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Design and Production of a One-Off 32 feet Wooden Racing Yacht Dedicated to Southampton Solent University
Abstract and Figures
To enhance the university experience of the Yacht Engineering Program students and the members of the Solent Sailing Club, the design of a racing yacht dedicated to Southampton Solent University has been undertaken. The 9.99m strip planked vessel is intended to be built as a one-off by students in Timsbury to then compete in the Solent and Channel races, as well as being a teaching support for both yacht engineering and sailing. The will to produce a complete project led to tackle both the design and the production aspects, using a combination of engineering skills, empirical methods, experience, practical considerations as well as the interaction with specialised manufacturers. Indeed, the project has been conducted to replicate the professional environment of a small company developing a project from the client requirements to the building. A wide range of professional skills have been implemented, such as developing a performance design in accordance with a design brief and the relevant bodies of regulation; ascertaining the most appropriate production method for the given work force; considering time and cost constraints to develop a building philosophy; establishing an accurate building schedule and cost estimate; time management between independent learning for the purpose of this dissertation and the design and production phases; and professional communication through a formal report and industry standard CAD drawings. The final proposed design appears to meet the regulations and satisfies the design brief, achieving a performance and safe boat. On the other hand, accurate cost estimation and planning have been developed so the boat can be built within the given time and for a lower cost than a similar vessel on the market, therefore making it an attractive investment for Southampton Solent University.
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... Samples machined prior to gluing [4]. ...
... Typical load-deflection curves [4]. ...
... Comparison of failure mechanisms [4]. ...
Timber construction has recently seen a significant regain of interest across a range of industries, owing to contemporary concerns for sustainability. In the marine industry, historic principles of traditional wooden boatbuilding remain present, with empirical rules still common practice, as is the case for scarf joints. Moreover, laminated wood is made more attractive and efficient thanks to modern adhesives. However, with the progresses made in structural analysis, these assemblies can now be refined based on scientifically informed evidence. Consequently, this paper will employ destructive testing to tackle two distinct cases. On the one hand, the strength of feathered (plain) scarf joints as a function of their slope will be evaluated. On the other hand, the effectiveness of a range of adhesives will be ascertained for the purpose of laminated manufacturing. Ultimately, the results will be compared to both the strength of solid wood and the mechanical properties assumed by modern scantling regulations, revealing significant differences. The research findings provide a better understanding of these fundamental timber construction principles, supporting designers and builders alike in making informed choices and promoting safer regulatory compliance. It is also anticipated these findings will impact structural design beyond the wooden boatbuilding field, with applications in sustainable buildings and architecture.
... Samples machined prior to gluing [4]. ...
... Typical load-deflection curves [4]. ...
... Comparison of failure mechanisms [4]. ...
Timber construction has recently seen a significant regain of interest across a range of industries, owing to contemporary concerns for sustainability. In the marine industry, historic principles of traditional wooden boatbuilding remain present, with empirical rules still common practice, as is the case for scarf joints. Moreover, laminated wood is made more attractive and efficient thanks to modern adhesives. However, with the progresses made in structural analysis, these assemblies can now be refined based on scientifically informed evidence. Consequently, this paper will employ destructive testing to tackle two distinct cases. On the one hand, the strength of feathered (plain) scarf joints as a function of their slope will be evaluated. On the other hand, the effectiveness of a range of adhesives will be ascertained for the purpose of laminated manufacturing. Ultimately, the results will be compared to both the strength of solid wood and the mechanical properties assumed by modern scantling regulations, revealing significant differences. The research findings provide a better understanding of these fundamental timber construction principles, supporting designers and builders alike in making informed choices and promoting safer regulatory compliance. It is also anticipated these findings will impact structural design beyond the wooden boatbuilding field, with applications in sustainable buildings and architecture.
... The area is generally expressed as a percentage of the sail area. Finally, a more advanced method developed by the author [105] and based on the area required when coming out of a tack in light winds has been applied. A keel area of 2.27% of the sail area has been ascertained, i.e. very close to the original 2.30%. ...
... Furthermore, mast manufacturers base their masts on the Nordic Boat Standard: comparing a previous mast design [105] with the manufacturer's quote for the same yacht revealed matching results. ...
The niche market for modern classics, combining traditional wooden boats with the latest design and manufacturing technology, has been expanding in the past decade, particularly in the United Kingdom. Yachts such as the Thames A Raters remain among the most competitive racing classes, featuring extreme high aspect ratio carbon rigs and
wooden hulls over a century old. This example of a modern classic motivated the conception of the next generation of A Raters.
The design was developed under the strict class rule and in close relation with the class association and sailors to ensure that the original spirit of the yachts would be conserved. Furthermore, the design brief incorporated the client’s requirements, as well as the shipyard’s restrictions and environmental constraints. Finally, the RCD/ISO standard regulation has been adopted.
Hydrodynamic optimisation has been a major interest to improve the performance, despite the imposed hull shape. Indeed, only an exact replica of an existing A Rater is allowed. However, a loophole in the class regulation allowed for some modifications to the hull shape. Based on the Delft systematic yacht hull series, parametric optimisation has been utilised to reduce the hull resistance. Furthermore, multiple centreplate and
rudder planforms have been compared using computational fluid dynamics to adopt the most efficient ones.
Coupled with the decrease in hydrodynamic resistance, the more powerful sails led to a higher level of performance, quantified thanks to a six degrees of freedom velocity prediction program. In order to reflect the planning capabilities of the boat, the fundamental principles of Savitzky’s planning theory have been adapted and
incorporated to maximise the accuracy.
In terms of design, the main priorities were to create an aesthetically pleasing yacht, taking advantage of the natural beauty of vanished woods, as well as a more practical layout, better suited to modern racing. As a result, the cockpit was a particular area of interest: a simpler and more ergonomic layout has been developed, with a higher level of comfort for the crew.
To achieve a light boat that can be built faster and at a lesser cost than the traditional carvel technique, cold moulding has been preferred. The structural design was developed in accordance with the relevant regulatory bodies and considering the manufacturing constraints. Eventually, a realistic cost estimate and detailed planning were elaborated.
A complete set of drawings have been provided to detail the multiple aspects of the design, as well as specify the materials and production methods involved.
The final design fully answers the pre-established specifications, with significant improvement in performance while retaining the traditional spirit of the class. The complete design and production allows for the building to be started, and the
careful consideration of the various regulations ensures that the boat will be classified, with the inherent reliability in terms of safety.
... The planform area can lead to a large loss of performance if too little or too much is provided, respectively resulting in high leeway angle and added frictional resistance. Finally, a more advanced method [18] based on the area required when coming out of a tack in light winds has been applied. A keel area of 2.27% of the sail area has been ascertained, i.e. very close to the original 2.30%. ...
The Thames A Rater class had a predominant role in the popularisation of inland racing in the United Kingdom towards the end of the 19th century, and remains a historical racing class that owes its longevity to the progresses made in naval architecture and technology; the most emblematic example being the 43 feet tall carbon fibre rigs on the 27 feet centenary wooden hulls. Today, the class is a perfect illustration of the balance between historical conservation and modernisation. The design of a contemporary wooden Thames A Rater will be presented, aiming at retaining the spirit of tradition of the class, while incorporating the latest design evolutions, and complying with the current rules and regulations. Techniques such as computational fluid dynamics and parametric optimisation will be employed, leading to a significant increase in performance quantified thanks to a velocity prediction programme, thus demonstrating the applications of modern naval architecture techniques to historical crafts.
The Thames A-Rater fleet is a unique class both in appearance and in its combination of historic and modern technologies. With high aspect ratio, carbon fibre rigs fitted onto wooden hulls, many of which have survived two World Wars, the class is a demonstration of the evolution of sailing technology. In more recent decades, various attempts have been made to expand the class with new composite boats. However, due to the strict rules issued by the class association, new hulls must be exact replicas of existing A-Raters, with a 1.5 inch tolerance. Furthermore, as only one linesplan exists in the public domain, the expansion of the fleet is extremely limited. Consequently, in order to ensure the conservation of some of these historic designs, the lines of several vessels were taken off and used to create accurate linesplan and 3D models. The comparative performance of the various crafts was then assessed through a Velocity Prediction Programme, focused on the specific environmental conditions of the vessels' main operating area, eventually ascertaining the hull with the best racing potential by design.
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