::
The Weta struggles to overcome the drag from 3 hulls in less than 5 knots but between 5-8 knots it’s OK and it will plane upwind above 8 knots in flat water. It gets fun above 10 knots and really fun up to about 30. More than that is ok and depends on the sea state – but it will be very wet and fast but easier than survival sailing especially without the jib.
The main advantages of the Weta over the Wave are:
1. Sail area
The Weta has 123 ft² of sail for main and jib but then there’s also the Genneker which adds another 26 ft². Up to about 5 knots it can pay to use the Genneker as a “code zero” by sheeting it in hard, which doesn’t allow you to point much but is better than not moving at all. The combination of main and jib is more efficient than main alone because of the effect of the airflow over the main from the jib.
The Wave only has 95 ft² of mainsail in total.
2. Weight
The Wetas carbon and fibreglass construction means it only weighs 265lbs fully rigged for a boat which is 18.10′ x 11.6′ when rigged (but only 14.5’x5.7′ on the trolley) with a 21.6′ mast.
Wheres the Wave is 245 lbs of Rotomolded Polyethylene and is 13′ x 7′ with a 20′ aluminium mast.
3. Daggerboard and tacking
The Weta daggerboard and jib means it tacks like a monohull even in light winds whereas the mainsail only of the Wave and twin hulls means it’s quite hard to tack in light winds.
4. Optional sails
There is a larger 42ft² Genneker available and also a number of 3rd party “fat-head” mainsails available which increase the size by about 10%.
Weta are testing a new lightweight hull and larger mainsail combination for use in areas with light winds.
Hope this helps
Paul
#325, Sydney