I Want One: Patin Catala
See what they have written in the United Stated about the Patin Catala
http://woodenboat.com/boat/?p=1358
I Want One: Patin Catala
by Carl Cramer
The Patin Catala
Patin3 — photo courtesy www.sailpatin.be
Look closely:
more Patin — photo courtesy www.sailpatin.be
And another:
Patin2small — photo courtesy www.sailpatin.de
Have you noticed yet?
* No rudder
* No ‘board
* No boom.
How do you tack? The best explanation is shown in the videos on Hans Dejonckheere’s site, www.marinero.be.
I spent a good portion of yesterday trying to read websites about the Patin in Spanish, Portugese, Belgian and then, finally, Marinero’s in English. Here’s what Hans writes:
“Puuure sailing
Pati Catalá, that is the actual name of this proa. It took many years to develop it: at the beginning of the 20th century, swimmers at sea were accompanied by a small rowing raft built on two floats. During the development into sailing proa, the rudders and boom were not added yet: that is how a very simple vessel with excellent sailing qualities was created. In the meantime, the Patin has grown into one of the largest unity classes over the whole region of Catalonia. Along our coast as well, especially in De Haan, we have been able to admire the gracefulness of sailing a Patin since the seventies.
The Patin does not leave you untouched!
Sailing without a rudder means that the boat is constantly in balance. For small path deviations, the trim of the sail is used. When bigger manoeuvres are needed, the sailor has to shift his body weight. The inclination of the mast can be adjusted to the front or to the back during sailing.
The Patin is maintenance-friendly, quick, light and easy to rig up. One man takes the boat from the trailer to the water line in only ten minutes! It resists the hard beach life, it is resistant to sand, salt and sun. It is the most appropriate vessel to conquer the breakers!
Moreover, the Patin is a very safe sports catamaran: without boom, the risk of head injuries is much smaller, and, … a Patin is insubmersible!
Patin sailors united in the association Nosepasa vzw
The class is characterized by its highly competitive nature: no other class has as large a number of sailors running for competition. Nevertheless, the competitions always take place in a pleasant and congenial atmosphere: indeed, the sailors manoeuvre the Stradivarius of the sailing sport!
The class association NOSEPASA vzw promotes the interests of the Patin sailors. Since its formation in 2000, it tries to promote patin sailing in our waters. Below follow some examples:
• Drawing up a competition calendar and an activities’ calendar. In 2010, the Patin class will be celebrating its 10th Belgian Championship.
• Organization of initiation afternoons
• Training: every week during the summer months at Twinsclub, Bredene
• Organization of a family event in springtime
Visit our website:
www.sailpatin.be
The Patin is still manufactured according to traditional methods, built out of wood, in Barcelona.
The materials used:
• Okoumé waterproof multiplex symmetrical hulls, with crosswise bulkheads every 50cm, glued in a mould, making the hull extremely rigid and insubmersible.
• The hulls are joined by crossbeams shaped out of light natural wood strengthened with acajou.
• Recently the Patin is being built out of polyester as well.
Characteristics
Loa
Lwl 5.60 m
Floating 4.70 m
Width 1.60 m
Mast height 6.80 m
Vertical Luff 6.25 m
Sail area 12.60 m²
Weight 98 kg”
more Patin — photo courtesy www.marinero.be
Websites about the Patin:
http://earwigoagin.blogspot.com/2009/11/look-ma-no-rudder-no-paddle-either.html
and, in Belgian: www.sailpatin.be