Yacht Ecover 3 - Mike Golding

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Yacht Ecover 3 - Mike Golding

Ecover III Background:
The objective was to design and build the winning boat for the Vendee Globe 2008. The team have spent a lot of time reviewing all aspects of the design to make a more efficient race boat but without forfeiting toughness.

The extensive R&D programme included 1/7th and 1/3th scale models and a computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for all the foils.  OCD carried out a complete, computer modelled review of the rig and sail design working with Southern Spars and North Sails.

ECOVER III has been built in a female mould.  Merfyn Owen and SP Technologies (the composite engineers) worked with Hakes Marine’s innovative structural design ideas to reduce weight without losing any strength.

Ecover III Designer:
Owen Clarke Design (OCD) LLP is recognised as being at the leading edge of high performance yacht design.  OCD is known particularly as pioneers in the field of canting and lifting/canting keels for racing and cruising boats. Their design portfolio spans yachts from the 6.5m Mini Transat class to the 32m superyacht Paragon and includes their sixth Open 60 - ECOVER III.

Clay Oliver.  A principal designer for Team New Zealand since 1995 and an active member of the sailing team, Clay Oliver has been involved in six America's Cups, including four winners. Recent design projects include record-setting Mari-Cha IV, and some new generation high-performance swing keel yachts, including the 100ft sloop Maximus . He is a graduate naval architect from the US Naval Academy. 

Ecover III Builders:
Hakes Marine Construction: Led by boat builder Paul Hakes, Hakes Marine, Wellington is purposely set up for the production of composite racing yachts. The team at Hakes has been involved with a series of world class yachts including the build of the 30 metre maxi racing yacht Zana and two America's Cup syndicates - Prada, Italy and Le Defi France during the Louis Vuitton Cup 2003.

Hakes is the class manufacturer for the new Yachting New Zealand one-design keel boat - the Z39 and recently completed two Transpac 52 - state of the art racing machines including the highly successful Mean Machine.

Ecover 3

Designers:
Owen Clarke Design LLP / Clay Oliver
Composite Engineering:
Gurit / SP Technologies Ltd
Build Project Manager:
Merfyn Owen, Owen Clarke Design LLP
Operational Project Manager:
Martin Carter
Builder:
Hakes Marine Construction, Wellington, NZ

Construction:  Pre-preg carbon/honeycombe sandwich
Daggerboards:  Twin asymmetric daggerboards
Steering:  Twin wheels, vectran lines to carbon quadrants and twin pilots systems
Rudders:  Two prepreg rudders, conventional fixed system
Bowsprit:  Fixed prepreg max rule 1.82 metres bowsprit
Beam:  5.8 metres
Keel:  Carbon fin and lead bulb with hydraulic canting system
Water ballast:  Additional trim tanks
Mast:  Classic rotating rig built by Southern Spars.
Sails:  Carbon/Spectra 3DL by North Sails, France
LOL (Length overall):  20.1 metres
LWL (Length along the waterline):  18.26 metres
Draft:  4.5 metres
Displacement:  Restricted
Mast Height from deck:  <27 metres
Sail area upwind:  300 sq metres
Sail area downwind:  580 sq metres