Afterburner
Description
- 3 beam cat (triple sleeved aluminum beams)
- Carbon rotating mast
- Center motor pod
- No bridge deck cabin
- Spectra nets
- Aft trampoline
- One head
- One galley (sink & burner)
- One fore berth each hull
- One aft berth each hull
- 6’ headroom most of hull
- Daggerboards
- Transom hung daggerboard rudders with tillers
- Launched 1987 43’x30’
- Modified early ‘90s to 52’x30’ with new tall rig
- Hull construction - Western cedar core, glass outside, Kevlar inside
Specifications
LOA: 52’/15.9m
LWL: 52’/15.9m
Beam: 30’/9.1m
Mast: Carbon rotating 82’/25m
Prod: 13’/4m
Weight with sails and gear: 10,040 lbs/4,564 kgOutboard: Honda 20, extra long shaft, electric start
Safety gear: All ORCA
Instruments: B&G
Sails (areas approximate)
LWL: 52’/15.9m
Beam: 30’/9.1m
Mast: Carbon rotating 82’/25m
Prod: 13’/4m
Weight with sails and gear: 10,040 lbs/4,564 kgOutboard: Honda 20, extra long shaft, electric start
Safety gear: All ORCA
Instruments: B&G
Sails (areas approximate)
- Main: 1,400 sq ft/130 sq m
- #1 Jib: 600 sq ft/56 sq m
- #2 Jib: (reefable) 350 sq ft/28 sq m
- Storm Jib (never used)
- #1 Screecher: 1,400 sq ft/130 sq m
- #2 Screecher: 800 sq ft/ 74 sq m
- Maxi Reacher: 2,067 sq ft/ 192 sq m
- #1 asy. Spinnaker: 3,000 sq ft/279 sq m
- #2 asy. Spinnaker: 2,000 sq ft/186 sq m
Afterburner Has Received Numerous Upgrades On My Watch
- Complete suite of Cuben fiber sails with flathead main & C-Tech carbon battens
- Ronstan main car/track system
- Upgrades for maxi-reacher loads
- New 3di main and jib in 2014 ($63k)
- Balanced transom hung rudders
- Eliminated water stays with a carbon fwd. compression beam
- Re-winched with Andersens
- Re-instrumented with B&G Hydro
- LED Nav and mast lights
- Synthetic rigging
- Replaced rod diamonds & rod forestay
- Spectra nets
- Replaced outboard with Honda 20 hp extra-long shaft
- A list of repairs that haven’t failed again
- No capsizes
History ~ Afterburner Comes To America
Afterburner began in 1987, when she was built by John Hughes for Alastair Russell, both of Auckland, New Zealand. The original Bladerunner design by Malcolm Tennant was a 43' x 27' catamaran. They built her to a 30’ beam, and found this too wide for light air, so they lengthened her to 52’ and increased the rig to 82’, in the early ‘90s.
During her first 12 years, Afterburner won the Coastal Classic race numerous times and was hailed as the fastest sailboat in New Zealand.
In 2000 owner Alastair, unable to find the time to sail Afterburner as much as she deserved, placed Afterburner on the market for sale. I came across Afterburner on the internet, looking for a racing catamaran. It was a match made in New Zealand, except I live in Southern California.
John Hughes was hired in November 2000, to take Afterburner apart and prepare her for shipping from New Zealand. He later joined us in Ventura, California to direct the reassembly of the boat. Afterburner was shipped on a container ship. Two and a half weeks later she arrived in Long Beach, California, was trucked to Ventura, and assembled in the Ventura public launch ramp parking lot.
During her first 12 years, Afterburner won the Coastal Classic race numerous times and was hailed as the fastest sailboat in New Zealand.
In 2000 owner Alastair, unable to find the time to sail Afterburner as much as she deserved, placed Afterburner on the market for sale. I came across Afterburner on the internet, looking for a racing catamaran. It was a match made in New Zealand, except I live in Southern California.
John Hughes was hired in November 2000, to take Afterburner apart and prepare her for shipping from New Zealand. He later joined us in Ventura, California to direct the reassembly of the boat. Afterburner was shipped on a container ship. Two and a half weeks later she arrived in Long Beach, California, was trucked to Ventura, and assembled in the Ventura public launch ramp parking lot.
Racing ~ Afterburner's Major Race Record
It wasn't long before we had a crew to race with. Afterburner's first race was the Newport-Ensenada Race in 2001, where we broke the mast. It was fixed a few weeks later. We started doing 15-17 races a year.
We were back for the 2002 Newport-Ensenada Race and achieved our goal of finishing first overall. We repeated in 2003. In 2004, Afterburner was first to finish and won first overall corrected, our best performance.
We continued our race program only slowing down a bit in recent years. Many line honors and a few course records.
We were back for the 2002 Newport-Ensenada Race and achieved our goal of finishing first overall. We repeated in 2003. In 2004, Afterburner was first to finish and won first overall corrected, our best performance.
We continued our race program only slowing down a bit in recent years. Many line honors and a few course records.
Newport to Ensenada (128 miles, 200-500 boats)
2014 - DNF, main headboard failure
2013 – 2nd boat to finish, 1st overall corrected time (7:47:11, before dark)
2012 - 3rd boat to finish, 1st multihull (21:19:15)
2011 - line honors (17:08:53)
2010 - 2nd to finish, 1st overall corrected time (11:17:20)
2009 - DNF, bowsprit failure and side stay detached
2008 - 7th boat to finish (18:56:17) (in first place at sunset, before the wind died)
2007 - DNF, main halyard failure
2006 - 7th boat to finish (23:12:11) (another drifter)
2005 - 11th boat to finish (18:43:31) (tough race!)
2004 - line honors, 1st overall corrected time (9:56:56)
2003 - line honors (9:40:21)
2002 - line honors (10:57:27)
2001 - DNF (Did Not Finish), broke mast
Hardway (67 miles, 30-40 boats)
2014 – line honors (Anacapa 4:41:38)
2013 – didn’t race
2012 - line honors (Anacapa 6:04:35)
2011 - line honors and new course record (Anacapa 3:25:56)
2010 - line honors and new course record (Anacapa 3:37:46)
2009 - line honors (Anacapa, 7:29:57)
2008 - line honors and new course record (Anacapa 4:09:29)
2007 - line honors (Anacapa 7:47:38)
2006 - line honors (Anacapa 8:46:40)
2005 - line honors (Anacapa 5:26:06)
2004 - DNF, mainsail lock failure
2003 - line honors (Santa Cruz)
2002 - 2nd to finish (Anacapa)
Milt Ingram (42 miles, 70-175 boats)
2014 – line honors (4:39:04)
2013 – line honors (4:43:31)
2012 - line honors (5:50:52)
2011 - line honors (4:14:04)
2010 - line honors and new course record (3:56:12)
2009 - DNS (Did Not Start), main halyard failure pre-start
2008 - line honors (6:47:03)
2007 - line honors and new course record (4:06:06)
2006 - line honors (4:38:15)
2005 - line honors (7:02:24)
2004 - line honors (4:46:34)
2003 - line honors
2002 - line honors
2001 - line honors and new course record (4:15:xx)
Santa Barbara to King Harbor (82 miles, 100-200 boats)
2014 – 4th to finish, slow race again (11:51:10)
2013 – 2nd to finish, behind MOD70 (6:23:32)
2012 - DNF, bob stay link plate failure
2011 - line honors (6:25:41)
2010 - 4th to finish, very slow race. (11:51:17)
2009 - line honors and new course record (5:37:19)
2008 - line honors (8:25:36)
2007 - line honors (7:45:51)
2006 - 4th to finish (14:42:45)
2005 - line honors (10:23:26)
2004 - line honors (8:09:55)
2003 - line honors and new course record (5:47:05)
2002 - line honors and new course record (6:41:05)
2001 - line honors
Tri-Point (32 miles, 30-40 boats)
2014 – line honors and new course record (2:24:24)
2013 – DNF, forward compression beam failure
2012 - line honors (3:47:32)
2011 - line honors (2:30:25)
2010 - line honors (2:29:16)
2009 - line honors (6:58:33)
2008 - line honors (3:38:29)
2007 - line honors (2:39:09)
2006 - line honors (2:47:53)
2005 - line honors (3:00:59)
2004 - line honors (5:55:29)
2003 - line honors (2:24:46)
2002 - line honors and new course record (2:24:40)
2001 - 2nd to finish
Wes Goleman (36 miles, 30-40 boats)
2013 – line honors
2012 - line honors (3:33:07)
2011 - line honors (3:43:36)
2010 - DNF, very light wind day
2009 - line honors
2008 - line honors (2:57:20)
2007 - line honors (4:42:07)
2006 - line honors and new course record (2:31:45)
2005 - line honors (3:03:08)
2004 - line honors and new course record (2:37:36)
* “Line Honors: fastest elapsed time in a race"
2014 - DNF, main headboard failure
2013 – 2nd boat to finish, 1st overall corrected time (7:47:11, before dark)
2012 - 3rd boat to finish, 1st multihull (21:19:15)
2011 - line honors (17:08:53)
2010 - 2nd to finish, 1st overall corrected time (11:17:20)
2009 - DNF, bowsprit failure and side stay detached
2008 - 7th boat to finish (18:56:17) (in first place at sunset, before the wind died)
2007 - DNF, main halyard failure
2006 - 7th boat to finish (23:12:11) (another drifter)
2005 - 11th boat to finish (18:43:31) (tough race!)
2004 - line honors, 1st overall corrected time (9:56:56)
2003 - line honors (9:40:21)
2002 - line honors (10:57:27)
2001 - DNF (Did Not Finish), broke mast
Hardway (67 miles, 30-40 boats)
2014 – line honors (Anacapa 4:41:38)
2013 – didn’t race
2012 - line honors (Anacapa 6:04:35)
2011 - line honors and new course record (Anacapa 3:25:56)
2010 - line honors and new course record (Anacapa 3:37:46)
2009 - line honors (Anacapa, 7:29:57)
2008 - line honors and new course record (Anacapa 4:09:29)
2007 - line honors (Anacapa 7:47:38)
2006 - line honors (Anacapa 8:46:40)
2005 - line honors (Anacapa 5:26:06)
2004 - DNF, mainsail lock failure
2003 - line honors (Santa Cruz)
2002 - 2nd to finish (Anacapa)
Milt Ingram (42 miles, 70-175 boats)
2014 – line honors (4:39:04)
2013 – line honors (4:43:31)
2012 - line honors (5:50:52)
2011 - line honors (4:14:04)
2010 - line honors and new course record (3:56:12)
2009 - DNS (Did Not Start), main halyard failure pre-start
2008 - line honors (6:47:03)
2007 - line honors and new course record (4:06:06)
2006 - line honors (4:38:15)
2005 - line honors (7:02:24)
2004 - line honors (4:46:34)
2003 - line honors
2002 - line honors
2001 - line honors and new course record (4:15:xx)
Santa Barbara to King Harbor (82 miles, 100-200 boats)
2014 – 4th to finish, slow race again (11:51:10)
2013 – 2nd to finish, behind MOD70 (6:23:32)
2012 - DNF, bob stay link plate failure
2011 - line honors (6:25:41)
2010 - 4th to finish, very slow race. (11:51:17)
2009 - line honors and new course record (5:37:19)
2008 - line honors (8:25:36)
2007 - line honors (7:45:51)
2006 - 4th to finish (14:42:45)
2005 - line honors (10:23:26)
2004 - line honors (8:09:55)
2003 - line honors and new course record (5:47:05)
2002 - line honors and new course record (6:41:05)
2001 - line honors
Tri-Point (32 miles, 30-40 boats)
2014 – line honors and new course record (2:24:24)
2013 – DNF, forward compression beam failure
2012 - line honors (3:47:32)
2011 - line honors (2:30:25)
2010 - line honors (2:29:16)
2009 - line honors (6:58:33)
2008 - line honors (3:38:29)
2007 - line honors (2:39:09)
2006 - line honors (2:47:53)
2005 - line honors (3:00:59)
2004 - line honors (5:55:29)
2003 - line honors (2:24:46)
2002 - line honors and new course record (2:24:40)
2001 - 2nd to finish
Wes Goleman (36 miles, 30-40 boats)
2013 – line honors
2012 - line honors (3:33:07)
2011 - line honors (3:43:36)
2010 - DNF, very light wind day
2009 - line honors
2008 - line honors (2:57:20)
2007 - line honors (4:42:07)
2006 - line honors and new course record (2:31:45)
2005 - line honors (3:03:08)
2004 - line honors and new course record (2:37:36)
* “Line Honors: fastest elapsed time in a race"
Videos
Check out some video, select HD if you can. These are shown at real time, not sped up. Or google “Afterburner Catamaran” (but there is at least one other cat of the same name). Or Afterburner Bill Gibbs, or Afterburner William Gibbs.
YouTube 1
YouTube 2 (music is not my fault)
The Caregiver’s Race is very short laps in traffic for charity, no time to sheet in fully.
YouTube 3
YouTube 4
YouTube 1
YouTube 2 (music is not my fault)
The Caregiver’s Race is very short laps in traffic for charity, no time to sheet in fully.
YouTube 3
YouTube 4