BOAT REVIEWS
Triple Play – The Windrider 16 Trimaran By Rebecca Burg
“W
eird boat – weird boat! You have a weeeeeeerd boat!” The boisterous teenagers shouted and laughed as their fishing boat veered towards me. I shyly waved. The kids nodded then sped away, leaving Troika and I bobbing in a choppy wake. Mainsail luffing, I hardened her up and rode the wind home. Troika, a 16-foot WindRider, always seemed to pique people’s interest and curiosity. When trailering Troika, I’ve had people ask me if she was a small airplane, and someone even thought she was a submarine. Designed by Jim Brown, the WindRider 16 is one of a family of small trailerable sailing trimarans produced by the Wilderness Systems Company. Available through dealers, you can find the nearest salesperson in your area at boat shows or on the Internet (www.windride.com). The Web also supports a number of WR groups where you can learn detailed information and ask questions. Money-saving deals can also be found. Last year, a used WR 16 was sold on Ebay, an online auction site. Used
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September 2003
Southwinds
trimarans are also available through small boat dealers and in classified ads in sailing publications. Don’t let the WR 16’s lean, mean looks fool you. She may resemble something from a James Bond flick, but this wild little tri’ is extremely stable, rugged and great with kids. She’s also sporty, intense and an irrefutable wind-loving raging maniac. WINDRIDER 16 TRIMARAN SPECS: Length: 16’7" Beam: Draft: 16"(fixed keel) Sail Area : Inloaded Weight: 250 lbs.
12' 82 sq.ft.
The cat rig (one main, no jib) is unstayed, the aluminum mast freestanding. The sail is roller-reefed onto the mast, which is rotated by hand. Hulls are molded out of polyethylene, which works well for small boats and kayaks. The material is slippery and nonskid and is thoughtfully molded into the WR’s top sur-
www.southwindssailing.com