- Rick Small Sailboats says the W3t1 Trimarans wide three-hull design and lightweight construction deliver high stability and precise control for racing.
- The 2017 foam-core hull update cut weight to about 120 kg and added a larger square-top mainsail to improve light-wind and downwind performance.
- Carbon-fiber rig components enable solo setup in roughly 20 minutes, and the folding beam makes transport and storage easy.
- The design prioritizes accessible speed and rapid skill-building, supporting broader one-design participation and fleet growth.
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The press release by Rick Small Sailboats LLC reinforces many of the engineering and design fundamentals already documented by Wētā Marine and its class associations,,. Key claims—such as enhanced stability via the trimaran layout and improved sailor learning curves—correspond directly with physical specifications: a wide 3.5 m beam and foam‐core hulls that reduce weight to the minimum class‐allowed (~120 kg). These features increase the righting moment and reduce reactive motion, allowing sailors to focus on skill (trim, steering, tactics) instead of merely keeping the boat upright,,.
Supporting Notes
- Rick’s trials report that the Wētā’s wide beam and three‐hull structure resist heeling in gusts; sailors can keep the boat “flat and fast,” enhancing confidence and technical feedback loops.
- The 2017 update introduced foam‐core hulls for all three hulls, reducing the weight by approximately 12 kg (≈26 lb), bringing total rigged weight down to about 120 kg (265 lb), which is the class minimum,.
- The sailplan includes: standard mainsail ~8.3 m², square‐top mainsail ~9.3 m² for light winds; jib ~3.2 m²; screecher or gennaker ~8.0 m². The self‐tacking jib kit and furling gennaker improve ease and speed of maneuvers,.
- Rigging and launching take about 20 minutes solo due to a 6 kg two‐piece carbon mast, lighter floats and Carbon beams (~18 kg), and simplified deck layout,.
- The trimaran packs down for transport: beam rigs out to 3.5 m, folds to around 1.7 m; beach trolley or trailer friendly.
- Maximum recorded speeds: over 20 knots in downwind stretches; class rating (handicap) and fleet data suggest strong performance relative to monohull comparables in mixed fleets,.