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Texte writed by Pascal Conq for Seahorse magazine
(Janvier 2004)
Pogo
2 is the first series mini we have designed.
The last Transat 6.50 was delightful for us. Our boats, sailed by
very good skippers, won both classes : prototypes and series.
In prototype class, this is the forth victory for a groupe
finot design : Moulin Roti skipped by Armel Tripon . She is
an older boat which finish second in 1995, third in 1997 and fifth
in 2001. It was time for a victory this year ! Armel was there ready
to take his chance and he took it with a simple an strong boat that
proved still fast specially in light winds and in deep downwind
conditions. Even though designed for an other course that went to
Guadeloupe, which needed less power, the boat is still interesting
: light and fixed keeled.
In series, we saw a great success for the brand new Pogo2
that we designed last year, and which trusted the 1st, 2nd an
d 3rd places. Erwan Tymen (of Structures shipyard, who produce
the boat) won both legs.
The pogo 2 is the result of our knowledge and research on
mini oneoffs and open boats in general.
Her qualities are : power; weight; and dynamic stability from the
hull shape.
In other words, we endeavored to counterbalance the negative effects
of the Mini series rules.
Compared to the Pogo1, the lines are straighter, fuller,
wider and lower at the stern, with a lot of shape stability. The
major behavioral improvements are less slamming in the waves upwind
and more ability to reach planning downwind, hence keeping the bow
out of the water.
The internal structure is fully made of GRP composite instead of
a plywood system, which give a stronger and more homogeneous boat.
An important optimization work has been conducted to save weight
in the scantlings while remaining as strong as needed in the right
places. The cockpit is more ergonomic. The central box houses the
liferaft, the companionway is well protected, the toerails are positioned
for a comfortable sitting position at the helm and their shape allows
to rest lying at the bottom of the cockpit.
A nice detail : the autopilot is internal with a lever going through
the transom The appendages produce less drag, thanks to optimized
rudders and a lead bulb mounted on a cast iron fin.
The two days difference between the first prototype and the first
Pogo2 represent 7% in speed difference, most of it coming from
the light airs in the doldrums. That's a lot and not that much at
the same time : those poor series boats have a set specific rules
to follow that are particularly mean in term of speed :
The power and the "engine" of the boat are dramatically reduced
:
· Mast height is limited to 11 m instead of 12 m for the protos
· Boom length is 0.25 m less than the protos
· Bowsprit length is a maximum 2.40 m (no limit for the protos except
that they need to be storable in the 3.00 m maximum width of the
boat )
· No water ballast, no swinging keel !!
At the same time the weight is increased :
· Keel draft reduced from 2 m to 1.60 m putting a lot of additional
weight in the bulb.
· No carbon only glass /polyester or plywood
/epoxy !!
After such a gruesome list one can think that a 7% difference
in time at finish is not that much And for the more pragmatically
thinking among us, the speed to price ratio is outstanding. But
anyway that is not really the question, is it ? Sailing fast will
always remain a passion.
transat
Charente-Maritime Bahia 3003, achievements
résultats
des courses 2004 |
