50' Racer-Cruiser

Fresh from the Owen Clarke design studio comes a fast, fun yacht that can nip around the cans in Sydney Harbour as comfortably as it takes the family away for a weekend sail. This 50 foot racer / cruiser is being designed for an Australasian client whose primary aim is to combine the best features of a fast single handed racer with a stylish interior resulting in a yacht called Fifty Feet of Fun, that can either be raced short handed or used for fast passage making in reasonable comfort. Of course, yachts that have been designed around the need to be sailed short or single-handed do naturally lend them-selves to be good, easy to handle cruising boats. Such a specification could be applied to our whole range of designs, perhaps with the exception of the mini. We have been involved in the past with a number of owners with this exact same requirement: wanting to race as fast as possible but at the same time having the comfort to give the yacht a life outside racing in order to make their investment more cost effective. The FFOF fulfills all the requirements of the current class rule for an Open 50 and RORC category 0.This includes the mandatory four watertight bulkheads and stability requirements. Construction is based on in this case on carbon/Nomex and will feature a canting keel and single daggerboard, water ballast and twin rudders with wheel steering and dual autopilots. The interior is designed to be modest in comparison to the more traditional cruising boat (see our cruiser racer page) and features a spacious open plan saloon, galley and navigation station, sleeping for six with two double cabins aft and settee that coverts to a third double berth. There is minimal accommodation forward of the keel and mast except for a single head and shower. Two rig options are currently under consideration, a twin spreader masthead and a 7/8th fractional conventional mast. The bow will be fitted with a retracting pole for asymmetric spinnakers. Loa - 15.24 m Beam - 4.80 m Draft - 4.10 m (a lifting keel variant is an option) Displacement - 7500 kg For an explanation of the technology behind the design process go to: NAVAL ARCHITECTURE For an insight into our engineering and detailed design work go to: ENGINEERING