Owen Clarke Class 40 racer cruiser undergoing 90 test as part of class measurement
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Owen Clarke Class 40 racer cruiser undergoing 90 test as part of class measurement
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Owen Clarke Class 40 racer cruiser undergoing 90 test as part of class measurement
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Owen Clarke Class 40 racer cruiser undergoing 90 test as part of class measurement
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Emerging like spring shoots from a long winter, the latest OCD Class 40 to launch finally reached her home port of Hamburg at the weekend. After shake down sea trials and undergoing the official class 40 measure tests in the UK last Wednesday the owner finally got to sail his new stead to home to Germany. This current development of the existing crop of OCD Class 40 designs was built by Composite Creations in Totnes (builders of Alex Bennetts ‘Fujifilm’ and the US based ‘Dragon’) she differs from earlier builds from this yard with a better appointed interior incorporating, three single and one double berth, heating and refrigeration systems giving this racer the dual role capability that her owner desired. It’s not just about the racing with this boat as the requirement for family use was also a big driver behind the concept. On deck however this Class 40 remains true to her roots with a tailored deck hardware package and layout to meet the demands of both inshore crewed and offshore shorthanded racing. On her first sailing trials lead designer Allen Clarke along with John Brinkers of North Sails were in attendance, however with winds of less than 8knots and strong tides off Dartmouth a drift down towards Brixham was the order of the day. Even days like this are useful as at least all the sails got to be hoisted and set and checked for fit. With a few adjustments made ‘Red’ was delivered to Hamble the following week to complete her commissioning, measurement and preparation for her longer trip home. After the delivery home the owner/skipper reported: ‘We have now sailed almost 800 miles with the boat and are extremely excited about its potential. She’s a huge step forward for us, after years of competitive IMS-racing. Finally a boat, which is meant for what we all like most: fast sailing on the open sea, medium to long distances, performance without any compromise. We love the balanced design and great all-round performance - upwind, light air, breezy downwind - and are looking forward to the first races: the Skagerrak two-star - a 300 miles sprint between Norway, Denmark and Sweden in June - and then the Fastnet and Class 40 world championship in August.
A big thank you to Miranda Merron, Alex Sizer and Andy Tourell, whose advice, workmanship and input were critical to make this a successful project. Special thanks are deserved for Allen Clarke and his constant willingness to listen and consult during the building and testing process.’
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