Scheurer A-Class: The Contender

Photos: Megan Groves – Brad at Cesenatico and a good view of the Scheurer G6 platform / 

Luc DuBois sailed the Scheurer G6 at Cesenatico finishing 4th, note transom is quite different from Dna´s one (trapezoidal with lower volume dow and the G6 is the opposite with a more rounded proifle, like Alinghi´s, well DuBois was part of the team.

Photo: Matthew Johnson – Brad at Aus Nats – Fine bows and less volume, although Brad is reporting he can push harder inthe beeze even more than the dna guys.

4th Photo: Megan Groves – Landy finisihed 5th at 2010 Worlds, with an impressive comeback on the last 4 races: 2,3,8,2 . Also good angle to view the canted hulls of the Scheurer G6.
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Since its successful racing debut, the dna had created some noise on the A Class, like it or not they made the entire 1st line of Pros buying one: Ashby, Brewin, Landy, Bundock… the list goes and the highest exposure come in the last Australian Nats.
At 2010 Worlds in Cesenatico, Ashby had to apply all his experience to win, and the reports said that with more wind, Brewin would have won for sure.

So right now you have a one design class at the top, but wait, suddenly Brad Collet beats Brewin on his dna with his Scheurer, the star boat is now a ‘pos’… and the Scheurer is the boat to look up to…. well, No.

Things don´t work like that, the dna has proved she has some new details like volume and the right combo on curved daggers and it will create a trend for new boats, as the Cap or Infusion did on the F18, ending the Tiger era.

The good news about Brad’s win is that other current As are not ‘obselete’! and a good sailor with a well designed craft like Scheurer or the Nikita can take the candy from the dna guys. Nevertheless some new designs will be launched taking the best of the dna, Nikita and Scheurer just like the process seing in the F18.Vele di Pasqua 2011, one year after dna’s debut , will be an excellent scenario to match the power of the A-class technology. No need to add “and sailors skills” , we all know that, but like the F18, the constructors championship is one of the main appeals of both classes.

Above some photo and details on the Scheurer, designed by Andy Scheurer with the collaboration of his son Dominik Scheurer:
“The Scheurer G6 A-Cat is Andy’s and my design. So, I’m very close linked to his company (Scheurer Bootswerft AG).
My main business is designing F1 race cars. I do this since more than 10 years. More info’s on my web page. As you can imagine, a lot of my f1 know-how goes into the boats of my father.
For example the curved blades are done by my company (Scheurer Design & Eng.).

Yes you’re right, we have started a new design. But after Brad’s great results we need to see if the design direction which DNA follows is really the right one.
I will come back soon with more details…
Brad is sailing the “Cesenatico Worlds-Version” called G6.”

Below Brad comments on his win, already published but worth posting again:
“Just to let you know we had the NSW state titles on the weekend in Sydney in about 15 to 20 Knots of wind.
I ended up winning beating Steve Brewin & about 6 DNA boats. The Generation 6 I think is a top boat & hasn’t been tested enough. The boat is very fast downwind & powers up earlier than the DNA. Upwind in good wind I think the boat is faster & gets more lift and makes you point higher. Be careful when building the next boat not to make the stern to big. The stern being smaller helps lift the bows out in wind & waves. I have noticed with the the DNA when it gets windy they trip over when the bows go in. The Scheurer you can drive it as hard as you like, when the bows go in they pop straight out. I think this is a better boat the more I sail this boat the faster it is going. We have our Queensland titles at Easter & I will give you an update.”
Best regards
Brad
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Someone get me Nils contact to gather info about the hidden Nikita…..

10 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    I'm not quite sure, but I think Luc Du Bois was still sailing he's Scheurer G5 at the 2010 worlds.

    /Thomas

  2. Anonymous says:

    Luc bought an DNA …..

  3. Anonymous says:

    So?

  4. Anonymous says:

    while everybody is on a DNA it will be pretty easy to beat them on something quicker…

  5. Anonymous says:

    Exactly, just as Brad did

  6. Anonymous says:

    Problem is, that most of the quick sailors are on DNA now.I hope that not all of them will follow this irrational DNA hype. This would be a good sign for the A-class and the smaller boatbuilders. Diversity should rule the class again.

  7. Anonymous says:

    With Lars Guck and Matt Struble on the entry list and the top Aussies busy with the AC45 World series, it might well be a non DNA sailor at the top of the list when the championships are over…

  8. Editor says:

    Some anonymous post that a boat was a 'copy' , I guess he meant 'molded from' , and to afirm that here, you'd better put to your name , source and a good proof of your statement.

    As everyone takes info and feedback from others, that's evolution, but molding is a total dif game.

  9. Anonymous says:

    It's interesting that landy has ordered a DNA for the next worlds and decided not to sail his Scheurer at the Australian nationals. While there seems to have been a good reason for that, if he was confident in the 6 or even the new boat, why would he order the DNA?

    Brad's result was his first good one in that boat. It was his conditions and Brewin had been ill. Maybe the better sailor on the day actually won! Now that would be a shock.