South 35
1999)
Technological progress now allows sailing boats which are stronger, faster, more stable, and easier to handle than before. We at Groupe Finot have been developing a great part of this potential on "Open" 50' and 60’ boats, and we also have a extensive experience in the design of production yachts.
| Feature - Hull, Keel, Water ballast - Rig - Deck - Accomodation - Construction - Safety |
We would like to transfer these
new techniques and ideas into production built cruisers and cruiser-racers. Currently, (2003), production is stopped, one boat is sailing. The
greatest gain results from the use of pre-impregnated carbon fibre, lighter,
stronger & stiffer. The material is easier to laminate and more comfortable for
workers to use, a route to better results. |
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| The carbon laminate ballast fin results
in a lower centre of gravity. The carbon fibre mast also enhances low weight, a lower centre of gravity, and less pitching due to better weight concentration. The water ballast gives greater stability. |
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Combined these technological
advances result in a an comfortable boat with 15 to 30 % higher performance than standard
production boats.
These improvements also benefit the control of the vessel, low heel angles, and ease of
manoeuvring.
| Hull Higher speed is obtained using a long waterline length, with sleek lines. The boat is fine forward for good performance upwind, but beamier in the topsides and aft for reaching and running performance as well as heeled boat equilibrium The boat has a great form stability |
Keel & Ballast The fin keel is made of a monolithic carbon fibre laminate, built-in between two strong floors that hold the deep lead bulb firmly. The global centre of gravity is therefore very low, near to the bottom of the canoe body. This arrangement results in a 2 to 4 % speed gain. |
Water ballast Two water ballast tanks are located in the aft part of the boat (
aft cabin and toilet compartment). The water ballast induces a great amount of flexibility in sail reduction possibilities or one can enjoy cruising at low heel angles. Water ballast results in a speed gain of
around 5 to 10%. |
These great stability features:
- Form stability due to the hull lines.
- Weight stability from deep bulb and water ballast.
Together this allows a large sail area, and this ensures both speed in light weather, and great tolerance in a breeze.
| Rig
We have designed two types of rig:
This C.Wing © rig is well adapted to carbon fibre
construction, as the work is mainly lamination, with only a few assembly parts.
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| All the sheets and halyards for sail
handling, sheeting or trimming are located on the aft top of the coach roof, leaving an
unobstructed cockpit. The mainsail is sheeted via a traveller in the beam aft of cockpit. The asymmetrical spinnaker is tacked on a telescopic bowsprit (or at the end of the "dolphin striker", when cruising). In the cruising version, the dolphin striker holds the anchor, and prevents the chain from chafing the stem when the boat is on a mooring. The rest of the anchoring chain, rope, and windlass are located in the aft portion of the anchor well. |
Everything is designed to minimise the need to go on the
fore deck. The life raft is located in a special locker below the cockpit, and can be taken out easily. The inflatable tender is stored in the wide embarking platform aft. The LPG bottle is hidden and protected by the rear beam. The sliding companionway hatch is recessed in the coach roof top. The boom is hinged on the top of the coach roof, and controlled by two preventers. |
The extra sail area and stability
in addition to the mast high lift/drag ratio, enables the South 35 to attain speeds about
5 to 7% higher than with a classical solution.
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Accommodation plan is simple, but provides good comfort both when sailing or moored, it features :
- Large aft cabin.
- Large toilet compartment, extended by an aft bunker, only accessible from the toilet compartment, for safety reasons.
- Large galley on the port side.
- A chart table with oilskin locker on starboard.
- A main saloon.
- A fore cabin.
This accommodation uses only a few elements, but large ones.
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In the racing version, the aft toilet compartment may be
transferred forward, allowing one to place two berths in the aft starboard compartment.
The arrangement of equipment, electricity, engine, etc..., has been designed to facilitate
maintenance.
- A large part of the electrical system in located within the deck core thickness.
- Most equipment (engine, pumps, fringe set, reverse osmoses plant, water heater, etc.. ) are grouped below the galley, in a well insulated compartment to reduce noise.
- The engine drive is set just aft of the ballast fin, which
allows low drag, and prevents propeller jamming on ropes or plastic bags.
The boat is built out of monolithic pre-preg carbon fibre laminate.
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This type of construction ensures a
great resistance to shock and a long life.
The resulting weight saving allows gains in stability and performance.
| The inherent safety of the boat is
a result of the strength of the boat, its low centre of gravity, and the large volume of
it’s superstructure. The angle of vanishing stability should be greater than 134°. |
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| The South 35 is a forerunner of
the boats of tomorrow. It provides the required comfort but puts the bulk of the cost to
the most essential elements : the hull and rig. The boat’s main objectives are strength, safety, ease of control, gentleness of motion, and speed which is a safety element and also a choice. This boat is particularly well adapted for owners who wish to make offshore races, or family cruises, in good conditions of comfort, speed and pleasure. It puts together today's best, for
its program, without ready made ideas or compromises. |
1, rue Pierre Vaudenay (les Metz) |
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