Multihull Mania

[Stiletto]

Some extreme multihull action.http://www.volvoextreme40.org/mediax.asp?streamPath=/vid/GPPort_day2_400.wmv&MediID=1088&MovRes=1&mReMediID=1088&MovRes=

It gets very interesting about halfway through.
These things are quick!

[Lucky Luke]

...and that shows one major problem with these also called "open" designs: overall length is limited, everything else is free?: OK, let's do boats that are just too short!

[Uncle Duke]

Great video - thanks! I got a ride as a "non-participant" on a Formula-40 trimaran some years ago and I think it took some years off my life. The acceleration in puffs/gusts is the equal of a very nice sports car, at least.

Lucky Like notes:
overall length is limited, everything else is free

Just to be slightly nerdly, I think that's not quite accurate. There are some fairly strict limits on the design (beam limited to 23 feet, mast height to 62 feet, sail area limited, displacement has minimum, etc.)
There are actually almost a "one-design", with the further limitations that they must be able to be dis-assembled and packed into a standard shipping container of a fixed size.
You are quite correct, though, that building in ultimate safety is NOT one of the class rules.