X3

2002 June 1
By Robert H. Perry

Racer-daysailer

If I had two youngsters interested in learning how to sail, I'd be looking hard at this X3. This little boat comes from Australia and has been specifically designed to use a graduated system for introducing sailors to the various complexities of the modern racing dinghy. This is another rotomolded craft. Not only that, it's made from recycled materials.

Aesthetically this boat has the earmarks of a racing dinghy. The stem is almost plumb, and the transom is open. The hull form shows a sharp entry fairing quickly into the topsides to provide plenty of buoyancy. The sections at the stern are a flattened arc for good planing performance. The transom is open for drainage. The centerboard is a deep high-aspect-ratio board that should give this dinghy excellent performance on the wind. The rudder is a kick-up type for beaching. The deck is cambered with a large radius on the inboard edge to make hiking comfortable.

Here's how it works. First you buy the basic hull platform and the "education" sailplan. This is a short cat rig with a fathead-type full-roach main. This is going to look pretty high-tech to your kid compared to the Walker Bay rig, and once your youngster has mastered the main he can graduate to the small asymmetrical chute for better downwind speed. Now your kid's beginning to feel like 49er champion Jonathan McKee.

Still, there is really no need to rush the chute, since you can have lots of fun with the single sail. It's only 43 square feet, and the gennaker adds another 48 square feet, doubling the horsepower. With a main, gennaker and a 110-pound crew, the sa/d is 38.8. You can also sail the X3 comfortably with two youngsters.

So, after a summer of learning with the education rig your kid can spend the winter bulking up and getting ready for the "fun" rig. This rig adds an additional 19 square feet to the mainsail for a total main area of 62 square feet. The gennaker is also substantially larger with a sail area of 88 square feet. With the bigger rig the downwind sa/d is raised to 58.8, assuming your kid has put on 30 pounds over the winter. To achieve this I recommend Bob's famous Swiss steak recipe with lots of mashed potatoes smothered in Bob's Swiss steak sauce. The X3 with the fun rig is now elevated to true high-performance dinghy numbers and should satisfy the most demanding dinghy sailor.

Yes, you will capsize this dinghy. You should. I don't think you can learn to ski without falling, and I don't think you can learn dinghy sailing without capsizing. Most kids like to capsize, especially on hot days. However, with the short rig this will be a rarity. Really you should instruct your learner in the tricks for righting the dinghy anyway to complete the education process.

Clearly this is a boat I could enjoy.

Performance dinghy with multiple rigs for all abilities.