Welcome to Velociraptor-Moth.com - the on line home of the Velociraptor TM International Moth... Updated 1900 28-04-08
Dave concentrating hard on the full production prototype test April 2nd 2008.
Up to date, latest information and news about the Velociraptor is in the blog - Updated on Monday 28th April 2008
For boat information, we suggest you start at the 'Design Process' page - Read where we started from, what we were aiming at, where we think we've got to and maybe a hint of where we're going! In the Technical Specification page, you'll find screen shots of the original CAD data, sketches of some of the features and the spec of the boat - weight, torque constant, etc etc...
If you've got as far as there, you might like to see who WE are! The design team has expanded from just the two of us that started the process to include top grade sub assembly manufacturers, a world class boat builder who with his team will assemble and finish the boats and a world class sail design team with multiple windsurfing and dinghy sailing National, European and World titles to their name.
So, if you are interested in the boat and want to know things like, how much does it cost - and what kit comes as standard - that stuff is in the prices page... and if you want to order upgrades, branded clothing or accessories, then feel free to order on-line in our secure shop! You can also use the shop to arrange a free test sail and maybe sign up to FOIL SKOOL... a whole day of foiling fun coming soon to a lake near you!!!
If you are already a Velociraptor TM owner, then you will know that you are already a member of...The V Team... V BLOG also covers results and tips from other 'raptor owners and we are happy for for it to be public as well as be a source of very current news - and whatever else we think you might want to know, whether you own a Velociraptor or not!
So... What is a Velociraptor Moth - and how is different to all the others???
The modern International Moth is a brilliant sailboat. Part aeroplane, part sailing dinghy and part racing car! It won't come as a surprise to learn that when we started the design of the Velociraptor TM, we had to accept that the designs that have evolved over the last 3 or 4 years are very good, and to beat them we'd have to work very very hard.
Before we put pen to paper though, we decided on a few key principles about the boat - it's ethics if you like. So, in no particular order:
- Although every Velociraptor will be built to an automotive style '6Sigma' Quality Assurance plan and come out within a few grammes of being identical (apart from colour and graphics options) the boat is a MOTH first and not a new one design which happens to fit the Moth rule - the point being that we actively encourage development of the Velociraptor by it's owners and will be developing our own boats... It will be an awesome boat straight out of the box, but the class is developing in Hyperdrive mode so trying new stuff is very important - Some of the best modifications we develop, you will be able to buy as 'hop-ups' for your boat, and may well appear as standard on later generations of Velociraptor...
- The boat is [almost exclusively] built in the UK - We are very proud of this, the only parts that are made overseas are some of the rack tubes, the spars and the sail... Everything else is built by highly skilled composites specialists here in the UK - and all of it is assembled here. Some of the guys that will have built your boat are motorsport specialists, some are boatbuilders and some are aerospace engineers, but all are passionate about high quality composite engineering being a British speciality... and before you start worrying about how that affects the price....
- Moths are not designed as an entry level boat, but do still see the cost of these very high tech boats as a barrier to entry for some potential mothies. Result? We're going to try to keep the cost of a new Velociraptor below other production moths... even though it is built in the UK, and maybe for that very reason some of the sot is deleted - you don't need to worry about shipping costs and import duty.
- The whole process for making a carbon fibre boat is energy dependant and you'd be hard pressed to call it ecologically sound - however if the boat is built and built to last carefully, in an efficient and mindful way which minimises waste and wasted energy, and is built in the centre of the largest user population, the impact on the environment can be minimised. This attitude also affects the guys that build the boats - Their environment, their hours and pay and their Health and Safety while at work are all very important to us.
- When you buy a Velociraptor, we will arrange free membership of the IMCA for a year and become a member of The V Team - the all inclusive Velociraptor family... There's no A Team and the rest, it's All for One and One for All with The V Team! - Which means in the V BLOG section of the site, we'll post your stories, your 'first sail' pictures and any modifications you want to share with the other owners...
Above all we hope the site gives you a feel for the Velociraptor TM and what the boat is all about... If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch... either by email, telephone, post, carrier pigeon - the details are on the contacts page.
Thanks for visiting....
Adam and Dave...
The Velociraptor Project is assisted by the East of England Development Agency