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Quant28

A winged boat

Text: Raoul Rudin

Year: 2011

The Quant28 is an uncompromising sportsboat. Built entirely from carbon (vacuum method) and equipped with a 12m high carbon mast, she weighs just 550kg, sails included. A record figure which the racer owes above all to the “Dynamic Stability System” (DSS), developed and patented by the British designer Hugh Welbourn. The idea behind this system is convincing: a lateral leeward foil, which is retractable to improve lift and increase the righting moment in strong wind, thus making gains in both speed and stability, whilst requiring less ballast. This is an unquestionable advantage in light airs.

“The fastest lake racer of the moment”

The project was initiated by the Zurich-based sailor, Michael Aeppli and the Lucerne-based sailor Max Schmid, owner of the yard. “Three years ago, we had an opportunity to trial a test boat kitted up with the DSS. The incredible potential of this technology immediately appealed to us, says Max Schmid, when explaining what led him to launch into the adventure. We’d have really liked to have bought a “Lakeracer DSS”, but it didn’t exist at that point.” As such Michael Aeppli and Max Schmid sat around a table with Hugh Welbourn, the father of the DSS, and together founded the Quantboats company. The next step involved them getting a 28 foot boat built by an international team, with the aim of making her “the fastest lake racer of the time”. Ambitious words, arrogant even. As a result the first critiques weren’t long in coming. Eric Monnin, a specialist in the match racing domain, was highly critical of the DSS boats: “I thought this leeward foil made the boat sluggish and slowed her down rather than generating lift”, he explains.

“The DSS works”

Monnin soon had to face facts though as seemingly he had it all wrong. The Quant28 won her first race on Lake Zurich by several boat lengths. And though she then enjoyed optimum conditions, she has since won a few races in light airs too.

However, it’s from 10 to 12 knots of breeze that the boat really shows what she is made of: “On a reach, thanks to a flat gennaker, the Quant28 quickly powers up to 16 knots and she’s capable of maintaining such a speed over long distances. We’ve already recorded 19 knots of boat speed and, according to the VPP data, she’s still got more to give us,” says a delighted Michael Aeppli.

Even Eric Monnin, who hasn’t missed out on the opportunity to trial the boat himself, has had to admit that “the DSS works”. He adds: “It’s enjoyable slipping across the water at such a speed. However, when sailing close-hauled the boat isn’t a lot faster than the other racers so perhaps it would be wise to head off a little, which is where the boat makes considerable gains in speed.”

Be that as it may, the Quant28 has really caused a stir in the sailing world. In Germany the specialist press has been looking into the DSS and the boat has aroused considerable interest in the region surrounding Lake Geneva too. “After some absolutely fantastic results in the Genève-Rolle-Genève, we were involved in numerous very interesting discussions and even received some concrete offers of purchase, as well as proposals for collaboration with the distribution, explains Max Schmid. The Quant28 has to remain exactly the way she is. She’s the perfect boat for experienced sailors looking for a thrilling ride. With the existing moulds, we can build another three or four boats. By manufacturing them simultaneously, we would even be in a position to offer a high-quality package at an attractive price.

There is every indication that thanks to the DSS foils, the Quantboats are surfing the wave of success. What’s certain is that retractable lateral foils on a sportsboat are a genuine innovation… one that is coming straight out of Switzerland’s German-speaking region.

Further information at: www.quant-boats.com