Visit to Spirit xl (custom Chris White Hammerhead 54 trimaran design)

 I was fortunate enough today to be invited onboard Spirit XL.  She is of the Hammerhead 54 design drawn by Chris White.  First impressions are of a very solid and well constructed platform.  Float hulls are composite Balsa core e/glass, main hull very solidly constructed of Western Red Cedar strip plank composite.  Beams are carbon composite and terminate in the main hull with a very sturdy double bulkhead arrangement.  Chainplates are mostly carbon composite and very nicely executed.  She has a swinging centreboard and can go shoal draft as the rudder can also swing up and the hull rocker keeps the shaft drive diesel clear if a full dry out is required. A bow thruster helps with close quarters maneuverability.

Rig is a 19 metre allyacht spars fixed aluminium section with considerable prebend.  The boom is of a park avenue type and I was impressed with how nice and flush the mainsail flaked against the boom.  The

standard of bracketry and construction of the boom is very high it also has an open weave fabric underneath to make sure that any water that gets in can drain which is a really nice touch.  Sails and boom bag by Ullman Sails and they look top notch quality.  Foresails are all on furlers, it all looks very sensible and user friendly for short-handed operation.  All lines are lead back to the cockpit with top notch Antal hardware.  Karver jammers lock off the lines, Harken winches with one electric and one standard winch per side.  There is no traveller but the boom is held by a permanently rigged preventer on port and starboard. The engine room is cavernous with easy access to the Yanmar diesel/gearbox and shaft drive.  The rudder is separated from the aft cabin by a bulkhead and the rudder itself operated by a very solid quadrant and dyneema lines, steering is light and very direct. 

The internal space argument can go round in circles till the cows come home but there is plenty of space for a family or two couples which realistically is what most cruising boats have onboard with room for plenty of guests around the Saloon table when it's time for sundowners.  The hull flare equates to plenty of sole space.  Something I think trimarans can do very nicely in this size is a really generous galley with an expanse of bench top and plenty of storage and refrigerated space underneath.  On Spirit they have the option of gas cooking or electric and the solar seems to be totally adequate of fulfilling electrical requirements for self sufficiency.  Motoring range from the Yanmar diesel would be approximately 1000nm at cruise speed with the installed tankage.  There is a watermaker under the Saloon floor and the filters are in the engine bay for easy access and servicing. 

The chain locker and anchor winch is now aft of the front headspace and has access for easy flaking of the chain and to the anchor winch itself smart and serviceable.  There are two generous front single fore and aft berths that look very comfortable with capacious lockers underneath.  Moving aft the Saloon has a generous galley on starboard and Saloon table on the port side and seating aft of the Saloon table a comprehensive nav station and chart table.  The cockpit is now mostly enclosed with a very nice hard roof and clears, seating on starboard and a nice little daybed on port.  Aft of the cockpit is the aft cabin which is deep, airy and spacious with a commodious double berth and headspace and shower.  

The floats are big and can accommodate lightweight but bulky items (good spot to stick extra fenders/lines etc.  I'm not sure about buoyancy percentages but they are big, would have to be 200% or more.  

She is a big boat but sensible and quality gear makes it all manageable.  I found myself looking out from the cockpit and could easily think about what ocean to cross next it has that confidence inspiring feel of a well sorted boat.

Jason has a big focus on keeping things simple, seamanlike and safe and this philosophy is reflected throughout Spirit xl another example is how the dinghy is slung above the starboard tramp.  Suspending the dinghy in a multipoint sling prevents wear on the dinghy and the tramp.  I followed up my visit onboard with a pleasant sail from Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour to the RPAYC in Pittwater.  On the sail this amazing boat continued to impress with her easy motion and light wind performance.

To follow more of Trimaran Spirit xl's adventures they have a YouTube channel on which they post regularly, well worth a look.  Trimaran Spirit xl