Welcome to the Trailable Multihull section of MYCQ
Trailable multihulls, as the name implies, are smaller trimarans or catamarans with either a folding or demountable configuration to reduce their sailing width to a convenient road legal width for transport by road trailer. This offers many advantages.
Cruising
A trailable multihull offers quick and easy access by road to many favoured cruising areas along the coast, or even the larger inland waterways such as Wivenhoe Dam. Fancy a trip to the
Whitsundays, the Great Sandy Straits, Hinchinbrook or the Keppels, perhaps south to Sydney Harbour or
Pittwater? One or two day's driving from Brisbane and you are ready to cruise!
Many trailable multis are set up as mini cruisers with many of the facilities of their larger sisters, with sleeping berths, galley, toilet facilities, water tanks and more a common feature. With their wide beam and spacious wing nets, the crew and friends can spread out and enjoy the speed of these comfortable "pocket rockets". They are just the ticket for a long weekend on the water, or a more extended cruise to explore one of the many interesting cruising grounds along the coast.
Bay to Bay Race 2003 |
Racing
Trailable multihulls, because of their mobility, regularly compete in the major open trailer sailer races of other clubs. Examples are the 'Bay to Bay' race of Hervey Bay Sailing Club, the 'Surf to City', jointly organised by Southport Yacht Club - Queensland Cruising Yacht Club and the
'Wintersun', hosted by Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Those on a tight time schedule can, and often do, trail their yachts to the venue on the morning of the race and rig and launch before the start. Trailers can then be towed to the finish venue by partners or friends, or use is made of the return bus service, often provided for these events.
National Trailable Multihull Regattas are a feature of the trailable multi scene. They attract the serious racer and the latest designs.
For many participants however, it is not their ultimate success on the
race course that attracts them to these events, but the pleasure and
camaraderie of sailing and mixing with like minded sailors, while
learning more of the art of multihull sailing. For more details on
racing, please go to the TM
Events page.
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At MYCQ, trailable multihulls are eligible to sail most club bay events provided they are equipped to the relevant safety category.
Larger trailables/demountables over 7.3 metres in length are among the fastest yachts in the MYCQ fleet. They are able to compete in club ocean events, provided they meet the stringent safety requirements and crew experience criteria set by the club and the Australian Yachting Federation.
History
While small and demountable "modern" multihulls have been around for several decades, the development of the truly trailable multihull did not gain impetus until the arrival of the folding beam concept of Ian
Farrier. His early plywood Trailertri designs were built in large numbers. In
Queensland, the early 'home' of Trailertris, the Trailertri Club was formed by builders to foster interest in the craft.
More on the history of trailable multis in
Queensland
Classes
In numbers, trailable multihulls are still dominated by Farrier designs in Australia. These include the early Trailertri series, the Trailertri 18, 680 and 720; the commercially produced
daysailers, the Haines Hunter Tramp and a subsequent updated version in the OSTAC Tramp; and a later F series of trimarans for home builders, the F25-A, F9-A and more recently, the F82-R.
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Farrier Trailer Tri |
Farrier F-24
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An American manufacturer,
Corsair Marine, originally associated with Ian Farrier,
commercially produced other early Farrier designs, the F-24, F-27,
and F-31. Now known as Corsair Trimarans, this company produces a
range of trailable trimarans in different sizes and
configurations.
Several other trailable/demountable designs are now available in both cats and
tris. Some designs seen locally include the fast trimaran and catamaran designs of Tony Grainger, or the more budget oriented
"Jarcat" cruising catamaran designs of Ross Turner. Other designers of trailable multis whose yachts have recently appeared on the scene include Gerald
Barrink, Ray Kendrick and Brendan Egan, all with varying emphases on either the cruisability or racing capability of their designs.
Membership of MYCQ offers you the opportunity to meet with other owners of trailable multihulls to exchange ideas and information and join in all the activities of the club.
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