Overview
About this vessel
If you like to sail fast without working hard; if you like to sail without waiting for a crew to show up; if you prefer to avoid "white-knuckle" stressful sailing; if you don't want to worry about shrouds, stays, rigging; if you think simple is safe; if you don't want to duck the boom; if you don't want to spend $400K+ on a new one, then this is the boat for you!!! Well maintained and cared-for.
How the Wyliecat Rig Works
The only rigging needed to adjust the draft in the sail on a Wyliecat is the "choker" system. This is the rigging system that pulls the wishbone back. When the wishbone is pulled back, the sail is stretched aft and flattened. The carbon mast is also bent back by the choker, which further de-powers and flattens the sail. At the same time the wishbone maintains proper leach control. The amount of sail adjustability with the Wyliecat rig is truly astonishing, and impossible with any other type of rig. It is possible to go from a very deep and powerful low-speed airfoil in light air, to a very flat de-powered blade in heavy air. The carbon fiber mast and wishbone combination make it happen quickly and easily by pulling on only one string, the choker line. The Wyliecat rig is so advanced, it's simple!
Manufacturer's Description
The Wyliecat 48 was designed to be a true bluewater yacht, able to travel the oceans of the world quickly and efficiently and without complication. And because of its easily-handled sail plan, it is also a joy on shorter outings, whether racing in regattas or simply daysailing. The Wyliecat 48 can easily be handled in all conditions with a crew of only 2 or 3, or even safely single-handed. Try that with a conventional performance sailboat of this size.
Unlike other yachts of this size, the Wyliecat 48 maximizes the fun and minimizes the labor involved in sailing. Setting up the boat for a sail takes only minutes. There is no headsail to deal with, no jib sheets to deal with. Putting away the boat once back at the dock is also quick and easy. Just release the halyard and the lazy-jacks catch the sail, neatly self-flaking it.
And once underway the Wyliecat rewards you with outstanding performance. The easily driven hull and long waterline allow the Wyliecat 48 to achieve up to 250 mile per day passages.
The Wyliecat 48's low center of gravity, with a deep lead bulb keel, and a lightweight carbon rig (100% carbon mast and boom) provides excellent stability. This means you can carry more sail area with less heeling.
Sailing World Article
Tom Wylie is one of the real individuals in the world of yacht design. As far back as I can remember, back to the Animal Farm days, Tom has always done it his own way and Tom's own way has always been a good way.
No, Tom is not a fastidious draftsman. But Tom is a very good designer. It's easy to get the notion, looking at Tom's hurried drafting, that the end product for Tom is not the design but the boat. This biggest of the Wyliecat series is built by Wyliecat on a hull built by Westerly Marine. I've seen this boat, and I like it.
Tom knows how to draw a fast boat. This sparse 48-footer is slender and light. The hull is beautifully fair and without surprises. The sheer is not quite flat. Bow overhang, while not faddishly plumb, is very sensible and not at all slow. The keel is a welded steel fin with a bolted-on lead bulb.
The interior is simple. There are two quarter berths that are on the narrow side for legitimate doubles but wonderfully roomy for singles. The galley is skimpy but adequate. The head is a head. The wraparound settees have narrow pilot berths outboard. There is a wide double berth forward of the settees. This big double is divided by the mast near the foot. There are far more berths in this layout than there are places for people to sit while eating.
I watched this boat sail up and down the Oakland estuary for three days during the last Sail Expo show. I was very impressed. It's the ultimate singlehander. I kept thinking, "That's the boat for me."
This is a very good-looking boat that handles like a big dinghy. I know this cockpit can easily hold a crowd. It's a long cockpit with plenty of room for passengers to sit comfortably out of the way of sail handling.
Sail handling: This big cat boat has a halyard and a mainsheet. That's it. Okay, there's an outhaul, choker and boom lift, but once up you can leave these lines alone. There is no vang. There is no traveler. This is the epitome in self-tacking rigs.
Years ago I asked Lowell North what he thought the fastest rig was, and he said "a giant Laser rig." Even on San Francisco Bay there has been no need to reef the big cat, as the carbon-fiber mast falls off as the wind builds, easing pressure up top. The 48 can beat a Santa Cruz 50 upwind in 25 knots. This boat moves and is very close winded.
I'm sure there are drawbacks to this rig, but I don't know what they are. Maybe downwind in light air you'd feel the lack of a chute. Perhaps you'd like to keep your crew busier with more strings to pull. If going the fastest for the leastest amount of effort is the key then we have to carefully consider this approach.
I've seen this sail come down, and it comes down fast and falls neatly, self flaking into the web between the carbon fiber wishbone legs. You do not need sail ties.
If Tom is right with this boat, the rest of us should consider jumping on the Wylie wagon.
