This year’s Hurricane 5.9 Nationals were held at Thorpe Bay
Yacht Club between 15th and 18th August. I took the above
photo on 9th August. It features a Hurricane 5.9 catamaran at Burnham
Sailing Club’s pontoon. This class of racing catamaran was designed and built
by Reg White and his brother Robert, both of whom were Olympic sailors based at
Brightlingsea Sailing Club. Reg helmed a Tornado Class catamaran at the 1976 Summer
Olympics in Montreal. With his brother-in-law John Osborne as crew, he won four
of six races to secure a gold medal for Great Britain. Tragically, he died of a
heart attack after an evening race with his grandson on 27th May,
2010.
The Hurricane 5.9 is similar to the Tornado, but less beamy
at 8ft to comply with width restrictions for trailering in the UK. She has very
tough, rigid hulls constructed from foam sandwich/carbon. The latest SX version
has a pre-bent metal mast and a Pentex Square-Top mainsail. With dual trapezes
she can be managed by crews weighing between 18 and 30 stones. (Combined
weight)
These racing cats are admirably suited to places with
shallow water, because they are equipped with kick-up centreboards and kick-up rudders.
There is a fleet of five 5.9 SX catamarans at the Marconi Sailing Club which is
situated on the south bank of the River Blackwater. I was a member in 2007 and
2008 and I recollect seeing many catamarans at the boat park.
Apparently, a broad, all age spectrum of sailors, male and
female race them, and there is a friendly, family orientated Hurricane 5.9 Class
Association.*
It is surprising what one can glean from a photo. Of
interest to me is the little motive ‘Zhik’ on the side of this particular
Hurricane 5.9. Zhik manufacture and market high performance sailing wear, of
which a useful item for me would be their ‘Deckbeater’ shorts that have pads
for protecting one’s posterior when hiking a boat. If you read my article, ‘Had an
Excellent Sail with ‘Pike’ – Part 2’, you will know why! (To see it, click the very last Link)
Links
*Hurricane 5.9
Burnham Sailing Club
Reg White
Reg White
Reg White – The Telegraph
Photos of Hurricane 5.9 Nationals at Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay Yacht Club
Marconi Sailing Club
Brightlingsea Sailing Club
Catamaran Training
Event at Marconi Sailing Club
United Kingdom Catamaran Racing Association
Catamaran Class Associations
Catamaran Sailor – Reporting on the Hurricane 5.9 in March
2010
Square Top Mainsails
Square-top Mainsail
Zhik High Performance Sailing Wear
Zhik Deckbeater Shorts
Zhik T2 Harness and Infusion Rigging
Had an Excellent Sail with ‘Pike’ – Part 2
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