Performance Racing on a tight budget

WHY is it when we spot another yacht or boat on the water, it always turns's into a race? Primal instinct, that's why, and it's within us all. We have to win, or to be first. Whether we race our car to work, play football or just out climbing cliffs. It's the thrill, or driving passion within us all - to win. To be first! To test our skills against nature or, even against ourselves. And yes, we're all guilty of it. Nowadays however, an outlet we have to satisfy our Primal Instinct, we call SPORTS. 

Overview

Yes, the SPORTZ 16 is fast, yet designed to be easy and fun to sail, yet still be competitive. The SPORTZ 16 CAD plans provided are large scale drawings printed on 2' by 3' sheets or D size and are drawn to a very high degree of accuracy. (We also provide building notes and material list.

Overall, the SPORTZ 16 offers a great opportunity for weekend sailing and competitive club racing, but just as important, it can be built for those on a tight building budget.

Design Brief

The Sportz 16 brief was for a fast and thrilling racing yacht with excellent performance high on the priority list and a competitive racer without breaking the budget.  The result is an attractive, easily to handle, 'club racer' or exciting weekend day sailor.

Deck Plan:

The SPORTZ 16's cockpit is 8.4 ft (2.56m) long! Not only is it well laid out for a racing crew, but in weekend cruising mode adds considerable space. The Centreboard case, down the centre of the "crew" cockpit, enables you to adjust the depth of the centreboard to suit for various water depths and sailing angles to the wind. The seating deck height above the sole being 18 inches, provides excellent and comfortable seating arrangement without being "hunched over with your knees in your face. Bracing, when sailing hard upwind, is provided by "hiking straps" attached to the cockpit sole. All sail controls, Main halyard, reefing, vang, spinnaker halyard and spinnaker controls lead aft to Cam-Cleats mounted within the cockpit for ease of control.

The SPORTZ 16 also incorporates a toe rail running around the perimeter of the entire deck giving a secure seating edge, but it also provides a comfortable grip for hiking out when you feel you're "Primal Instinct" kicking in.

Sail Plan:

The SPORTZ 16 supports a well-proportioned fractional rig balancing a non-overlapping jib for ease of control. The main is on a traveler, optimizing main sheet control and adjustment to get the most out of every puff of breeze. In regards to tacking, it's easy. Turn the rudder! 

The shrouds are attached outboard and fastened to a bulkhead, optimized for maximum strength and better staying angles. This also allows for a lighter mast and rigging.

Performance:

The SPORTZ 16 is designed for fast sailing! She has an excellent power-to-weight ratio (Sail Area /Displacement ratio of 24!) means a very high performance racer. Her (Disp/Length=105) puts her in the ultra light category and a Sail area/wetted surface area of 2.2, indicating an excellent performer in light airs. With a fine entry for wave penetration, and 'planing' sections aft for easy surfing, Computer Velocity Predictions indicate that the SPORTZ 16 will exceed her maximum theoretical hull speed. The SPORTZ 16's keel and rudder is also carefully proportioned and designed, for excellent control and upwind ability.

Construction

The SPORTZ 16, designed to ABS Ocean Racing Yacht scantlings, is built of strip plank Western Red Cedar or Kiri for the hull and plywood for the decks and interior.

Sandwiched in epoxy, and directional E-glass fabrics, this results in a stronger, tougher and more durable "Composite" boat, yet still retaining its lightweight construction and ability to be built on a tight budget.

Plans

Click the image above for a PDF Plan sample

Plans for the Sportz 16 are extremely comprehensive, with 18 sheets (D size or 2ft by 3ft) of drawings, full size templates, complete written specifications, materials list and builders manual. Back up service is also provided as needed. Please read our Back Up Policy. This is an ideal project for the first time boat builder.

Drawing #	Drawing Description
1	Profile & Plan view
2	Sail Plan
3	Lines Plan
4	Set-Up plan
5	Bulkhead & Frame Construction
6	Centreboard, rudder & Trunk Construction
7	Hull Laminate Sheet
8	Hull Construction
9	Deck Hardware Layout
10	Mast Construction Detail Sheet
11	Hull Frame Templates 1
12	Hull Frame Templates 2
13	Hull Frame Templates 3
14	Hull Frame Templates 4
15	Hull Temporary Frames 1
16	Hull Temporary Frames 2
17	Hull Temporary Frames 3
18	Hull Temporary Frames 4