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area and a 20m^2 screecher, the sails are manageable and
there is no need for winches of any kind. Ronstan cam
cleats hold the jib sheets and the screecher is trimmed on
dual Ronstan ratchet blocks through a double-purchase.
Buoyant-looking floats each have 500 litres of volume,
which bodes well for a stiff, safe boat. They also have an
angle moulded in them for hiking and are finished off
with inspection hatches on topside and transom.ON THE WATER
Test day greeted us with a fitful sea breeze of 5-8 knots off
Auckland’s Castor Bay. The Astus was easy to launch on
her beach trolley into a moderate northeasterly slop that
would have had trailer sailer owners sweating.
From the photo boat she was not difficult to miss as
her bright orange Mylar sails and her sleek French styling
cut quite a dash. Indeed, it was hard to take a bad shot of
her, no matter what angle we were on, her lines were both
striking and efficient.
Much like the MOD 70s her hulls contain flat sections
which give good buoyancy. The main hull bends this flat
section into an upward sheerline which meets the decks
reverse sheer. The result is that the faster you go the more
the main hull bow rides up and this bodes well for her
heavy weather performance.
On board the Astus the sensation is of space. The
16.5 Sport has been designed to sail with two, but, such
is the width of the wing decks and the volume of the
hulls, having three aboard is no great burden. There is
an immediate impression of uncluttered simplicity with
the vital sheets and controls easy to get to from the helm
position at the aft end of the cockpit.
On the wind the Astus accelerates quickly. The helm
is light and responsive, but like most multihulls she will
not tolerate pinching. The pointing was good due to theWATERMAKER SPECIALISTS
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