Tiwal 3R - the supercharged inflatable dinghy carried in bags

by Tiwal 30 Jun 2022 13:04 BST

Tiwal 3R © Christian Eleport

Having sold more than 2,000 of its inflatable sailing dinghies worldwide, Tiwal is now launching the Tiwal 3R, its new sport dinghy.

This is a technical and compact boat for serious sailors. And it can be taken anywhere, in the back of the car...

Tiwal unveils the Tiwal 3R

The Tiwal 3R is the latest addition to the Tiwal range. Stored in its bags, this new inflatable sailboat can be taken anywhere in the back of the car, offering a compact alternative to traditional sport dinghies. Easy to assemble, it's on the water in just 25 minutes.

Tiwal 3R - photo © Christian Eleport

With the launch of the Tiwal 3 ten years ago, Tiwal helped make dinghy sailing available to all. The Tiwal 3 is a compact, versatile, easy-to-use, boomless sailing dinghy that has opened up access to a wide audience. More than 2,000 Tiwals are now sailing in some 50 countries.

With the launch of the racing version, the Tiwal 3R, the manufacturer is now targeting a more experienced public looking for sensations, performance, technical features and compactness.

Marion Excoffon, the boat's designer: "It took over two years to develop this boat. The timescale can be explained by the enthusiasm of the testers, which made us more and more ambitious! But the constraints and forces induced by the power of the new rig have obliged us to modify the structure and hull quite significantly, as well as the blades. This is a new Tiwal, but one that retains the DNA of all our boats. The Tiwal 3R offers an unprecedented mix of supercharged fun with unmatched practicality."

Tiwal 3R - photo © Christian Eleport

A supercharged inflatable sailboat

The mix chosen by the R&D team makes the Tiwal 3R a powerful and sporty sailboat, but also one that's technically and physically accessible.

Emmanuel Bertrand, President and Co founder: "The Tiwal 3R's performance is close to that of rigid-hulled sailing dinghies, but it's easier to access. It planes quickly. Its power allows it to play with the water, ride the waves, and make long runs with fast, consistent speed. It's a pleasure to get the boat going in the groove and to fine-trim the rig for optimal performance."

The boat gets its power from the rig. For the sails (77sq ft or 67 sq ft), the R&D team and North Sails went for a laminated fabric from offshore racing. The mast and boom are 90% carbon, contributing to the responsiveness of the boat. All the sail controls return to the helmsman on each side of the boat and offer a great finesse for trimming. The boat is also light, with a total weight of 121 lbs.

Tiwal 3R - Light wind sail - photo © Tiwal

The Tiwal 3R's inflatable hull gives the sailing dinghy an amazing rigidity, with its fusion material in conjunction with the aluminum exoskeleton. The daggerboard and rudder are made in composite material, and highlight the overall rigidity of the boat.

The result? A behaviour similar to that of a rigid boat, while keeping its compact functionality for transport.

Marion Excoffon: "Close your eyes and you can compare it to a rigid-hulled dinghy. Open them, it fits in two bags!"