Designer Perspective of the Class Globe 5.80

The Class Globe 5.80 was designed by Janusz Maderski, a Polish yacht designer. The following description has been translated from Mr. Maderski website:

Concept

The inspiration for the creation of this yacht was the Setka and the Setka regatta across the Atlantic. However, the Globe 5.80 is not an enlarged Setka. It is a similar boat but with slightly different proportions, designed from scratch. It was designed for the regatta across the Atlantic organized by Don McIntyre and for the regatta around the world on the trade wind route, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. Possibility of transport in a 20-foot container, seaworthiness, strong construction, safety on board, spacious interior, easy self-construction and speed. These are the most important assumptions. In exactly that order.

Transport

The external dimensions have been selected so that after removing the rudder, unscrewing the keel and the bow basket, the hull will fit inside a 20-foot container. The hull does not require a special bed. Sliding into the container is easy. In the container, it stands on a strong flat part of the bottom. The mast is divided and will also fit in the same container.

Seaworthiness

The yacht was designed to sail as dry as possible. The hull shapes are selected so that waves pass under the yacht and do not enter the deck. There is one rudder, which is actually the case with these hull shapes. The rudder does not tend to leave the water within the range of useful heel angles. We maintain the ability to steer effectively in all conditions. When sailing with strong wind and large waves, the stern fins minimize the risk of the yacht setting its side to the wave and the risk of capsizing. This is very important, especially when we want to carry the sails for a long time. Many yachts have been capsized by storm waves when the self-steering failed to keep them on course and they set themselves sideways to the wave. On the Globe 5.80, such a risk is definitely minimized.

Design

We design a yacht for coastal sailing differently than one that is to sail across the ocean and face storms many times. Globe 5.80 is designed so that all its elements are strong and durable to eliminate or minimize the risk of failure. The hull made of 10 mm plywood is based on stringers and closed frame frames. The bottom strake is made of two layers of 10 mm plywood. The external epoxy-glass laminate increases strength and ensures tightness and easy maintenance. The epoxy-plywood rudder is suspended on thick stainless steel hinges. The hinges are as far apart as possible, which reduces their load. They are screwed to the hull in reinforced places. The keel is fixed, steel with a lead bulb. It is connected to the hull with pins through a twenty-millimeter bottom plating and thick oak floors. You will sooner smash the entire yacht on the rocks than tear the keel off it.

Safety on board

The biggest threat to a single sailor is falling overboard. The deck is equipped with attachment points for the harness so that you cannot fall overboard. The deck has a small convexity and is equipped with handrails along its entire length. The height of the rail is selected for a sailor who moves around the deck on his feet and hands. This is the safest on a small boat tossed by waves. On deck, the sailor spends most of his time in the cockpit. The Globe 5.80 cockpit is deep. It gives a sense of security. The width of the cockpit tub allows you to comfortably brace yourself with your leg on the tilt. The cockpit design does not include any elements that interfere with movement and rest. The sloping walls of the superstructure allow you to comfortably watch in the cockpit in a semi-recumbent position. The cockpit is comfortable because comfort allows you to be less tired and therefore sail more safely and with greater pleasure. The backrests are high and finished with a rounded handrail strip. We have handles at hand everywhere. The companionway has two covers, lower and upper. When sailing in the trade wind zone, it is hot. The companionway must be open almost all the time. The division into two covers allows you to close the lower one, which reaches above the level of the cockpit seats. The upper cover remains open and ventilates the interior well. On a dry sailing yacht, we can use a large, comfortable companionway with a lowered threshold. This solution increases the comfort of moving on the yacht and does not discourage going on deck.

Spacious interior

The interior is designed for one or two people. The aft lockers are separated by a watertight bulkhead. The berths are wide. Even tall people can sit comfortably on the berths without worrying about hitting their heads on the deck. The cargo spaces under the berths will hold supplies of food and water for the ocean jump. In the companionway under the cockpit we place a life raft. The floor between the berths is 70 cm wide. At sea, this is the best place to sleep. Especially when the sea is rough. You can't fall out from here. You sleep more relaxed. You rest more effectively. On the starboard side, in front of the watertight bulkhead, there are cabinets and a navigation table. There is enough space for everything you need. Opposite the navigation table is a galley. A watertight bulkhead separates the mess from the forepeak. The forepeak is a large storeroom and a place to install a sea toilet.

Self-construction

The hull is made of plywood and epoxy, and is built on frames and stringers. The frames, floors and beams are made of solid wood, are strong and take up little space inside. They also look good inside. The construction on frames and stringers made of solid wood does not require internal lamination. The hull is built quickly and pleasantly. We cut, plan, glue, screw. The hull is covered with 10 mm plywood, the deck with 8 mm plywood and the bottom belt, which is subjected to the greatest loads and is to withstand grounding without damage, stiffened with high oak floors, is covered with 20 mm plywood (2 x 10 mm) + epoxy-glass laminate. Only basic tools, ordinary care and a lot of perseverance are necessary for construction. Special skills and boatbuilding experience are not required. The inside of the plywood hull is clean and suitable for clear varnish. The hull is only covered with an epoxy-glass laminate layer from the outside. Building a wooden boat is a pleasure. Lamination, the less popular part of the work, is limited to a minimum here. The keel is made of flat sheet metal with a lead bulb screwed on. This is a reliable and simplest solution.

Speed

When designing, you have to try to achieve as much as possible with a given total weight of the yacht. The shapes have to be adapted to the possible performance and the requirements of the sea. Without pretending to be something that this yacht is not. It is a light boat but not ultralight. It is too solid for that. The equipment taken on a long cruise also weighs quite a lot. And yet the Globe 5.80 can sail well. The yacht can maintain the maximum theoretical displacement speed as an average speed. This allows to achieve distances of up to 140 miles per day and in a large range of wind strength it is possible to maintain such passages. The second possibility of the Globe 5.80 is surfing with ocean waves. We can see a dozen or so knots on the log and experience fantastic emotions.

Class Globe 5.80 plans can be purchased via the Class Globe 580 website.