Details of the construction changes made to the new Vortex's.

Here are some words about the changes to the boat that will require class rule changes. These changes have since been approved by the class Association.

The Vortex Class Association members had to fund the construction of new moulds to allow construction of the Vortex to continue and Whites Formula was chosen to construct the new hulls.

New Vortex boats are now available. From MSDS (Mike Saul Dinghy Supplies); the sole supplier and distributor of the new boats.

Whilst they are very similar to those that we have been sailing for the last decade or so, we are not producing different product. The key components of the underwater surfaces and the sails remain unchanged. Where we are making changes it is for one of three reasons:

Because we know that there is a limitation to the current design,

Because the cost of like-for-like components is too high,

Because experience has shown that small modifications will significantly improve the ergonomics of the boat.

In making these changes we have kept in mind the wish of the class to remain a one design and that changes should have small impacts on competitiveness. Below is a list of the changes and an explanation of why the change is being carried out. Some of these changes will require a change in the class rules, but in most cases the modification can be carried out to existing boats if desired.

1. Redesign of the main bulkhead beneath the mast. This will solve the known problem of the bulkhead working lose over time. It will not be practical to implement this as a retrofit

2. Enlargement of the internal drainage holes. Again this solves a known problem and cannot be implemented as a retrofit.

3. The deck will be strengthened to reduce known problems of flexing and insufficient deck strength for components. This will improve the durability of the hulls, but cannot be retrofitted. The areas to be changed are:

4. a) foredeck area where we stand when rigging

5. b) area behind dagger board slots for improved location of deck fittings

6. c) areas along the centre line for better fixing of deck fittings

7. d) areas where foot straps might be attached.

8. e) Provision of a stainless steel plate to support bolts for rudder fixings. This will reduce problems in this area, but running aground at speed is still likely to cause damage.

9. F)The main-sheet turret to be 15mm higher and there will be a separate mounting block for the toe straps. These will improve ergonomics and allow better fixing of the block to the deck.

10. G) The drainage grill will become an externally mounted component, allowing a stronger join between deck and hull.

11. H) Insets into the deck as follows: along the sides from the stern to level with the mast to be installed along the edge of the dagger board slots allowing the installation of a friction plate

A grove to accommodate the spinnaker pole

Removal of the current deck handles and installation of a kick bar with inset hand-holds. The kick bar will run from near the stern to just short of the current handle. This will improve the ergonomics of the boat and could be retrofitted.

Move the anchor point for the trapeze from the current position to the location of the current deck handles. This will improve the ergonomics and could be retrofitted.

Improve the ergonomics of the control lines, these modifications could be retrofitted.

The current foredeck assembly for the spinnaker will be redesigned to reduce the cost of production; there will be no change in the functionality.

The mast will be made from Carbon fibre and will become non-rotating and a mast foot track will be installed. The principal reason for doing this is that the cost of producing the goose-neck and spreader assembly would be too high. This will allow us to use a better engineered standard goose-neck solving another known problem. Adding the track will allow us to improve fore-aft balance and may reduce nose diving. Finally it would open the possibility of introducing a self-tacking jib in the future.

With a fixed mast we could also move to using a carbon fibre rather than aluminium at almost the same cost. The trends on costs are such that within a few years carbon will be significantly cheaper than aluminium. This would reduce the weight and reduce the tendency for nose dives.

A redesign of the gnav to improve the ergonomics and reduce wear.

The Boom will be made from Carbon fibre composite

New carbon-composite foils which will reduce the weight of the boat. The new foils will cost more than the current aluminium ones. But we cannot afford the up-front cost of a production run to provide a quantity of the aluminium foils. Whereas the composite foils can be produced in small quantities.

Most of these changes will have minimal or no impact on boat speed, but they will increase boat durability. Boat speed will be improved by the reduction of weight through introducing a new mast, boom and foils. All of which can be retrofitted to current boats. We will need to change the class rules so that both old and new boats are class legal. These changes have been approved and accepted. Initially a lead weight handicap was applied to the new boats in class racing events but this period has now expired and no weight penalty applies to the new boats.

 

Assymetric option for the Vortex

 

If you own (or are considering) a Standard Vortex (i.e. one without an asymmetric spinnaker), it is worth considering what a kite could do for you...... The Asymmetric Kite adds a new and exhilarating downwind performance to this already wonderful boat. Smooth and fast upwind and now very fast and tactical downwind.

 

The asymmetric system was developed in 2004 for and on behalf of the Vortex Class Association by four times National Champion Keith Escritt. The system went through several design – test – modify cycles but the final version uses a retractable pole and overall weight has been kept to a practical minimum with the use of a carbon fibre composite pole and chute. The complete kit is available to purchase from Mike Saul at MSDS and can be retrofitted to any standard Vortex.{youtube}20GXnohUjew{/youtube}

After trials and testing of several shapes and sizes, and following feedback from Keith and several other 'test pilots' a 15 square metre spinnaker was specifically developed for the Vortex by Colin Goodman and Paul Austin at "http://www.hydesails.co.uk/"

www.superspars.com supply the carbon fibre spinnaker pole (all the way from New Zealand) - modified and strengthened especially for the Vortex.

The Association would like to extend a special thank you to Dave Winder at "http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/repairers/name/Winder-Boats/" (Custom Carbon Chute) and Ashley at "http://www.bairstowbrothers.co.uk/">Bairstow Engineering (Custom Bow Frame) for their invaluable design contributions.

Thanks also to Mike Saul of http://www.dinghy-services.co.uk/" MSDS for his advice about fittings and Richard Towers of www.nwsails.co.uk for designing and making the spinnaker socks.

For more information, pricing details or to place an order please contact Mike Saul (see the link for Spare Parts in the menu on the left)

To comply with class rules and for optimal performance, the system needs fitting with care and some accuracy. Please read the instructions&nbsp (available in the Association Members area) carefully & nbsp;and fully before starting to fit your system. If anything in the instructions does not make sense or you get stuck please contact either Keith Escritt directly or, preferably, via the Class Association website / discussion forum..

For those of you who are new to the class or who weren’t aware of it, the document pasted below gives an insight as to the development of the the Vortex Asymmetric System Jim Swinburn first rigged an asymmetric on a Vortex in 2001 - there was little interest to start with but this slowly grew and at the 2002 AGM the class agreed to develop a system - essentially for evaluation purposes.

 

At the 2003 AGM there was strong support for the development and some funds were allocated towards taking it further, with the intention was to have a system ready by Spring 2004. That was almost achieved as by May 2004 the prototype was sailing pretty much as it is today.

By then, the system had been through several changes – in particular, the kite grew from around 11sqM to 12.5 then 13.5 and finally 15sqM. The first few fixed pole systems were replaced by a retractable pole and some modifications were made to create a single forestay system, with the addition of a carbon chute to replace the initial metal hoop</p>

By the end of 2004 several people had ‘had a go’ on the various prototypes and feedback was generally enthusiastic..

The prototype has sailed off a handicap of 930 (30 less than standard) which seemed ok in light winds (F0-1), favourable in medium (F2-3) and harsh in windy (F4-6). This changes with course and conditions (in F1 you want to reach, rather than dead run and in F4 you want to do v broad reaches everywhere.) and of course there’s quite a learning curve..

So what have we ended up with?

The kite itself is a 15m2 radial cut developed by the class and Hydes. It is available in white only but with a choice of colour for the ‘star’ in the middle. For colours available see the photos in the gallery!

The pole is carbon and supplied by SuperSpars although they source them in New Zealand!We have a unique, aircraft grade, tempered aluminium frame between the bows. This performs 3 functions;

It acts as a support/guide for the pole

it gives additional stiffening between the hulls

It also acts as an initial ‘chute’ to collect the kite without it ever having to be dragged around the forestay (thus saving one of the major causes of tears and early deterioration of the kite).

There is a custom made Carbon chute especially developed by the class and Winder boats together with a made to measure self draining sock. And finally, of course there are the fittings, rope, wire etc to make it all work.

The 2004 AGM approved the Asymmetric Option which officially marked the acceptance of Asymmetric boats into the class. To date the Standard and Asymmetric Vortexes make up the class association and still race alongside each other at events. Prizes are awarded to the leaders in each category to ensure boats without spinnakers aren't at a disadvantage.

Since the 2004 AGM over 100 kits have been fitted to Vortex all over the UK and abroad.

 

Take a look at the seond hand market now in 2017 and you will see some real bargains on offer. You can get a super fast single hander with asymmetric spinnaker for under £2000.