Returning after 2 years of now shows due to Covid 19, the 2022 Sydney International Boat Show has brought the new breath to the boating community. Boating enthusiasts gathered for a weekend at ICC Sydney & Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour for a fantastic display of all things boating. Inspiring lifestyle and luxury products, educational seminars, and endless entertainment were all well-organized and throughout the show. Following weeks of uncharacteristically cold Sydney weather, a break in the clouds finally came through, and the show came to life…

This year, Sydney also welcomed the debut of the new Corsair 880 Sport at the show. With 22 880s launched and sailing all over the globe, it was a joy to finally see an 880 in Australian waters. Thanks to the hard work of Australian Corsair dealer, Multihull Central, the delivery and commissioning of the Corsair 880 with the boat being assembled following container freight delivery from the factory in Vietnam, arriving just days before the show.

Corsair 880 – Official Australian Debut at the 2022 Sydney International Boat Show

The first three days at the show were the busiest for us. The Corsair 880 Sport, being the first on display in Australia, turned many heads and captured the attention of many people walking by the marina. It was not unexpected to see a long waiting line at the dock, as the folding mechanism, an outstanding feature of all Corsair models, is surely an interesting concept to many. Curious spectators were astonished and many questions were raised – can the float be folded, can this boat be trailered, can this compact trimaran accommodate a family of four, etc. Yes, yes, and yes. This trailerable, compact cruising trimaran is perfectly suitable for racing and family cruising as it is lightweight, can sleep five, and folded in under 40 minutes!

Corsair Trimarans Folding Mechanism Explained

It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t! Visitors had the chance to get onboard and tour around the Corsair 880. People love to see the folding floats with their own eyes, experience the sturdy trampolines, testing the shrouds, scrutinizing the mast, and the feeling the cozy interior below. Some owners of the Farrier range (we are looking at around 10-20 years ago here!) also came just to see the new Corsair 880, F27’s legitimate heir to the trimaran revolution. And as a big fan and have been sailing tris, they always have a keen eye on the Corsair trimarans thanks to its pocket features that are convenient to take them everywhere they go. It’s always great to hear the feedback of current and previous trimarans who have experienced the F27 through the years. The shift in float volume and interiors space often being the talking point as the 880 has such a larger float than the older style of trimaran, allowing much more sail area to be carried, whilst also improving safety with the modern reverse bow.

“I have heard of these tris going around for years, but not many are seen in Australia. These boats are simply impressive with the size and its speed. And you can trailer it! It’s more than I could ever ask for!” – praised by many visitors at the show.

Close-ups of the Corsair 880. View more

Questions were expertly fielded onboard by Multihull Central Trimaran specialist, Michael Meehan. Michael himself owns and regularly sails on his Corsair 760 in local racing and is the go to man for all things Corsair in Australia.

Spectators were impressed by the Corsair 880’s powerful wings

READ MORE: Corsair 880 Trimaran COMPLETE TECHNICAL TOUR

The show ran until 7pm from 28 July to 1 August 2022. When the sun sets, the strong wind emerged and the flow of visitors slows down, we turned on the interior lights, snuggled up inside, and possibly even had the occasional end-of-day beer. To our surprise, this chilly weather didn’t stop determined corsair visitors to get onboard even at late hours….

Marina 147 on Day 2 and 3 were swamped with onlookers examining the boat from the dock and appreciating her beauty: the folding system, rotating mast, retractable daggerboard, the bowsprit, etc. All were impressed with how impressive she looks in the flesh. Michael just can’t get a break from all the inquiries and need his quick lunch while talking to people (yet he doesn’t mind that at all!). Michael’s enthusiasm is simply unmatched when it comes to this trimaran, and sailing in general.

“This is an exciting time for trimaran sailing,” says Brent Vaughan, Director at Multihull Central. “It’s been almost 40 years of trimaran innovation since Corsair’s F27 was inducted into the sailing Hall of Fame. Even back in 1986 the boat was recognised for being big enough to cruise with some essential comforts, light enough to be fast and generate its own apparent wind, yet small enough to trailer behind a regular 4WD. In 2022 we see these same features reimagined and much more.”

The team was also glad to welcome the boat’s owners, who flew all the way from Brisbane just to view their own boat in the flesh (it goes without saying that it’s nothing compared to seeing your baby for the first time!). They then flew back to Brisbane on the same day. No words can describe their overflowing enthusiasm for the boat.

Happy owners of the Corsair 880 Hull #23

Subscribers of Tula’s Endless Summer, the sailing couple who sailed the Corsair 880 along the US Coast and completed the Florida loop in 2021, instantly recognized this beauty at the show. Again, it’s nothing like actually seeing one in reality instead of through the glossy screens. Questions come again on how to fold this, how to trailer this, does the mast come down when you trailer it, what are the differences between this and the standard Corsair 880, etc. All the inquiries were handled by our trimaran expert Michael, who rarely even had time for lunch with a constant stream of eager visitors. All worthwhile however with 2 confirmed orders for new boats taken at the show. Congratulation and thank you to those new 880 owners, and welcome to the Corsair family!

READ MORE: 5 Reasons Why the Corsair 880 Won Cruising World’s Boat Of The Year 2021

Features and benefits of the Corsair 880 include:

• Comfort whether under sail or at anchor. The floats act as stabilisers providing a sense of incredible stability. Modest onboard accommodation offers all the essentials required for cruising including two double beds, a separate enclosed head, freshwater sinks, two burner gas stove, fridge, timber laminate veneer trim and upholstered lounges.
• Low draft for anchoring means no tender required. The 450mm draft allows for protected anchoring with the boat nudging the shoreline allowing guests one step from the vessel onto the sandy beach.
• Performance is without a doubt a key feature. The feeling of serenity is undeniable when you only need a few knots of wind to get the boat moving in flat conditions free of whitecaps. For a more spirited ride in fresher conditions, the boat can easily reach 15 knots off the breeze, outpoint monohulls into the wind all while remaining relatively level.
• Trailerability opens up endless possibilities for cruising. Allowing fast access by road to some exclusive destinations without the days or weeks travelling to the destination by sea.

Watch the show’s recap now:

Missed the chance to view the Corsair 880 at the show? No worries! Register for a test sail aboard our flagship Corsair 880 below and our team will get in touch with you shortly.

Corsair 880 – A brilliant toy for gliding across the water

Corsair 880, a modern and ambitious trimaran that has a reputation to uphold: it is the new variation of the mythical Corsair F27, one of the most popular cruising trimarans in the world. Highly anticipated in 2020, the 880’s original launch schedule was hampered by Covid. However, connoisseurs quickly understood that this little steed would not disappoint…

The Corsair 880 trimaran sailing at 10 – 15 knots in Follonica, Italy. Photo by Multihulls World

The Corsair 880 is without doubt the multihull that we’ve had the hardest time testing. Back in the spring of 2020, an appointment was made on Lake Garda to discover the first model delivered in Europe. Our plan seemed very attractive until Covid got involved. Discussions with the Seawind/Corsair team included options in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy again. And then nothing more. A long period of watching began in Australia and the United States thanks to our correspondents. The first 880 delivered in France at the beginning of the summer of 2021 just escaped us… but finally, the first Italian model – hull #16 in the series – welcomed us with open arms… – Emmanuel van Deth, Multihull World

Corsair 880 – Drive Out, Fold Out, Thrill Out, Chill Out

Effortless performance is not a myth; it’s the Corsair 880! The long-awaited new Corsair 880 brings new charisma to the 28ft folding trimaran concept and is coming to Australia this year.

In a time when performance catamarans are hitting their strides and being better understood as a logical choice for long range cruising, for not only experienced sailors but families wanting more efficiency out of their boat, the reality is that these larger cats are more at home offshore exploring Europe, the Caribbean or Pacific islands than sitting idle in a local marina or swing mooring in between journeys.

That’s where the Corsair 880 comes in as the perfect in-between boat, enabling fast transport to your preferred location, thrilling sailing to keep up your skills, yet a stable platform to chill… and when you are all done, compact economical storage.

The feeling is undeniable when you only need a few knots of wind to get the boat moving in flat conditions without whitecaps.

Since launched, boating enthusiast from all over the world are sitting on the bench, eager to get onboard this ultimate trailerable sports cruiser. Well, we have good news for you! The Corsair 880 Sport is coming to the 2022 Sydney International Boat Show this winter and ready to welcome her first visitors. If you live in Sydney or are around the area from 28th July – 1st August 2022, be sure to pay us a visit and see her in the flesh. Our team from Multihull Central will be there to walk you through how this 2021 Boat of the Year has lived up to its name. Registration and ticket entry are now opened. Be sure to book a visit with us or purchase tickets directly at the Sydney Boat Show 2022 Website:

READ MORE:

• Australian Debut of the Corsair 880 at the Sydney International Boat Show
• Corsair 880 Trimaran 2021 Review by SAIL Magazine
• 5 Reasons Why the Corsair 880 Won Cruising World’s Boat Of The Year 2021

CORSAIR 880 SPECIFICATIONS:

We are thrilled to announce that the Corsair 880 Sport, our flagship, is making her Australian Debut at the 2022 Sydney International Boat Show!

Corsair 880 out of Wareham Massachusetts

“This is an exciting time for trimaran sailing,” says Brent Vaughan, Director at Multihull Central. “It’s been almost 40 years of trimaran innovation since Corsair’s F27 was inducted into the sailing Hall of Fame. Even back in 1986 the boat was recognised for being big enough to cruise with some essential comforts, light enough to be fast and generate its own apparent wind, yet small enough to trailer behind a regular 4WD. In 2022 we see these same features reimagined and much more.”

The Corsair 880 has revolutionised traditional trimaran designs and offers a new way for performance sailors to also enjoy longer distance cruising with some of the creature comforts offered by the popular catamarans. If you live in Australia and eager to see her in the flesh. It’s time! The show runs from 28 July to 1 August 2022 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney and Cockle Bay within the iconic Darling Harbour. The 880 will be staged at Marina Space 53-56.

To skip the queue, book an appointment with us in advance by registering your details below:

​​​​​​The show runs from 10AM – 7PM daily at the world-renowned Darling Harbour. Our team from Multihull Central will further coordinate our private test sails. Check out our event page or get your tickets on Sydney Boat Show Website.​​​​​

We look forwards to seeing you there!

READ MORE:

• Corsair 880 Trimaran 2021 Review by SAIL Magazine
• Corsair 880 To Be 2021 Best Sport Boat Of The Year By Cruising World
• 5 Reasons Why the Corsair 880 Won Cruising World’s Boat Of The Year 2021

The three-day race was a successful kick-start of 2022

The Corsair Regionals/Sarasota Bay Multihull Regatta 2022, hosted by Sarasota Sailing Squadron, happened on the Friday March 4^th – Sunday March 6^th. The easing of Covid restrictions allowed Irene McNeil to travel from Canada to participate as the PRO. She had her work cut out for her getting a true Windward/Leeward course for the 22 Multihull Sailboats on the main course over the three days. In true Florida Winter fashion, the weather was comfortable with temperatures in the high 60’s over night and in the low 80’s during the day. The winds ranged from light and shifting on Friday to gusting over 25 knots on Sunday. Several sailors traveled from the cold of Minnesota, with others towing boats from as far away as Texas to compete. With the Squadron eliminating the option of camping onsite, sailors stayed in Airbnb hotels, and local rentals with several sailors braving the high winds to stay onboard boats on the dock. All of the boats attending were trailerable! The largest multihulls were local Squadron boats. The oldest boat in attendance was a 35-year-old Corsair F-27 and we even had a group of Canadian sailors that traveled to Punta Gorda, Florida to purchase a Corsair 970. They then sailed overnight from Punta Gorda up to Sarasota arriving at the docks late on Thursday night to be able to compete in their newly purchased boat! Support from the volunteers at the Squadron, tending the bar, staffing the entrance gate, cleaning the grounds and manning the support boats for the race committee on two separate courses over the weekend. Charlie Ball again provided “ROSEATE” as the Committee boat. Tim Thurman provided the use of his boat for an independent Photography Boat on Saturday. Additional support for the event from Corsair Marine that provided shirts and hats delivered from Vietnam. Calvert Sails, Smyth Sails and Windcraft Multihulls provided additional food to feed the hungry sailors as they came off the water!

A total of 44 boats registered with most boats having two or three crews onboard. Sailing for the Main Course was separated into three divisions with a true one design class for the 5 Sprint-750 boats, 10 PHRF Low and 7 PHRF High. A fourth division was added on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate the 5 A-Class sailors that arrived for two days of racing. A separate course was provided for the 9 WETA boats that competed in two days of sailing on Saturday and Sunday.

Racing began on Friday morning with a wind delay that lasted for an hour. When the delay was lifted the wind was still light and shifting from the East to North to West. The PRO and the Race Committee support staff worked diligently with the shifting wind conditions to get a fair course set which resulted in completion of three great races for the day. On Saturday the A-Cat sailors joined the Main Course to create a fourth start. The WETA sailors competed on a second course setup North of the sandbar with a second set of Race Committee volunteers. Wind and weather on Saturday allowed for 4 races to be completed before everyone retired to the Squadron to participate in a Dinner and socializing on the Lanai of the Squadron.

Come Sunday, the wind had increased causing several of the smaller boats, A-Cats, WETA’s to retire. Some of the boats that sailed out to the starting line had taken reefs into the mainsails before the start. Many retired during the day with a total of four races completed on the main course. Racing was concluded early in the afternoon as the wind subsided. The Safety Boat assisted several boats getting back to the dock where boat handling skills were put to the test to dock the multihull boats in high wind! Volunteers on the dock helped to sort out the boats as they got tied back to the dock. Once all of the boats were secured on the dock, the wind eased to allow an easier time getting the boats packed back onto the trailers for the drive home.

A total of 11 races were scored for the regatta. In First Place for PHRF Low was Bill Johnsen on his Catamaran “Sunspot”. First Place for PHRF High was Tim Molony aboard his newly acquired Dragonfly “Stella”. First Place for the Sprint 750 fleet was Larry Gellar abord “Third Tri”.

Before leaving, the competitors attended two separate the Awards Ceremonies One was held under the Pavilion for the Main Fleets and the second held on the beach for the WETA and A-Cat sailors. The First, Second and Third place boat in each division was presented an award, a framed photograph of their boat taken during the racing! On the water Photography was provided all three days by Matthew Condon, a visiting photographer from the Discovery Channel, and two additional Squadron Volunteers one Saturday and one on Sunday.

And that’s another fun racing weekend in Florida! It brings us joy to see the Corsair trimaran owners get together to test their racing skills and socialize. Looking forwards to more!

On another course, the Corsair 37 “Honey Badger” proudly claimed third place at the 2022 Sint Maarten HEINEKEN Regatta. Official results posted here. What a boisterous week for Corsair and sailing community as a whole!

Photos credit to Island 92 and Derek Alldritt Photography

With Corsair owners all over the world, we are always ready participate in rallies and regattas for fun races. If you don’t want to miss out on the latest event updates. Be sure to check out our blog and follow the event calendar.

On that note, the Corsair Nationals 2022 is happing later in the year. Stay tuned!

I’ve often written in boat reviews over the years that pretty much any boat sails well in 15 knots of breeze (typically as a word of explanation as to why sail trials done in drifting conditions are as relevant as those done in a small gale). However, it recently occurred to me there is an exception to this rule, and that is aboard a performance trimaran like the Corsair 880.

– Adam Cort from SAIL Magazine

Despite the boat’s go-fast looks, complete with a drop-dead gorgeous tumblehome bow (flared to help keep the spray down underway), there’s standing headroom in the narrow but well-configured galley and saloon, and berth space for as many as five. Make no mistake, the Corsair is a legitimate pocket cruiser (it never ceases to amaze me the kinds of amenities that can be fit into a well-designed trimaran) albeit a pocket cruiser that gets you from one anchorage to the next in record time. Talk about a fun way to go gunkholing!

Corsair trimarans were featured on Coastal Lifestyle Magazine October – November 2021 Issue.

While we typically see monohull craft (sailboats with a single hull) gracefully cruising by on the Gulf, there is a newer generation of leisure and speed sailers flitting atop our crystal-clear waters. These are the multihull boats known as trimarans and catamarans. Trimarans boast a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls, while catamarans have two equal-sized hulls. Both are designed for cruising, relaxation, and excitement.

The Corsair trimaran series redefines sport sailing in comfort and style. Built for speed and stability, they can reach up to 30 mph and host up to 25 feet of open deck space. The nimble trimarans sail faster than catamarans, which are typically built more for comfort with spacious interior design and accommodations. But even with an average speed approaching 10 mph, catamarans will still outpace most monohulls. The amount of open deck space depends on the size of the catamaran.

by Jen Callan – Coastal Lifestyle Magazine

Disclaimer: This article was featured on Coastal Lifestyle Magazine October – November 2021 Issue. Click here to access the full magazine issue.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron

Author: Steve Marsh from The Finish Line

Thanks to the Sarasota Sailing Squadron for accepting the challenge of hosting a Regatta in spite of Covid. The hurdles to host a successful regatta are many and the Squadron met them with aplomb. Part swap meet, sailing clinic, jamboree, and camp cooking tournament, the SBMR never fails to deliver when it comes to mild weather, warm clear water, easy launch/docking, and shore side things to see and do.  While the social events were muted compared to years past (to the relief of barnyard animals and first responders everywhere.  But thanks for keeping the tazers charged anyway, Craig), the racing was just as intense, the venue just as scenic, and the sailors just as salty.

20 Corsair trimarans traveled from near and far to be part of this event.  As promised, the weather machine was set on “shuffle” and divvied out conditions from near calm to “should we reef?”.  Sarasota bay being protected on all sides makes sailing near the upper design limits somewhat predictable which helps expand your performance envelope. Seven races over three days kept sailors on their toes and the chiropractors in business for certain.

Typical of springtime pre-frontal passage in Florida, the first day dawned with a decent land breeze that was destined to quit right around first flag.  It was a lively 3 mile sail to the course from the dock with all the boats making their last adjustments.  Bad time to realize you left the beer cooler on the dock.  Fire that dude.

The race committee tried valiantly to run a race despite all the indications that this would be a drifter with large shifts and holes.  It was great light air sailing all the way to the giant hole at the top mark.  Hat Trick’s private breeze was not received well by the other sailors showing negative vmg.  Mercifully, the PRO announced the race abandoned as the breeze showed signs of backing 120 degrees.  Reaching to C-gate would have been an interesting twist.

A side note about the neat technology on the course this weekend.  The race committee used autonomous turning marks which kept station via GPS and other remote controlled wizardry, making minor adjustments to keep the course windward/leeward at all times.  Definitely nice to see a technical solution to assist mark boats in their challenge to keep the course and lines square.  Race Qs app is a crowd-source regatta tracker which has a lot of cool features.  Load it on your phone, set the start time, and the app does the rest while you’re sailing.  Replays later can be edited to add marks/starts, weather conditions, and group boats by fleet.  Displays can include VMG, SOG and a host of other data.

So, while motoring back to the committee boat to organize for race #2, the little “mark-bots” (think ) were busy scurrying across the bay to set the new course.

Races 2 and 3 were ideal with the seabreeze filling in to a moderate 10-12.  Races were tight, and little mistakes could add up big to those who were caught unawares.  A great first day to sort the boats out.

Saturday was forecast to be rainy and cold (high 60’s) but the PRO pushed on to get some races on the books in case Sunday turned into a blowout per the forecast.  The wind held for the most part in the 10-12 range, but the rain showed up and ended the day after 2 races.  Of course, after all the boats were tied up at the Squadron the clouds broke, the sun shone brightly, and the wind steadied at 14…  Second guessing never works

Sunday could be considered by many as “sporty”.  Clear and cool (upper 50’s to 70 by midday) with winds initially in the 18+ with gusts to 25 range.  Definitely nice to be sailing in protected water in conditions near your design windspeed envelope. If you’re going to build your sailhandling confidence, this is the time and place to do it.  No epic wipeouts or crashes, but there were some difficult spinnaker sets and drops in the conditions.  Races 2 and 3 were conducted in a bit more settled conditions with wind dropping to 10-12 with gusts in the mid-teens. Definitely tests your ability to shift gears to lighter conditions.

Overall, the Corsair course had high and low PHRF classes and the growing and incredible competitive did I mention growing 750 fleet.   In the 750 class, Hat Trick (first time on a race course with excellent prep by the FinishLine ) started with four bullets with Phil Styne brining his winning crew Todd Hudgins from the Nationals win in New England in 2008?  and highly experienced Corsair sailor Tom Reese to do battle with perennial  winner in the class Larry Geller.  Humility (Austin TX), Lucy Gene (Austin TX) and Tri Polar weren’t going to let either of those two hooligans get away with any slacking, and finish positions were traded often during the busy weekend.

The overall Corsair Nationals trophy went to Kathyrn Garlick on C 28r Evolution who sailed most of the last day with a torn main. Second overall was newcomer Alan Moore C 28r. Third was Larry Geller Sprint 750 beating out the 750 class winner Phil Styne with the overall time scoring system.

The overall Corsair Nationals trophy went to Kathyrn Garlick on C 28r Evolution who sailed most of the last day with a torn main.

Corsair National Regatta at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sarasota Florida

There were old timers (I have had some Corsair or another for 29 years) and one boat was literally picked up by its new owner the day before the regatta and stopped by on its way to its new home in Wisconsin to put on a good showing.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron as always was a great venue in-spite of missing the big dinner.

There was sponsorship by Corsair and The FinishLine. 

Special Thanks to Jim Bergoin, Billy Black and Mike Cantalana!

Read more:

The Corsair Nationals 2021 – a huge success for the Corsair Trimaran Community

Corsair 880 To Be 2021 Best Sport Boat Of The Year By Cruising World