Corsair Dash 750

The 24-foot Dash and race version Sprint are the offspring of the successful Corsair 24 which accounted for a large part of the Vietnam-based company’s sales over the years. The Dash boasts an open-plan cabin, rotating mast and a powerful sail plan. The entry-level boat in a family of folding trimarans comprising the popular Corsair 28, Corsair 31 and flagship Corsair 37, the 2009-launched Dash is the most portable at 24 foot.

Interestingly, the company was recently acquired by Australia’s largest catamaran builder, Seawind, but Corsair’s history dates back to 1985. It was established by John Walton, the son of Walmart founder Sam Walton who recruited renowned multihull designer Ian Farrier. Farrier, a Kiwi, left the company in 2000 -- in the hands of Queenslander Paul Koch -- to pursue a new range of designs. 

Corsair Marine purchased all rights to his designs and subsequently the branding was changed from the "F" series to the "C" series. About 1600 boats have been produced during the boatyard’s history, making the brand one of the most popular worldwide in its class. There are estimated to be about 70 Corsairs in Australia with the number split between the “F” and “C” series.

Corsair has changed hands and locations over the decades with production moving from California to Vietnam in a bid to reduce production costs and is now in a growth phase, as shown by the June announcement for a another new design, the C750. The new C750 is anticipated to have deck space dominated by a large race style cockpit, with only a cubby for shelter, so the Dash will be the cruising sailor’s preferred choice.

A moulding on the top side of the swim platform is designed for a small autopilot but it would be an exposed perch. The mainsheet track separates the open-ended cockpit from the swim platform and outboard setup. A five-horsepower Tohatsu 2-stroke was fitted to the review boat but an equivalent Yamaha in both eight- and five-horsepower can be supplied, with an alternator to run a small battery for the LED navigation lights and the autopilot.

Open lockers in the cockpit means stored items are exposed to any wash coming up the narrow cockpit well, but it’s the place to stash the petrol tank and similar gear. A brace of Harken 16s sit on the coamings to manage the headsail and a further pair on the coachroof looks after the halyards. The laminated wooden tiller is controlled by two long tiller extensions that protrude right out to the floats so the steerer can balance the lightweight (only 916kg) hull while watching the headsail telltales. Overall, the Dash’s cockpit is a functional layout, built around the helmsman and worked well on the water.

For cooking an alcohol stove is available and water comes from a jerry can that empties into a stainless sink. Camp cooking, but nevertheless you can keep the kids fed for the weekend at least. Storage is good, with lockers under seats and along the window ledges and there’s a nook for a PortaPotti.  Also, the area has plenty of natural light thanks to the fore hatch and elongated side windows.

The boom is rotated via a handle on the mast which allows a simple deployment of the mainsail. In trailer-sailer mode, raising the mast is done via an alloy bridle that bolts to the back of it allowing the spar to swing under control and the bridle is removed when the rig is in place. Handily, when folding the floats, which can be done easily by the removal of four nylock nuts on the hull, the shrouds require no adjustment.

This simple but effective setup should suit cruising sailors nicely but for racing, an asymmetric flies from the tip of the retractable bowsprit. The review boat came with quiver of racing Quantum Kevlar sails, including a square-topped mainsail that had three reefing cringles in it, for standard slab reefing, though lines weren’t fitted yet.

Hull construction is vacuum-bagged GRP over foam sandwich and Kevlar reinforcing is used. The finish was smooth with no rough flanges and the non-slip on the hulls provided enough grip when moving forward. The floats are strongly connected to the main hull with aircraft-quality heavy-duty alloy hinges. The form of the main hull is a classic trimaran shape -- a plumb bow setting off a narrow hull, with keel rocker towards the stern and flared topsides which makes it a pretty looking vessel. The review boat was hull 47 of 56 built since the model launched in 2009, so it’s already a well-proven design internationally with plenty of sailor forums for class advice.

With the breeze filling in, the windward float lifted gently with me on it holding the tiler extension with feet planted in the hiking straps, as the Dash accelerated quickly. The alloy rudder kept a firm grip of the water as the spray flashed off the hulls and shot through the trampoline net. With the bow pointing towards Lion Island in Broken Bay we left our chase photo boat long behind as we sped off close hauled while my handheld GPS read 12 then 14 knots.

In the strong gusts, I crept up beyond the 30-degree point of sail to depower the boat. Tacking was ultra quick -- as fast as an average sports boat -- with a tacking angle of about 55 degrees. The mainsheet was led out to the floats for maximum control and the track was also near enough at hand to safely dump in big gusts.

With the breeze lightening David readied the asymmetric to leeward while I held the tackline at the windward helm before he hoisted it for a bear-away set. Quickly peeling the jib we settled in for a fast 80-degree reach back up Pittwater, zooming to 16 and 17 knots at times. Early signs of the boat planing was a lighter feel to the helm yet I still felt in control while the first third of the main hull gently lifted clear of the water. With the two of us well out and far back on the float we did several fast gybes -- the asymmetric passing easily over the forestay thanks to the long bowsprit. During the stronger gusts I bore away, sometimes too late to prevent a minor nose plant of the leeward float but it didn’t feel threatening.

Returning to the marina also showed the Dash’s practical side. The alloy dagger board was retracted along with the rudder, the floats folded alongside the pontoon before the boat was hoisted back on its galvanised single axle trailer, completing a 15 minute disassembly.

Overall the Corsair Dash 750 proved to be an exhilarating trimaran, easily capable of being sailed fast by a husband and wife team; and the kids will love the exciting ride while lounging on the trampolines.