| The Derek M. Baylis is a 65-foot sailboat designed as
a safe, comfortable, fast and environmentally friendly vessel for
research and education. Its mission is to aid in seeking, teaching
and communicating scientific understanding of our oceans and atmosphere
for the benefit of society and the environment.
The Derek M. Baylis is designed for multiple uses. It will easily
carry research scientists and 5,000 pounds of their gear. Students
and teachers can be accommodated for daylong or extended trips.
Provision has been made for persons with disabilities.
Wyliecat of Watsonville, California constructed the Derek M. Baylis
to the U.S. Coast Guard's stringent safety and construction specifications
for passenger vessels. These requirements include features such
as a water-tight crash bulkhead, a high-pressure fire-suppression
and pumping system, no overboard waste disposal (including gray-water
containment), no open flames (electric appliances instead of LPG
or propane), non-ferrous fittings, etc. The Derek M. Baylis is awaiting
USCG Subchapter-T certification.
The Derek M. Baylis is a mono-hull sailing vessel, 65 feet in
length, with 15 feet of beam, 8'3" of draft, and of 35,000
pounds displacement. There are sleeping quarters for 12 passengers
and 2 crew in four staterooms and a common area. The Derek M. Baylis's
hull, deck, wheelhouse and bulkheads are bonded together into a
single structure; this is called monocoque construction. The materials
used are Baltek endgrain balsa-core planks combined in a fiberglass
reinforced "sandwich," the strongest and most environmentally
friendly materials and construction method available today. A 100
horsepower diesel engine provides enough auxiliary power to reach
12 knots. The range under power alone is 1500 nautical miles. This
speed and range is greater than most motor-only research vessels
of this size and assures that schedules can be followed.
The Derek M. Baylis has many modern features that uniquely qualify
it as a 21st century sailing research vessel. It was designed by
the Thomas Wylie Design Group of Canyon, California to be easily
and inexpensively sailed with a minimum of effort. Its hull and
keel are highly evolved shapes, designed to provide an easy, comfortable
and efficient motion through the water. The keel is a fin-bulb design,
similar to those used in modern racing boats, which places the center
of gravity low and provides increased stability as the boat heels.
The cat-ketch rig, with a sail area of 1,530 sq. ft., is innovative,
simple and effective. The tapered carbon fiber masts are free standing
and flex, changing the sail shape as the wind velocity changes.
The result is a rig that to a great degree adjusts itself as conditions
change. The rig absorbs changes in the wind without transferring
as much of those forces to the hull. This smooth transfer of energy
results in a smoother motion through the water, reduced heel and
no speed loss. Much less effort is needed to operate this rig; one
person can handle it using two small winches. Plus, the reduced
sail inventory, elimination of standing rigging and reduction in
other rigging and winches lowers the operating costs. The cockpit
is unusually spacious with a door fitted at the transom. A Titanium
A-Frame is available for deployment. This area can be used to carry
research or school equipment such as a submersible, RIB, or a flotilla
of kayaks and canoes. The hold can be used to store dive tanks,
compressors or other equipment.
The Derek M. Baylis was designed to operate in a manner that has
the lowest possible negative impact on the environment. It
is self-contained, with no overboard pumping of waste. As
a sailing vessel, it can be operated in a quiet, non-contaminating
way. It can be maneuvered silently, holding station or peacefully
following observed subjects in a non-threatening way. Under
sail, rolling motion is reduced and engine odors are eliminated,
reducing the chance of seasickness and increasing the productivity
and enjoyment of the voyage. 
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