Looks like fun, doesn't it? The Severn School's sailing team, in Severna Park, MD, has had the opportunity to sail five new Zim 15s this fall. "The boats are here temporarily for demonstration and to promote youth and young adult sailing and team racing," says their coach, Thomas Sitzmann. The Zim 15 is a Sail Magazine "Best Boats" nominee for 2015. They are designed to appeal to sailors in their 20s and 30s, who perhaps sailed in high school or college and want some excitement on the water.
"The kids love the performance," says Sitzmann. "The boats are fast and have new, high tech options to allow for more sail tuning and adjustment, which allows both skipper and crew to be more invested in sailing performance."
"The boats are very tune-able, with rig tension adjustable via forestay on the fly. They have “dangle poles,” or jib sticks, like a Snipe or Albacore. The centerboards are “reef-able,” like a 505, and Cunningham and vang are led to the skipper for easy control, much like a collegiate Lark. The rudder design is new and innovative, and controls are set up to allow the crew to make adjustments both for speed and de-powering, making the boat versatile in many wind ranges." Photos by Thomas Sitzmann
