Open Ocean Performance Sixties
Encyclopedia
The Open Ocean Performance Sixty, or simply Open 60, is a class of trimaran
racing yacht
defined by the Ocean Racing Multihull Association
. These boats are specified to be between 59 and 60 feet long and are intended to compete in a variety of events.
Other prominent restrictions on an Open 60:
However, there are few other regulations on the design or materials that can be used for the boat. Due to this, the design of Open 60s is an area of fierce competition and innovation. Custom-designed boats are often built with combination carbon fiber
and Kevlar
sails, which have the desired properties of both lightness and rigidity.
Due to their innovative construction and mutlihull design, ORMA 60 trimarians can reach speeds of nearly 45 miles per hour, far faster than the quickest sailing monohull.
Trimaran
A trimaran is a multihulled boat consisting of a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls , attached to the main hull with lateral struts...
racing yacht
Yacht racing
Yacht racing is the sport of competitive yachting.While sailing groups organize the most active and popular competitive yachting, other boating events are also held world-wide: speed motorboat racing; competitive canoeing, kayaking, and rowing; model yachting; and navigational contests Yacht racing...
defined by the Ocean Racing Multihull Association
Ocean Racing Multihull Association
The Ocean Racing Multihull Association is an international structure created in 1996 by the International Sailing Federation within the sport of sailing which administers the multihull 60 feet classes of sailboats...
. These boats are specified to be between 59 and 60 feet long and are intended to compete in a variety of events.
Other prominent restrictions on an Open 60:
- LOA = 17.88m - 18.28m
- Bowsprit no greater than 2.75m
- Mast Height above water no greater than 30.3m
- Maximum mast chord = 850mm
- Limited to 15 new sails every 2 years.
However, there are few other regulations on the design or materials that can be used for the boat. Due to this, the design of Open 60s is an area of fierce competition and innovation. Custom-designed boats are often built with combination carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
and Kevlar
Kevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
sails, which have the desired properties of both lightness and rigidity.
Due to their innovative construction and mutlihull design, ORMA 60 trimarians can reach speeds of nearly 45 miles per hour, far faster than the quickest sailing monohull.