L3 R-Class Skiff
You'll have to go a long way to find any mono hulled dinghy that is faster and wetter than the R Class Skiff!
Designed by Dan Leech, a promising up and coming yacht designer from Christchurch and NZ champ in this class of dinghy, the L3 has taken the development R Class skiff class by storm.
Using techniques and principles Dan learned working with some top local and international designers, he set to to create the next generation of the New Zealand dinghy icon, the R Class.
The fact that he succeeded so well with his first concept L3 is testament to his talent and the sailing skills of the crew Dan and Sean Milner.
Following Dan and Sean's success at the 2007 NZ nationals, Franklin's was approached to build several L3 hulls for a number of crews looking to catch up with the original L3.
Dan is definitely a force to watch in the future. Contact Dan Leech Design for more information at danleech@paradise.net.nz
The Franklin Team is proud to be involved with on-going production of these exciting skiffs.
The photos below show the original L3 in the hands of Dan and Sean - 2008 Leander Trophy winners (R Class National Champs) on Lyttelton Harbour, while the other photos are of one of the three new Franklin built L3s.
Use the slider below to view a range of photos. Click on any image in the slider to see enlarged photos.
| |
What is an R-Class?
Extreme performance, light weight, skiff style, development dinghy class in the truest sense
| Length | 3.9m (max) |
| Hull | no minimum weight (typically 29-35kg painted), 1.4m minimum width |
| Construction | Unrestricted (typically ultra lightweight Carbon/Foam) |
| Rig | Unrestricted - typically two spreader pre-bent carbon spar |
| Working Sails | Area is restricted 13m2 - construction and rig plan are unrestricted - ie. wings, pocket luff, rotating masts are all acceptable |
| Kite | 20m circumference resulting in a 30-36m2 surface area |
| Crew | 2 (minimum) on trapeze |
For more information on R-Class's and clubs start here
