Corsair

It is hardly surprising that such irresistibly versatile craft as the Corsair folding trimarans have become so widely popular. Well over a thousand have been built at the factory in California, then raced or cruised in every variety of waters. Corsairs are light, powerful and thrilling to sail, accelerating rapidly to high speeds in any wind. Yet they are equipped with comfortable accommodation which increases with sophistication depending on the size of boat. The Corsair 24 has basic but fully adequate overnight facilities for up to four people, whereas the Corsair 36 is fitted out for bluewater cruising for up to 6.

The other dimension to the Corsair range is that they are foldable and trailerable. This means that the floats that enable to boats to carry sail yet keep fast and light can be retracted on motoring into a marina. Thus a wide and stable sailing boat can slip into a narrow berth. Furthermore, the floats fold in so neatly that the boat is narrow enough to tow on the road. A practiced couple can get from trailer to water, or the reverse, in around 30 minutes.

A boat that is a capable offshore (or better) racer; that can be readily towed to water; that floats in less than 50cm; and that you can live in; sets a formidably challenging standard in versatility. The long-standing and continuing success of the Corsair range is that it does all these various things so admirably. The original design of the first Corsair by Ian Farrier was brilliantly inventive, and came to fruition through engineering excellence, dogged testing as well as the use of the best available construction materials and techniques. The concept has been proven and refined over two decades and extended to larger and larger boats.

May 1985

Prototype Corsair F-27 SUPER FOX launched

July 1985

SUPER FOX sets a new record in the Two Man Around Catalina Race, overhauling the entire monohull fleet in 20-25 knot wind conditions

June 1986

SUPER FOX wins the Two Man Around Catalina Race in very light winds

June 1987

Corsair F-27 SUPER FROG sails in the Trans Pac Race from Long Beach to Hawaii, averaging 8 knots and recording one 259-mile day

July 1988

The Corsair F-27 OLIJFE crosses the Atlantic in 23 days

April 1989

The Corsair F-27 CORSAIR is the first production trimaran to win the multihull division of the Newport Ensenada Race

June 1989

Corsair F-27 wins its clas in the Plymouth Multihull Grand Prix in England

April 1990

The Corsair F-27 AQUA TEC wins the Australian Multihull Offshore Championships

July 1990

Two Corsair F-27s cross the Pacific to Hawaii, one single-handed, one double-handed

July 1992

Corsair F-31 judged Australian Sailboat of the Year

September 1994

Corsair 24 Mk II MASTER BLASTER wins the Australian Trailerable Multihull Championships

February 1996

Corsair 24 Mk II wins SAILING WORLD's Boat of the Year award for performance multihulls

July 1997

The 453rd and final Corsair F-27 is delivered, ending an 11-year production run

February 1998

Corsair 28 wins SAILING WORLD's Boat of the Year award for performance multihulls