Sonar (keelboat)

The Sonar is a 7 m (23 ft) one-design keelboat for three to five people.

The boat is 7 m long. It has a width of 2.4 m and 1.2 m depth. It weighs 950 kg, of which 408 kg ballast, with a sail area of 23.2 m² 22.8 m² plus a spinnaker. It is hochgetakelt, with a mainsail and a jib and spinnaker. The sonar is normally sailed by four people.

History

The sonar was designed in 1979 by Bruce Kirby, the designer of the laser. Since then, more than 700 boats were built. The largest fleet is found in the U.S., smaller in the UK and Canada. The introduction of sonar as a Paralympic boat class has greatly contributed to its worldwide distribution.

The sonar was admitted in 2004 American Sailboat Hall of Fame.

It all started that was to be found in Bruce Kirby Sailing Club, the Noroton Yacht Club, Darien, CT USA, no boat class to be again more members participate in regattas. Several boat classes were examined. However, they were either too expensive to sail too slow or too demanding. Therefore Kirby was asked, but to develop a new class of boat.

It should be fun, so take part in a regatta, be easy to use by sailors of all ages, strengths and knowledge, it should be suitable as a Day Sailor, be spacious and comfortable to spend all day in it. It should be easy to carry and to be put into the water. There should thus be easily possible to provide newcomers sailing. To this end, the class rules should be simple.

The result was the sonar.

Results of the Paralympic Games and World Championships

The Sonar is a Paralympic class since 2000. Disabled from the boat is sailed by three people and without spinnakers. Instead, it is run at downwind courses with mainsail and jib butterfly. The sonar is very suitable for the disabled, because it has a huge cockpit, through which manifold adjustments are possible.

Paralympic Games

Results of the Paralympic Games 2000

Results of the Paralympic Games 2004

Results of the 2008 Paralympic Games

Date: September 13, 2008, 13:30 Clock

The placement corresponded to the score that got the sailors for a race. The two worst finishes were removed, the remaining added so that the final value was created.

World Championships

Open

The 2007 World Championship in Marblehead, USA

Disabled

The 2007 World Championship in Rochester, United States

Quote

"The sonar june well be the best boat I've ever designed. " - Bruce Kirby -