Innovative Foiling with no constraints
Quite simply, we aim to create the fastest beach launched catamarans, across all conditions and at all points of sailing.
Project Timeline
How it Works
Outboard Foil System – Righting moment increases as boat lifts out of water
Canted T-Foils – Optimised to produce zero leeway for hydrodynamic efficiency
Active Flight Control – A bow mounted moth style wand system for stable flight
3 Point Flight – Much less drag by having the windard foil raised clear
Gulwing Deployment – Foils are raised for high performance in light winds
Straight Boards – Slide them in for lighter airs, shallow waters and for recovering boat
Blog
America’s Cup AC75 – Insights from a Vampire
By William Sunnucks “The AC75s are super impressive and challenging to sail. But a catamaran platform would be oh so much more practical” In 2017 the Vampire… Read more “America’s Cup AC75 – Insights from a Vampire”
RTI 2019 – How Fast Is A Vampire?
The annual Round the Isle of Wight race provides an opportunity to find out.
2019 Vampire Developments and Progress
It’s been a while since you have really heard from us other than through facebook and this post will be fairly brief too, some British weather has… Read more “2019 Vampire Developments and Progress”
Sailor Testimonials
I did a couple of weeks with the team in Spain, the boats are super cool, a different concept to the flying phantom, GC32 etc. The T-foils are more like the next Americas Cup set up which makes the boat very stable, generates more righting moment and allows you to push that bit harder around the course.
It’s a really fun project and I’m looking forward to doing more on it in 2019!
William gave the tiller a pull and off we went! After mere seconds we were seeing upwind speeds in the mid-high teens and I was do my best to adapt and respond to requests for more and less righting moment.
I’ve sailed a couple of other foiling catamaran platforms, but nothing comes close to the raw power and speed of the Vampire.
Team Vampire
William Sunnucks
William has been sailing and racing Catamarans internationally for 4 decades, in that time has become one of the most accomplished corinthian multihull sailors worldwide.
The Vampire Project was his brainchild and is described by him as a financially unsound investment that returns a lot of fun.
Kyle Stoneham
A long term multihull sailor and now foiling moth convert, Kyle has been able to bring added refinement to The Vampire Project.
Kyle’s focus has been on technical tuning, sailing technique and future development.
Graham Eeles
Graham is the boat builder and skiff sailor who made the Vampire work.
Based at Brightlingsea he is the fundamental link between the sailing and engineering side of the Project.
Mark Self
Mark has been sailing on and off with William for a very long time, he is the sort of guy you want around when it gets a bit lairy!
Mark’s profession is sail making and his Advantage Sails power the Vampire to ridiculous speeds in all conditions.
Kevin Ellway
Kevin specialises in design and analysis of high performance sail boats, his most notable project is the Exocet Moth which has dominated for a number of years.
The Vampire Project is based on millions of calculations using Kevin’s VPP system which finds the best solutions without the need to get wet!
John Downey
Recently retired, airline pilot John now lives in Cartagena region of Spain, he has become a vital part of the Vampire winter training programme.
John has an array of Catamaran experience including the GBR Tornado squad in the 80s, read about his current A+ wing sail project.
Event Calendar
2020 was a barren year for most sailing classes not least the Vampire. Boat 1 had some rudder gantry mods and a new mainsail with a few shakedown sails when allowed: unfortunately boat 2 didn’t touch the water. We plan to change that in 2021 if covid restrictions allow.
Here are the events The Vampire Project is looking to attend in 2021, lockdowns permitting.
Whitstable Forts race – WYC, UK
Solent Forts – Hayling Ferry SC, UK
Ronde Texel – Texel, Netherlands
Round the Island – Isle of Wight, UK
Piers Race – Marconi SC, UK
Weymouth Speed Week – WPNSA, UK
Ronde om Tiengemeten – Hellecat, Netherlands
Class Rules
“The Vampire rule is intended to give the designer and builder the fullest liberty to innovate, to develop faster and more sailable boats.
We welcome participation and input from innovative sailors anywhere in the world. If they build something slower we will help them. If they build something faster we will copy them.”
William Sunnucks.
The Vampire Rule
The Vampire Project 