Racer-cruiserr

This design features a lifting keel that varies the draft from 8 feet, 6 inches with the keel up, to 13 feet, 8 inches with the keel down. The engineering for this lifting keel was done by my right- and left-hand man Tim Kernan in conjunction with Efficient Machinery's Peter Hammerschlag. This is a complex mechanism that is driven by an electric winch-motor and lifts the keel on recirculating ball nuts riding on two 1.75-inch worm screws running down inside the fin. The fin itself is 17-4 Ph stainless steel forged by Jorgenson Forge in Seattle. Tim and I watched the forging process wide eyed. The ballast bulb is lead. Icon's D/L is 68.

Icon's personality is split between racing and cruising. I think we have achieved a balance in features that makes this boat a truly refined hybrid vessel. Note the interior is laid out for a couple with room for a second couple and perhaps a grandchild or two. The interior shows a big galley with counter space on either side of the molded-in carbon fiber sinks. There is also counter space on either side of the range. Copious locker space will make this galley a cook's dream. The 76-hp Yanmar engine is located in a box within a box on the centerline portion of the forward galley counter. The aft cabin features a full queen-size double and large lockers.

Note that one of the drawings is computer drawn while the others are hand drawn. I feel very strongly that the hand-drawn drawings are far more interesting, even if they are more cluttered and difficult to read. Hand drawings convey the creative style of the designer. I'd be interested in your comments on this.

The saloon has a big dinette to starboard with a minidinette to port. This minidinette will convert to sea berths for offshore racing. Forward of the keel trunk is the owner's stateroom with head and shower stall. There will be fold-up crew berths in the fo'c'sle. We will use carbon fiber throughout the interior to reduce weight and add glossy black styling accents. The step at the aft end of the forward double is part of the anchor chain stowage system, which keeps weight aft.

The rig is huge and uses a carbon fiber mast and boom. The SA/D is 33.25 and the spreaders are swept 19 degrees. No overlapping headsails will be carried. Doug Christie of Seattle's Halsey-Lidgard sail loft has been very instrumental in helping us design this rig. A Leisure Furl boom will be fitted for cruising.

The deck plan shows wide side decks, a large sliding foredeck hatch, a buried anchor chain pipe and a recessed windlass well adjacent to the mast. The cockpit is big with high cockpit coamings forward and seats long enough for sleeping. There are two coffee grinders. The forward one will be removed while cruising to be replaced by a cockpit table. The aft grinder powers the mainsheet winch. Primary and secondary winches will be electric. All cockpit winches will be recessed into the deck. Halyards can be led to winches adjacent to the mast for racing or led aft for cruising.

Icon will be built by Marten Marine in Auckland, New Zealand, and the launch date is spring 2001. The project manager is Jim Roser of Seattle. Construction details have been engineered by Tim Kernan of my office working with High Modulus of New Zealand. The boat will be built from pre-preg carbon over a Nomex core and oven cured. Further information can be seen on the project Web site www.iconsailing.com.

Performance cruising remains a moving target and my office is taking a good lead on that target with Icon.