Hurricane 5.9

Last updated

Hurricane 5.9SX
Development
Designer Reg White
Location Brightlingsea
Year1980s
No. built≈500
Builder(s)White Formula
NameHurricane 5.9SX
Boat
Crew2
Displacement 192 kg (423 lb)
Hull
TypeCat
LOA 5.9 m (19 ft)
Beam 2.43 m (8 ft 0 in)
Sails
Mainsail area17.50 m2 (188.4 sq ft)
Jib/genoa area4.56 m2 (49.1 sq ft)
Gennaker area21.00 m2 (226.0 sq ft)
Racing
Rating1.030
RYA PN 695

The Hurricane 5.9 is a one design racing catamaran. It was designed by Reg White in Brightlingsea in the 1980s in response to a Tornado catamaran owner's request that White Formula design a cat with equal or superior performance to the Tornado of roughly the same boat length and sail area that did not need to be dismantled for trailing, this was to be the Hurricane 5.9.

Contents

Now the SX rig has modernised the platform and opened the class out to a wide range of sailors and it's low cost competitive racing in the UK

Design

Each hull is 5.9 metres long and 2.43 metres (two feet less than that of the Tornado) wide. A second trapeze was added to for the helmsman, this was to make up for the lost righting moment with the narrower boat. At the same time, the rear of each of the 5.9 hulls was reduced to give less buoyancy than that of the Tornados to make the boats less susceptible to pitch polling when sailing downwind. The sail and spar design was also heavily updated from the Tornado's rig that had hardly changed since its launch in the 1970s.

During the 2000s the platform was given a new rig option - the SX. Moving the mainsail to a square top Pentex sail with a higher boom fitment, a smaller self tacking jib and a new asymmetric spinnaker shape with a solid chute and evolved layout. Paired with smaller evolutions to blocks and rope systems this modernised the Hurricane platform and made the boat suit a wider range of sailors.

First use

When the first Hurricane 5.9s began racing, as their numbers were few, they would race alongside the Tornados to increase the racing numbers in one combined fleet.

Performance

The 5.9 is designed to give Tornado-like performance coupled with smooth predictable handling. In many conditions the 5.9 will actually outpace the classic Tornado. The boat is equipped with kick up rudders and centreboards which ride up on impact, reducing risk of damage. The PET film main sail gives long life and low maintenance with less frequent need for replacement. Now with the introduction of the SX rig (3 sail) the performance has been enhanced further.

Hurricane 4.9

Reg White additionally, on the back of the success of the 5.9, took the older designed 16 foot Condor catamaran and redesigned its sails, mast and boom and this new re-rigged Condor was given the name Hurricane 4.9.

Data

General

Boat Data*
SailsMylar/Dacron
ConstructionFoam Sandwich
MastAdjustable Pre-bent
TrapezesTwin
CrewTwo
RuddersKick-up
BlocksHarken
TransportTrailable complete
Technical Data*Hurricane 5.9Hurricane 5.9 SportHurricane 5.9 SX
Length Overall5.9 metres5.9 metres5.9 metres
Beam2.43 metres2.43 metres2.43 metres
Sailing weight180.5 kg191.5 kg192 kg
Mainsail17.5 m217.5 m217.5 m2
Jib5.9m²5.2m²4.563m²
Spinnakern/a21m²21m²
SCHRS1.0090.9971.007
Portsmouth Yardstick 65 [1]

*Data from UK Hurricane Class Association [2]

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References

  1. "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. "Home". hurricane59.com.