Open 40 |
Here by popular demand Owen Clarke Design have unveiled their new Open 40 design which will deliver all the thrills and spills of Open class sailing but at a fraction of the normal cost.
Open 40 – fixed keel, water ballasted option
The creation of this Open 40 design has been driven by a number of clients who have expressed interest in offshore/ocean racing but do not have either the time, budget or inclination to involve themselves in the 50/60 circuit, now almost wholly the preserve of professional skippers and corporate budgets.
Conceptually, the Open 40 occupies the middle ground of the Open class spectrum - the Mini Transats and the 60s representing the extremes both in terms of cost and the commitment required to extract the best from them.
This Open 40 is no less extreme in terms of the performance profile, and in line with current thinking on all our Open boats, we are striving to produce a more all-round and balanced profile that is as potent upwind as it is down. This is achieved by a careful blend of technologies and the on-going development of proven solutions from our current Grand Prix boats. The resulting synthesis is a single/short-handed ocean racer that delivers security, pace and value.
We worked on a generic design based around a number of different client requirements in order to arrive at a specification that fits all their existing needs with as little compromise as possible. This has resulted in a yacht built from carbon fibre which is intended to offer the potential for line honours victory in this class of racing whilst affording some level of comfort and the ability to use the boat for recreational purposes.
For this semi-production boat carbon/foam has been specified for the hull construction, but for self-build or a one off this design could form the basis for a glass/foam or strip cedar build. Keel variations available are hydraulic canting, rope canting and a fixed or lifting keel version with water-ballast, and the yacht is available with a choice of tiller or wheel steering.
This design is available as a semi-production build, fully costed and available now, but we also offer our services to clients to design a custom racing, racer/cruiser or cruiser racer to their individual requirements. We also constantly monitor the discussions and proposals that continue around the globe regarding box and class rules for this size of yacht.
This is a fast boat for the racer who would like to already be in the pub when everyone else is still out on the water!
Deck plan - wheel steering option
Offshore single-handed sail plan
General arrangement – twin hydraulic canting keel and four berths option
Dimensions for swing keel design
LOA: 12.192 m
Length at waterline: 1.650 m
Max. Beam: 4.380 m
Draught: 3.600 m
Displacement (lightship) ? 3300 kg
Build Options
An extensive tender process encompassing boat yards, spar-makers, sail lofts & electronics suppliers in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK was completed in 2003. By far and away the most cost effective option is an Australia build. The relative weakness of the Australian Dollar makes this an extremely attractive option for European and North American buyers, as does the low cost of shipping back to the Northern hemisphere.
The tender process indicated that a complete swing keel design, launched and at the end of builder’s trials is available for around AU$720 000, depending on the options chosen. This is approximately half the cost of an Open 50 to a similar specification. The price would include sails, electronics package, sea trials and shipping cradle on the dockside in Melbourne ready for export. The stock design and a project management package is included in this cost
Former BOC skipper Alan Nebauer, who managed Kip Stone’s Owen Clarke designed Open 50 build at McConaghy Yachts, Sydney will be providing the project management services. For a UK or European build, project management services could be supplied by the UK office if required. Delivery times vary with the yard workload but expected launch times are 6 to 8 months from point of order.
For owners who wish to have a boat constructed in another location we can undertake further tender enquiries, and also assist those who may not wish to have a complete yard build.
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
To register an interest and receive our Open 40 brochure please email:
open40@owenclarkedesign.com |
