WILD AT HEART
do it in the RAW
RAW's huge ama's are largely responsible for the great sailing manners. Having plenty of buoyancy means the rig can be loaded up without fear of nasty characteristics finding their way in. The platform is immensely stiff and that keeps the precise feeling on the helm no matter what it's blowing.
Once the ama's have been loaded up, that's about it, the platform can then really do what it supposed to do - accelerate! RAW's ama's have a high degree of load carrying ability. It makes the platform fogiving and responsive.
You can watch how the ama's lever the main hull up. This video was shot in light winds of 5-8 knots. At 1:00 minutes in you will see RAW go into a tack. The video will then drop to water level and you will see that as RAW comes out of the tack, the bow will be lifted clear of the water just as soon as any pressure is exerted onto the sails.
Raw Dimensions
LOA: 9.20m (30’ 2”)
Beam: 6.88m (22’ 7”)
Beam folded: 2.50m (8' 2")
Draft (hull only): 0.46m (1' 6")
Mast length: 14.0m (45' 11")
Dry Weight: 1,345kg (2965 lbs)
Hull: Infused Carbon Fibre
Recommended
Outboard: 9hp Tohatsu
Mainsail: 37.8 sqm (406 sq tf)
Jib: 21.37 sqm (230 sq ft)
Code zero: 39.3 sqm (423 sq ft)
Asymmetric: 90 sqm (968 sq ft)
The RAW
From the getgo the RAW was always going to be well, RAW.
We wanted a raw performance boat but one that was as practical to own as it was stunning to look at and a joy to sail. It had to tick the right boxes and in essence it had to be a race boat wrapped in a package that only an experienced sailor could truly appreciate.
From the earliest days during concept planning, RAW was going to be a 'test mule' for the production boats. It was going to be the platform that ensured that all systems were working as they should, succinct to the point.
At the same time, RAW had to fulfil enough niceities to be able to go coastal racing. To that count it needed permanent bunks, cooking and a head. What was created was a Zen interior space that is functional with the necessary amenities and even full headroom...
As a 'test mule' RAW is great. With so little embellishments, one can experience the purity of the design. Nothing is masked, it's all right there where you can experience it. RAW did some miles under race conditions and the feedback has all been put into the production line. Sports and future Raws all benefit as a result.
We took RAW on a 200nm regatta in an area of the world that experiences great variations in weather. We wanted to test RAW's performance under reeal world circumstances. RAW was loaded up with a non-professional group of sailors and headed off on her maiden regatta. RAW had never faced a start line before and so no one really what to expect.
When RAW was first popped out of the mold the shape was radical, like it was going to be great or a total flop! No one could say until RAW had had her first race. Flop?No way! Great to sail? Definitely. A winner? Sure was!
Perhaps the nicest sailing feature of RAW is the way the platform handles the power. The rig looks a little intimidating when you first see it. The mast dominates the profile. Most sailors hop on with some trepidation expecting the towering rig to simply over power the platform. But to their astonishment the boat carries its power really well. The feeling of complete control is there and remains there well beyond the point where most people would expect uncontrolability to sneak in.
The daggerboard and rudder are of the deep high-lift variety with Carbon providing the stiffness required for precise control. Straight foils and a single rudder setup were chosen as this is uncomplicated when it comes time to folding the boat up for storage and mobility.
The large amas also have the buoyancy low and well forward. Once loaded with a little sail pressure, this creates the leverage to assist in getting the mainhull 'unstuck' from the water as early as possible. Of course, unsticking the main hull early in the piece means getting up to speed earlier! You can watch this in actio from the video at the left.
The Nicest Things About RAW
RAW looks great! Nothing wrong with having a great boat awesome! The canted amas give RAW a purposeful stance. Tightly sculptured lines add to the appeal. Flush beams, recessed beam landings tidy up the asthetics on end. Then there's the wrap! RAW is a race oriented boat and as such each and every one should look as racey as they go!
The Way it Responds
When a gust hits, RAW lunges forward like a hourse out the gate. If you happen to be standing near the back of the boat it might be good to hold on!