The Proa

The outrigger boat from past to present

European explorers reported on the incredible performance of these boats in the South Seas, which the sailors of the Old World could only dream of. The first attempts in the New World at the end of the 19th century proved their potential, but it took another 100 years before the proa was "rediscovered".

Today, catamarans and trimarans are part of everyday sailing life. However, when one of these rare outrigger boats, known as a proa, appears in the harbor or marina, it attracts the undivided attention of the public. This book explains the basics of this type of boat and its components .It demonstrates the results that can be achieved when the proa principle is implemented using modern technologies. A look at the current situation in the South Seas shows the revival that these boats are experiencing there. This book explains the basics of this type of boat and its components. It demonstrates the results that can be achieved when the proa principle is implemented using modern technologies. A look at the current situation in the South Seas shows the revival that these boats are experiencing there.

The building and sailing experiences of some of the great Proa pioneers are presented as examples:

• Jacknife, a foldable proa by Ian Aitken
• The boats of the outstanding Russell Brown, including the legendary Jzerro
• Epicemar, a two-masted Atlantic proa by Gérard Cosquer
• The Harryproa model series designed by Rob Denney
• Plans for self-build proas by Gary Dierking
• The evolution of the Equilibre by Jeremie Fischer
• The transatlantic-tested Des Jours Meilleurs by P. Guillard
• Madness, offered as a kit by Chesapeake Light Craft
• The largest proa currently sailing, the Big Red Yacht
• The tacking outrigger Arpex from Brazil
• Nixe, with an interesting rudder solution built in Thailand
• The Proasis, which served as the model for many replicas in the Marshall Islands
• Sidecar with its innovative parallel rig
• The authors' various boats

The reports on outstanding sailing adventures undertaken with proas round off the picture of this type of boat:

The voyage of Ryan Finn with "Jzerro" from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn, the diary of an Atlantic crossing by Philippe Guillard with "Des Jours Meilleurs", and the adventures of Burghard Pieske with "Ana Varu" in the Pacific.