Vanguard 49er: The Newest Olympic Sailing Class
There are very few things in life that match the sense of power and speed that one feels when gobbling up short chop downwind in a 49er. The shore always seems to be coming up faster than you thought possible. In fact, it would be truly frightening if it weren’t so much fun.
The 49er is the brainchild of Australian 18-foot skiff maestro Julian Bethwaite.
Bethwaite designed a 16-foot boat, along the lines of an 18-foot skiff, that
sails at extreme speeds but reamins manageable for two people. He incorporated
all the benefits of light-weight, high-tech construction methods while adhering
to strict one design principles and rigid class rules. The result is a masterpiece
— the world’s most exciting sailboat, now available to all comers.
The hull and deck of the 49er are constructed of an epoxy/E glass laminate sandwiched
around a PVC foam core and vacuum bagged. Carbon fiber, unidirectional reinforcements
support the mast and shrouds. The solid wings are of similar construction to
the hull and provide added stability and ease of movement for the sailors. 49er
foils are foam cored epoxy with unidirectional glass and carbon reinforcements.
The result is a rock solid platform of extremely light weight.
Vanguard 49er By the Numbers |
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LOA | 16'0" |
| Beam | 5'9" | |
| Beam with wings | 9'0" | |
| Sail Area | 215 sq ft | |
| Spinnaker | 400 sq ft | |
| Rigged Weight | 270 lbs | |