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Flying fast on the new Gunboat G4 catamaran Timbalero3

As anyone who’s been lucky enough to experience the throaty growl of a Porsche, or the machine-gun-in-a-hurricane whine of a Ducati, can testify, the confluence of beauty, power, and speed can be magical to the ear. But none of us lucky few aboard for the first “flight” of the remarkable G4 from Gunboat, named Timbalero3 , is prepared for the harmonics created when this 12.2-metre, 2.67-tonne, bright orange catamarn rises up out of the water on a single carbon-fibre hydrofoil and “flies” at a top speed of 31.9 knots in about 18 knots of wind.

The sound of speed is almost mystical; like whale song , or what some religions refer to as “om” – the sound of the universe. No internal combustion engine is capable of that – nor do most performance machines have sleeping accommodation for six, a fully equipped galley and the ability to transport you to a tropical island in the trade winds. But then again, there has never been anything quite like the G4, as seen in the video when she capsized during Les Voiles de St Barth in  the Caribbean .

I join the boat during its first days of testing in the Bay of Marigot off the French side of St Martin /Saint Maarten. On board are Gunboat founder Peter Johnstone, a team of very smart, very tall and very Dutch designers and builders from Holland Composites, who’d spent 18 months fully immersed in doing the impossible – helping design and build an all-carbon, fully foiling cruising catamaran – and a number of world renowned speed sailors.

These guys had seen and done it all, but still the sense of anticipation is palpable as we motor out of harbour on  Timbalero3 ’s single retractable electric engine and raise the sails. We are about to do what no one else has done before – sail the first fully foiling cruising boat at well over 30 knots.

Anticipation turns to action pretty quickly. Once the jib sheet and the main traveller are trimmed by the crew on the windward hull, and the mainsheet is trimmed by the helmsman with an ingenious oscillating foot pump that controls the hydraulics of the mainsheet system, we are suddenly going very fast. Boat speed hits 15 knots almost immediately, then passes effortlessly through 16, 17, 18, then 20 knots. No problems; no dramas; no on-the-edge-ness that you’d experience doing much less speed on most other boats.

Then the boat really starts to hum. Partial foiling, with the windward hull skimming along the surface, begins when boat speed hits 12-14 knots, and full foiling – with both hulls fully out of the water for a consistent length of time – starts at 18-20 knots. And remember, this head-turning catamaran has a huge cockpit, full 360-degree views and genuine living space in the main cabin. She has additional berths in the hulls, and even a head and proper galley. The G4’s never going to compete with a 12-metre charter catamaran in terms of accommodation, but this literally is a fully foiling boat with a fridge and kitchen sink.

I find myself calling out the speed as we foil past 25 knots, my voice getting a little “intense” when speeds nose past 28 knots and then beyond

Past 20 knots and things get spiritual. The intoxicating om sound of speed feels like it’s being created by the foil in the water, but is actually coming from the significant apparent wind that’s generated at those high, yet highly manageable, speeds through the rig. Occasional spray shoots through the middle of the cockpit to keep us on our toes, and then the helmsman – former A-class catamaran world champion Mischa Heemskerk – trims the bows down a bit and I find myself calling out the speed as we foil past 25 knots, my voice getting a little “intense” when speeds nose past 28 knots and then beyond.

We get used to the speed very quickly and start speed runs between St Martin and Anguilla – seven miles in a matter of minutes. Never does the cat feel out of control or uncomfortable, and not once do we fall off the foils, spin out or break a single thing on board (except some personal sailing speed records). In fact the boat is so forgiving, and has such a wide groove, that at 25 knots we’re able to talk and joke, and even pass out water bottles from the cockpit fridge. On one run I take the helm and steer without issue, the feedback from the helm positive and responsive and I’m convinced that with a bit of practice any experienced sailor could helm this incredible flying machine.

All on board still grip a little tighter as the boat edges up to 30 knots. But the intoxicating hum just gets louder, the rudders sizzle and both hulls fly even higher. Trim is called constantly over the rush of the wind and virtually all the available energy from the breeze gets transmuted into forward motion. I’m sailing in three dimensions. I’m flying. I’m at one with the universe and nothing will ever be the same again.

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Then came the last America’s Cup and the big foiling cats. I suppose it was inevitable that someone would think of adding foils to a cruising cat. I have said here for many years high performance is always a moving target. With the foiling Cup cats fast upwind speed meant 40 knots. The bar was raised. The Gunboat group set out to design a foiling family cruising cat called the G4. Gunboat’s promotional material says the boat is easily handled.Then Peter Johnstone came along with Gunboat. Peter had a different vision for cruising cats. The first Gunboats focused on performance by combining a fast hull and rig with very nice accommodations but not to the point of sacrificing performance. The idea took off and Gunboat has produced some very fast cruising cats. It’s more accurate to call them cruising-racing cats. 

The prototype G4 underwent successful sea trials in spring and looked to be a very exciting boat. Then, in its first regatta, the G4, capsized in 30 knots of wind. The boat was being sailed by an expert crew and cameras were rolling on the chase boat. All was going swimmingly when all of a sudden a puff hit and the fully powered-up G4 went over. A powerboat righted the G4, and the capsize was analyzed. This event was not considered a catastrophe, rather the growing pains of an unusual, high-performance boat. 

The LOA and DWL are the same, and the average of the light and maximum displacements is 5,940 pounds, giving a D/L of 42.05. With the boards retracted the draft is 1 foot 6 inches. With boards down the draft is 8 feet. The boards are L-shaped, hooking inboard at about a 90-degree angle. T-foils are mounted on the deep rudder tips. The hulls have wave-piercing bows and almost a chine aft and are purely designed for high speed. The beam is 22 feet 3 inches.

The accommodations are as you might expect on this radical boat—spartan. The saloon headroom is 4 feet 11 inches. There are settees port and starboard with double berths outboard. The head is in the port hull with sitting headroom. You cannot access the areas in the hulls from the saloon. There is a dining table in the main cabin.

The rig is huge. The SA/D is 70.82, which is, I think, the highest I have ever calculated for these reviews. But you need a lot of power for foiling boat speed. The asymmetrical chute is 1,250 square feet. I asked Peter if the G4 was a family-friendly cruiser. He said, with refreshing honesty, “Not yet.” But he assured me that the changes were in the works—including hydraulic lifting of the L boards—to make it so.

LOA 39’10”; LWL 39’10”; Beam 22’3”; Draft 1’10” (boards up), 8’ (boards down); Displ. 5,950 lbs.; Sail area 1,378 sq. ft.; Auxiliary Oceanvolt electric saildrive (retractable); Fuel 48-volt, 100-amp-hour lithium ion batteries; Water 11 gal.

829 Harbor Rd. 

Wanchese NC 27981

www.gunboat.com

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Watch the world’s first foiling cruiser take flight at 30 knots: first video of Gunboat’s G4

• Toby Hodges
• April 12, 2015

Gunboat's G4 has been launched in St Maarten, risen to her foils in 14 knots wind and has already hit 30 knots. Watch the video here

A pioneering moment for production yachts as the Gunboat G4 foils during early trials Credit: Rachel Jaspersen / Ocean Images

Hats off to Gunboat. The company that put the cool into cruising cats has done it again by producing the world’s first foiling ‘cruising’ yacht.

And it seems the G4 lives up to her promise – she actually flies. The G4 launched this week in St Maarten, rose onto her foils in 14 knots wind, and has already hit 30 knots.

“It’s insane!” Gunboat’s ecstatic founder Peter Johnstone told me after the G4’s first trials. “You look at the photos and your instinct and intuition tell you it must be crazy scary. But up there onboard the boat it’s mind-bending – it couldn’t be smoother or calmer!”

This first official video of the G4 inflight is a must watch. Here it is:

While the America’s Cup teams continue to dispute what size cats to race, Gunboat’s new 40-foot weapon is proof that the foiling effect is applicable to the broader sailing public. In one of the most radical steps in boatbuilding history, Johnstone, the Dutch DNA design team and builders Holland Composites have created the first production cruising foiler.

The potential speeds of the G4 are unheard of for anything other than grand prix racing multihulls, so there will be little that will be able to touch her on the water.

“Max speed recorded so far is 31.9 knots,” Johnstone reports. “We should get into the mid to late 30s as the tuning progresses.” Stop and consider that for a minute!

Initial trials have been held in various winds this week from 9-25 knots. “At the top end, you drop a reef in and it gets easier and faster as you lower the centre of effort.”

“And there is definitely an upwind foiling mode,” Johnstone reckons. “It’s pretty dramatic when you dial in the rake of the leeward board. The pitching stops and the speed goes up two or three knots from 13 to 16 knots.

“There is the potential to do 18–19 knots upwind.”

Heeled and flying: the Gunboat G4 foiling during her first week of trials off St Maarten

The 15ft long daggerboards of the G4 lift to draw just 2ft. The rake and height of these are adjustable by hand while sailing – so you can set the ride height to conventional mode should you not want to foil.

But an aspect Johnstone was particularly happy with was the comfort of the ride. “You sheet in, she rises up and the speed doubles. The ride gets noticeably smoother and more comfortable – we’ve had people walking around the deck, the boat has really nice manners.”

The cockpit ‘galley’ island on the Gunboat G4

The G4 has an added twist of wow-factor: like the rest of Gunboat’s range, she offers accommodation too. The cockpit has a galley style island for cooking and socialising around (granted it’s a bit exposed to brew up at those speeds) – plus there are two double and two single berths within.

The G4 is surely sailing’s ultimate adrenaline rush for a wealthy owner. “Get the gun, be the party, cruise home” is Gunboat’s motto for the boat. Can you imagine seeing a fleet of them zinging around at a regatta?

Gunboat took a big risk with this innovative project, which is set up to be production-built. After the results of these early trials they will doubtless be rewarded by a string of orders for this, the hottest new ride available.

Our lucky technical editor Matt Sheahan will be getting aboard the G4 in the next fortnight in the Caribbean. His full report on the future of foiling cats will be in the July issue of Yachting World.

“The G4 is already foiling in 14 knots of wind and we think she will do so in 12 knots with the J1,” says Gunboat’s founder Peter Johnstone.

All pictures by Rachel Jaspersen / Ocean Images

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The G4 features a large comfortable cockpit and saloon, where, upon return from your highspeed cruise, you will have time to shower, nap, and plan the post-sail gathering. Your friends will be drawn to the spacious and comfortable cockpit. The salon offers comfortable seating with ample headroom when seated. The galley island, complete with two burner stove top, 100 litre fridge drawer, and sink, is centrally located to entertain.

The G4 features two queen berths located outboard in the main salon. With panoramic top-deck views, abundant ventilation, and a generous sense of space, these may be the best berths shy of the Gunboat 90. With guests aboard, deploy the dual privacy curtains. Kids will love the single berths in their own private hulls. Everyone will appreciate the enclosed head with standing headroom.

The G4 is simple and easy to sail. At only 2.7 tons, the G4 has light loads. Sails can be hoisted by hand with no need for complex powered equipment. FAmple storage space in the bows allows for easy access to all your toys. With room for kite boarding, surfing, snorkeling, and SUP gear, you’ll be able to keep everyone onboard entertained.

For more information, visit the Gunboat website.

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The Gunboat G4 looks, at first glance, like some kind of extravagant extra in a Bond film.

Closer inspection reveals an innovative cruiser/racer with the potential not only for scintillating speeds, but also a modicum of practicality.

Many of the innovations seen in those extreme America’s Cup multihulls have filtered down and been distilled into this flyer. She’s also very sleek for a multihull; the builders declaring that: “We are fond of wedding cakes, but a cat cannot perform when it looks like one. Windage with such a design is akin to driving a car with the hand-brake engaged.” Nice. Anyway, despite this admirable ethos, she’s fairly cruiser-friendly, featuring two comfy queen-sized beds and single berths.

Builder: www.gunboat.com From £487,400 UK agent: None at present

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GUNBOAT G4: A Cruising Cat That Flies (Literally)

For those of you who don’t happen to follow Gunboat CEO Peter Johnstone on Facebook , here’s a hot piece of late-breaking news: the world’s first foiling racer-cruiser catamaran has just gone airborne (see photo up top). That would be hull no. 1 of Gunboat’s new 40-foot G4 , which was recently launched in St. Martin and is now being worked up to compete at Les Voiles de St. Barth (April 13-18) and Antigua Sailing Week (April 25-May 1).

I am sure Nat Herreshoff is dancing a jig in his grave. This is exactly the sort of cutting-edge boat (see, e.g., the catamaran Amaryllis , circa 1876) that he loved to create.

What makes it a cruising cat is that it actually does have accommodations: berths to sleep in, a toilet in which to relieve oneself, a fridge, a galley for cooking, a table to eat off of, etc. These are not, by any means, palatial digs, such as you find on the bigger Gunboats we all know and love. Rather the G4 is an extreme expression of an open-bridgedeck performance cruising cat, kind of like a Maine Cat on acid.

You can get a good idea of what’s what and where it belongs by checking out this concept viddy here:

The boat’s construction, by Holland Composites , is super light and racy: all carbon and pre-preg epoxy and Nomex honeycomb coring. Auxiliary power comes courtesy of an OceanVolt electric regenerating motor . The spars are all carbon. All-up weight is just under 6,000 lbs. lightship.

And like I said, it flies!

A computer rendition, showing the L-shaped foils and T-rudders that lift this weapon off the water at speed

Only halfway airborne in St. Martin, during the work-up to full flight

Board controls

Flying! Note the huge overlap on that screecher

Johnstone reports the boat so far has hit speeds of 15-plus knots upwind and a peak speed of almost 30 knots off the wind in true wind of 18-20 knots.

Here’s another short viddy showing the boat sailing on the surface:

Sailing the G4 in Saint Martin with Peter Johnstone Posted by James Allsopp on Monday, April 6, 2015

What the helmsman is doing with his feet there is sheeting in the main. He can ease it by touching a button.

It’s worth noting that the new G4 dodged a major bullet on launch day, as the crane that splashed it promptly collapsed on another cat after the deed was done.

Also, Leopard Catamarans has just announced they’ve built a foiling cruising cat .

But that was an April Fool’s joke.

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DEAD GUY: James Wharram

Nice design. Should do at least as good as the Gunboat 55 that dismasted off of the Carolina coast a few months back. Mon Dieu! Oh, but wait – those guys intentionally sailed into gale conditions….. This is a boat for cruising?? – Really??

quite amazing to see this available in a “cruiser”. Do we know that the restrictions are on the conditions it can sail under ala the Americas Cup boats. Assuming the kinks are worked out to be more cruiser friendly, this would be an interesting cat to consider when we downsize.

Looks much more stable when inverted. Check out the link for a picture and article from recent exploits in theCaribbean. Definitely a good cruising boat. – Good Luck http://www.sailworld.com/Gunboat_G4_capsizes_on_final_day_at_St_Barths___Capsize_Video/133539

opps with the link – try this http://www.sail-world.com/Gunboat_G4_capsizes_on_final_day_at_St_Barths___Capsize_Video/133539

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