The XS-Spider

Boat Show Impressions

In May 2012, for the second consecutive year, I attended the Korea Boat Show in support of Blue Galaxy, the builder of the XS-Spider one-design race boat. This was my first time seeing the production version of the boat, and I have to admit that I was very impressed by the workmanship and attention to detail. It was also my first time sailing the boat and I was extremely happy with how the Spider behaved. It’s beautifully balanced and fun to sail. I was also very humbled and appreciative that our XS-Spider was awarded the 2012 Innovation Award by the boat show organizers. This is a worthy acknowledgement for all the years of hard work that Blue Galaxy and Van Gorkom Yacht Design have put into this project and we are looking forward to a bright future with the boat.

Features of the XS-Spider One-Design Race Boat

Racing and Training

• A dinghy-like performance in a keel boat makes the Spider an ideal “crossover” platform and will be extremely popular with ages 15 through 50
• The Spider has the potential to create a strong youth program for any yacht club and encourage continued participation in its young adult members
• A great racing performance with the racing sail package (square-top main, vertical battened roller furling jib, and asymmetric kite)
• Three to four people in close exciting racing can sail this little rocket hard
• Many of the Spider’s design features make this one-design race boat an ideal platform for a teaching environment (special training sail package)
• The XS-Spider will maintain its leading edge appeal for many years to come and serve any yacht club well in attracting new members to their sailing program
• The boat has a lightweight structure yet it is tough enough to withstand the rigors of yacht club use
• The boat can easily be launched from a trailer via a single point hoist or from a boat ramp

Performance and Handling

• Sleek, stealthy canoe body with flat, stable, after planing-hull sections and a relatively high sail area/wetted surface ratio
• Low displacement/length ratio gives the boat a superior windward performance
• The XS-Spider has a high initial stability, yet is a very responsive boat to handle in most conditions
• The XS-Spider has a spacious and functional cockpit with a simple-to-sail deck layout
• There are no winches and no backstay
• The deck layout draws on the latest dinghy technology to make sail handling easy and quick
• There are hiking pads and a center-line foot chock that make for a comfortable ride when fully heeled
• Hydrodynamic efficient high-lift, laminar flow keel and rudder foils

Structural Features of this One-Design Race Boat

• Lightweight composite laminate includes epoxy, e-glass and foam sandwich construction
• The lifting carbon fiber keel fin and lead T-bulb firmly locks in place on a bearing saddle connecting the internal structure of the boat to the keel fin
• The high aspect ratio rudder is completely demountable with just one pin to pull
• The boat will be virtually unsinkable with floatation compartments built into the structure

Rig & Sails

• The mast and boom are lightweight Southern Spar aluminum sections
•  The mast is a diamond rig system with an adjustable-while-sailing cap shroud tensioner
• A Harken & Boom Kicker vang system come as part as the basic package
• The roller furling jib has an integrated headstay system for easy sail removal and hoisting
• The retractable bow sprit is all carbon fiber
• The XS-Spider can be quickly rigged and de-rigged and stowed away with the minimum of fuss and space

Pricing

Note: This price is based on multiples of four one-design race boats, as that is the number of units that can be packed into a 40 foot shipping container (VAT and shipping/handling charges are additional). Options include racing sails (main, jib & kite), outboard and outboard bracket.

Contact VGYD or Blue Galaxy for more details.