Check out this very Nonsuch-like design from Radford Designs in Australia.https://www.radford-yacht.com/
Radford licences the design. She looks like an interesting update.
Almost 1000sf of sail area. Main sheet on a traveler mounted on that arch above the cockpit. (I’ve actually wondered about that for a Nonsuch, myself.) Otherwise not all that futuristic to us. 
I’d be interested in learning more about the hull shape, given that the designer proposes the same hull design with alternatives of a conventional fractional rig amidships or a Nonsuch-like cat rig forward.
Mark Ellis put a lot of effort into the shape of the bow sections of the Nonsuch design to deal with the weight of the mast and the location of the sail’s center of effort. I believe he’s said that he made them fuller than he would have if designing the hull for a sloop rig.
I’d be curious how Radford dealt with those considerations and how the approach he chose deals with those considerations.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Looking forward to seeing folks in Toronto:
https://nonsuch.org/2024-INA-International-Rendezvous-Status
I think it would be a good prototype tool for designers. They could sort the details after they have proven the design.
Mark Ellis would have loved this approach.
A weekend printed hull.
Brian Cayer
Spirit~Wind
N30U 419
Westbrook, Ct
The mast weight issue is mitigated by the carbon fibre construction but there is still the centre of effort. It says they worked with Tom Wylie so I’m betting they’ve got it covered.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
You might be right, Paul. I know enough to believe that it’s hard to have it both ways, but not enough to know if it’s a solvable problem.
It does appear from some of the pictures in the website to have a much sharper and slightly less plumb bow than a Nonsuch, but very rapidly flattens out to much fuller cross-sections more similar to ours. The sharper entry might be how they lean toward the conventional rig, with the fuller sections leaning towards supporting catboating.
Interesting that the cat rig has much more sail area than the conventional: 969 sq. ft. for the single cat rig sail vs. 853 sq. ft. total for the conventional fractional rig (475 sq. ft. main, 378 sq. ft.jib).
Don’t know how mast heights compare, and it’s beyond my skill level to figure out and compare centers of effort.
I’ll be interested to hear what more people think.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Looking forward to seeing folks in Toronto:
https://nonsuch.org/2024-INA-International-Rendezvous-Status
I don’t have enough experience to compare the drawing to the proven design of our Nonsuch boats. But I’d guess the closest Nonsuch boat to compare the RADFORD 12m ( 40’ er ) to is a Wiggers N36.
I wonder what design improvements existing Nonsuch owners see in the RADFORD 12m or what new markets it plays in ?
A boat builder perspective would be interesting in this discussion.
As an owner ( that can’t afford to commision a new boat ), I considered plenty of attractive options before choosing Soave, which I see as a sound decision in spite of the unplanned maintenance challenges we’ve experienced. Should be no surprise that 34 year old boat would require more attention than younger boat… or that it might require replacement/restoration of certain key components.
Linda & I choose Soave ( N33 ) for mostly intangible and illogical reasons. We were impressed by personalities of the NonSuch owners we spoke with. They seemed to more knowledgeable about design trade-offs and more connected to their boats. We decided to “join the club” because we felt the consensus/experience of Nonsuch community aligned with our sailing goals. In hindsight I see it as a very smart move to by a used boat from someone who is deeply connected to it and has the means to maintain it. Nonsuch boats seemed to be “more loved” than other boats we looked at.
In summary, I didn’t see anything in the RADFORD 12m design that made me want to learn more… but I may not have an eye for the kind of detail to see the value and innovation it offers.
Rob Cohen
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Westport, CT