Zim Sailing freely admits they are targeting the post-collegiate market with the Zim 15 and it comes with a bunch of modern performance features, albeit at a higher selling price compared to the Vanguard 15. What modern features do you get?
- A hull designed for higher speeds.
- Carbon spars.
- High aspect ratio blades.
- Roachy Mylar sails.
- Gnav vang to clear up the forward end of the cockpit.
- A multi-purchase rig-tensioning system run through the forestay.
- A bow stem made of high-impact plastic.
- A dangly whisker pole.
- A flow-through double bottom cockpit with open transom.
- Enough cleats in the right positions to make adjustments easier.
Here is the bow bumper which is cleverly molded in during construction so as to be an integral part of the hull.
The Zim 15 has a centerboard for easier launching but the centerboard trunk has grooves in each side so the board can be pulled up and "reefed" in a breeze, just as you would with a daggerboard.
The dangly whisker pole is not seen in the U.S much but is very popular in the U.K. non-spinnaker classes. It resides on the front of the mast when going upwind. To deploy, pull the dangly pole down with its control line. To retract. uncleat the control line and a shock cord returns it to the front of the mast. There is also the multi-purchase forestay tensioner sitting on the foredeck in front of the mast.
The flow-thru double-bottom cockpit with the nifty tilt-up rudder. The hull sports soft-chines as it was also designed for team racing.
The business end of the cockpit. We can see the Gnav vang on top of the boom, the dangly pole, recessed cleats in the wide thwart and plenty of adjustments at the base of the mast.
A computer-rendered sideview of the Zim 15 (lifted from Zim Sailings website).
