back to top arrow
 

A native of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Kip Stone founded his company Artforms with the dream of building and racing a canting keel sailboat developed to the Open 50 rule. Construction began in 2002 when a build slot materialised at McConaghy Boats in Australia. The yacht was on a slow build with a team from the yard, and was worked in around the larger maxi sleds under construction. There was ample time for designers Owen Clarke to build into the design features from testing and development of her larger OC IMOCA 60 cousins, including central ballast tanks, triple headstays and masthead rig.

Credit: Yvan Zedda

Stone launched Artforms in Australia, sailing to New Zealand on trials before delivering her double-handed across the Southern Ocean to the Falkland Islands and then a solo passage to the UK. Barely six weeks later he finished first in class in his first offshore single-handed race, the Solo 2004 Transat. Kip followed this the following year with a win in the Bermuda 1-2 and a second (after returning to France to replace a damaged mainsail) in the Transat Jacques Vabres, both with sailing partner, designer Merfyn Owen. His last race with the boat secured another record solo win, in the 2006 Route du Rhum.

Credit: Yvan Zedda

West coast US sailor Philippe Kahn purchased Artforms in 2007 and raced her to victory as Pegasus in the Transpac double -handed class that year, in light winds the record didn’t fall. With OC modifications; a taller rig, new keel, a longer three metre bowsprit and again with co-skipper Richard Clarke they subsequently shattered Stan Honey’s double handed record from San Francisco to Honolulu by a day and a half. Crossing the finish before sunrise Pegasus was first, ahead of all 61 boats. Most were fully crewed, ranging from 45 to 73 feet in length, including TP-52s and Santa Cruz-70s.

Credit: Sharon Green

While on the west coast, Pegasus also broke the 24-hour record for her size before returning to the UK to compete with an IRC rating in RORC and other events under skipper Ross Hobson. A sistership was commissioned and part built in Russia for Whitbread and BOC sailor Viktor Yazykov. ‘Open Class’ boats are great fun; they’re go anywhere, in any weather and are easily handled by two crew. Because of this, OC were asked to develop a low cost ‘Globe Race’ capable one design, based on Class 40, a project that had a sponsor and had promise for a time of offering a new path between 40’ and 60’.

Owen Clarke: One Design Class 50

To discuss your project contact: OC RACING

Onboard video from the 2005 Transat Jacques Vabres is available: HERE and HERE

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

Privacy Policy | Web Design By Toolkit Websites