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Design Concept

Keen ocean-racing yachtsman Jose de la Vega, owner of the 30 year old,  55' Camper Nicholson designed Pacha-winner of the 1970 Sydney to Hobart,  has always been attracted to traditional wooden boats. 

After enjoying the  International Eight Metre Class World Cup in Helsinki in 2002, Jose commissioned designer Garry Lidgard to design a boat to meet the Eight Metre Class Rule with a modern underbody and classic lines above the waterline.

Construction

Juana's hull and deck are a timber/fiberglass hybrid, with solid timber, epoxy-laminated, celery-top pine frames and decks, that were then stripped planked with Huon pine. 

A structural exterior glass, laminated with WEST SYSTEM epoxy, was used to bring the weight distribution up to equal the Eight Metre Class requirement, and the clear finished interior and all internal fit-out have been coated with WEST SYSTEM epoxy to provide excellent moisture resistance, and to reduce maintenance.

Techniglue-CA pre-mixed adhesive was used to laminate the frames, and WEST SYSTEM powder modifiers were mixed into the neat resin/hardener mix for bonding, filleting and fairing compounds for the project.

The natural teak deck and a marine, two-pack linear polyurethane gloss paint gives Juana a high quality, classic finish.

The International Eight Metre Class is a smaller version of the 12m America's Cup boats. The Eight Metre Class began in the early part of the 1900's, and there has been 3 upgrades in that period.  400 boats are still on register, some dating back to the beginnings of the Class and racing successfully within a fleet of the more modern versions.    The overall length of Juana is 14.575m on a LWL of 9.36m, with the construction scantlings to meet Lloyd's Register Eight Metre Class Rules.

Measurement and plan approvals for Juana  were undertaken by Ken McAlpine, an experienced measurer for the America's Cup, on behalf of the  International Eight Metre Association

Juana was launched at the Southport Yacht Club with the distinguished  sail number of KA-8.

 Download PDF for construction photos