I’ve been following some of this year’s WaterTribe race around Florida in small boats. It looks like one of the racers used the Raptor Proa pictured in this YouTube video.
However, that racer dropped out. I gather that he crashed his amazing self-built tri before the race in some fashion. Then he got this proa as a replacement. He just didn’t have enough time to work out the kinks. I don’t think he’d ever used one before starting the race! He lasted a day before the rudder pedals glitched on him in some fashion.
Still, this boat looks amazing. I really like the versatility and LIGHT WEIGHT. –85 lbs for the whole boat, it looks like.
However, it seems as though no proa has finished a WaterTribe race. The organizer has big reservations about them—I suppose they’re simply weak when the wind comes over the wrong side? I dunno—but he let at least one start this year. It was captained by a very expert, world-class paddler and waterman. But it being his first time in the boat…oh well… I’d try one!
It really is amazing. It’s a little production boat that even comes with FOILS. They are designed to do 3 things, I think: increase speed, improve windward traction and help prevent tip-overs. Cool!
Here’s a YouTube vid: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I_7uDYg0QQ
