which makes it easier.
Speaking as someone who has never sailed before in my life so my opinion is worth very little, but in regards to these foiling yachts being used by cruisers must be like using an F1 car as your daily runaround.
I'll wager that those wet windy days you talked about, when out sailing & had "the best time". I'll bet that wasnt cruising at 10 knots mate! Give me 25 knots & a boat with a skitish ass anyday😄👍
mooring and pen fees are much much cheaper under the 50ft range - also merry xmas
What does Seawind offer as an entry level boat?
If you are in Australia, you might find one of 25 Seawind 850's built between 1991-1995. About 230 Seawind 1000's were built from 1994-2009 (I think that was the last year). We daysailed, raced and cruised a 2002 Seawind 1000 for 12 years before having a Seawind 1160 Lite built in 2018. That is currently what Seawind offers as their entry-level boat.
Thanks
Welcome
Full time live onboard means 95% at anchor.
Seams like comfort would be in #1 spot.
Summer vacation bout prefimance seams have a lot higher value
How does one right a cat that flips?
Is it price of batteries? I assume yes.
What price kw have you been seeing that don't make sense?
At what price per kWh will that flip so electric start making sense?
How far off might that be?
Nice bloke.
You know I love you guys, but geez that was pulling teeth of an interview......:-)
The dogs were driving me nuts (or was it birds?). Lol. I was looking around the house and garden for 5 minutes, looking where it's coming from... XD
haha, it's birds mate
Magpies
I really wish you would stop making these. How the heck am I suppose to get a 1370 if there is a 5 year waiting list?
Waaah sorry mate. They have just signed a contract for a massive new factory, so fingers crossed that wait will decrease
Wait a couple of years for RR2 to come up for sale
Buy a Vision 444. Cheaper, faster and available
I’m pretty sure it’s not cheaper, it’s almost 100% not faster, I have no insight into build quality, so therefore can’t comment.
On a final note, the fact that it’s “available” doesn’t necessarily make it desirable.
Hi
Morning mate
@@sailingrubyrose it jus 10 at nite here in sunny Scotland 🏴🏴
Commentariat
The trifold door is a start but there are better options to provide a flexible cockpit area.
I think the other main options are the leopard with its forward cockpit and the Bali. However in both these cases my opinion is that they don’t offer the flexibility of the Seawind.
I would be interested to hear what your opinion regarding specific models is?
@@sailingrubyrose Why not extend the Bimini beyond the mast and add high energy solar panels. At 500w/panel you could generate 2.5kw and support the dinghy.