Eagle 53 Photo: SailingWorld.com
Adapted from article by: James Scanlon
AB-Marine is proud to be part of the team building the Eagle 53, named the best multihull of 2020 by sailing world magazine. Designed by Bieker Yachts, built by Fast Forward Composites, the foiling carbon fiber catamaran brings high speed performance foiling to cruising.
The Goal
The Eagle 53 was inspired by the foiling AC75 and developed by former Gunboat owner Donald Sussman and Tommy Gonzalez. Their vision was to make high performance multihull sailing a luxury experience. Their goal: a comfortable boat, ideal for day sailing and week ending whilst providing the exhilaration of high speed foiling. Tommy then assembled a team of like minded individuals at the forefront of their respective fields.
Design
The aesthetically striking hull features swept in bows, designed to move volume and weight back in the hulls. This allows for increased cabin headroom and improved downwind handling through surf.
The hybrid sail, designed by Jeff Smyth, is comprised of a carbon wing and a soft sail component. Though heavily loaded while sailing, the 80 foot carbon wing can be rotated easily from a single line in the cabin. The soft component of the sail, which is end planted on a carbon deck above the cock pit allows for quick and effective depower. This makes the boat more manageable, especially when riding the thin line between the +35 knot top speed and capsizing.
Foils
The current Eagle 53 is equipped with large ‘C’ boards and ‘T’ rudders. These generate enough lift to allow the leeward hull to skim above the water. In place of the arched ‘C’ foils, the Eagle 53 Turbo will be fitted with ‘T’ foils, allowing the boat to fully foil above the water. The ‘T’ foils will be controlled by an automated system, automatically adjusting the angle of the wings in order to control the pitch and ride height of the hulls. The level of control provided by this system works with the unique hull design and hybrid sail to address occasional hobby horsing and capsizing of multihulls. The Eagle 53 Turbo is being tested this spring.
Propulsion
The Eagle 53 is powered by a 29 horsepower Yanmar sail drive and fitted with a GORI 3-Blade propeller. Geoff Prior worked closely with Tommy Gonzalez on the engine and propeller selection, prioritizing low drag and maneuverability. The Gori 3-Blade propeller creates less drag than all other folding and feathering propellers except for GORI Race. The GORI also has two pitches and generates full thrust in reverse. GORI provides optimum handling under power without interfering with performance under sail.
As the first recreational foiler, the Eagle 53 represents a new class of boat. Given the success of the project so far it will be very interesting to watch the boat and a potential new class develop.