There are many considerations when designing and building a best-in-class Bluewater cruising catamaran. Thousands of hours are spent reviewing every small detail, to ensure that the resulting design will withstand the scrutiny of the educated sailor while keeping the crew safe and secure.
Sound design principles are timeless. While taking advantage of innovations, the Antares design team established certain target characteristics to maintain the Antares as the world’s best liveaboard.
The hull has a narrow waterline beam to maximize performance. The sections aft are designed to support the full aft cabin configuration with buttock lines that run out at a milder angle. This produces a faster, better-supported hull. The resultant slight submergence of the very narrow transoms is not a significant drag factor, especially as the water leaves cleanly at moderate speeds. The stem has been given only a mild rake angle to maximize waterline length and useful interior space within the length parameter.
From a fine entry at the waterline, the bows are mildly flared upward to provide wider drier deck areas forward. The keel and rudder are designed using N.A.C.A. sections selected for their stall and drag characteristics. The chosen draft gives a good balance of windward ability with the freedom
The accommodations of the Antares were largely set by three desirables:
By keeping the hull floors within 30 inches of the bridge deck height, we were able to maintain a feeling of airiness in the hulls as well as providing an integrated and open layout arrangement.
The opportunities for light and air in this vessel have been given full rein. There is a view forward from the dining table, while those in the aft cabins have a view aft from their beds.
It has been remarked that most sailors live primarily on a boat, rather than in a boat, so considerable energy was devoted to the Antares catamaran’s upper works. As with the earlier boats, Antares cockpit has a hard bimini that mounts the main traveler and 4 solar panels (enough to supply a large portion of the vessel’s electrical requirements) and this is fitted for various canvas configurations up to a full enclosure. The cockpit seats flank a removable 6-place dining table. Access to the boat is through a sliding, tempered-glass door. The cockpit sole continues at one level to the aft deck; steps descend the transoms to an oversize step for swimming and dinghy boarding.
We have watched as advances in electronics enabled Antares owners to transfer navigational functions to the helm. Accordingly, the Antares catamaran helm area was shaped to accommodate a range of electronic navigational devices. A double-width seat, requested by many, is included. Running rigging is led from the mast, under the bridge deck, and back up to winch pedestals at the helm (self-tacking jib and main sheets) and on the aft deck (halyards). The pedestals can mount electric winches if desired. This layout is very convenient to access, and clears the deck of lines, increasing safety for those on deck. Genoa sheet winches can be fitted on the aft cabin tops. A large volume of stowage is provided under the cockpit and the aft deck for bicycles, outboard motors, and a life raft.
We are pleased with the way the vessel has taken shape and we sense a unique character that we know will provide great satisfaction to its designers, builders, and most especially, to the owners.
