History
The 49er's name comes from its hull length of 4.99 metres. It incorporates ideas developed in Julian Bethwaite's 18ft Skiffs, notably the Prime Computer series of boats, which were double handers.For a controllable and fast gust response, the mast was carefully tuned to deflect from the top downwards with an increase in wind speed, causing the upper main to twist, reducing the heeling moment. The use of solid wings, rather than tubes as on similar boats (RS800 etc.), aids sailors new to the world of skiff racing while facilitating rapid movement across the 49er during maneuvers.
49er skiffs in a race
49ers at the Extreme Sailing Series in Boston harbor preparing to race, 4th of July, 2011
With a Portsmouth yardstick Handicap of 710 the 49er is the fastest two person one-design monohull dinghy.
In 2009 the boat received a new rig design, including a larger fully carbon mast (replacing the aluminum mast) and square top (roach) mainsail.
Construction
Hull
As a one design class, the 49er has two licensed suppliers, Mackay Boats and Ovington. They are made of Epoxy GRP and foam sandwich laminate with carbon fibre in high load areas. It includes a single hull with two solid wings, also called racks, that clip into the side to generate massive righting moment. The design of the bottom allows the boat to be able to plane more easily with less drag to reach high speeds. According to the International 49er class rules, the minimum hull weight including all permanent fittings can not be less than 94.0 kg.
49er at the 2012 London Olympic Games
Mast
Licensed supplier of the 49er mast is a company named Southern Spars. It is a three piece male moulded mast made from 100% standard modulus carbon. The height is 7.0 meters tall that is capable of holding a combined crew weight of 155 kg to 165 kg. It contains three sets of shrouds that connect to a fitting on the side of the boat. The crew is able to adjust them by tightening or loosening them, depending on the wind speed and sea states.Foils
The foils are made out of a hard Gelcoat surface and then different combinations of Epoxy, Carbon and E-glass within the class rules. They are designed to handle the high loads and quick maneuvers the 49er makes while sailing. In order to be legal it shall carry the embossed 49er logo and ICA per certified equipment label at the head of each foil.Sails
The 49er contains three sails: a main sail, jib, and spinnaker. The main and jib are 20 square meters, fully battened and made of a material called Mylar. The main is also square on top to provide more sail area and to control more shape adjustment. The spinnaker is 38 square meters in a tri-radial asymmetric shape. They provide enough sail power for the boat to plane out of the water and reach high speeds.El 49er (leído en inglés forty-niner) es una clase internacional de embarcación a vela diseñada por el australiano Julian Bethwaite.
Es también clase olímpica desde los Juegos Olímpicos de Sidney 2000. Muchas de las características del 49er son relativamente nuevas en el mundo de la vela: los dos tripulantes gobiernan y estabilizan la embarcación desde el trapecio, hay fórmulas de igualar las características físicas de las tripulaciones mediante lastres y alas retráctiles (punto desde el que se cuelgan del trapecio los dos tripulantes para contrarrestar la escora), el botalón es retráctil, la utilización de spinnakers asimétricos de gran superficie vélica, etc.
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