Class40 is a class of monohull sailboat and a yacht primarily used for short handed offshore and coastal racing. The class is administered by International Class40 Association which is recognised by the World Sailing.
Background
In 2004 former Vendee Globe and Whitbread competitor, Patrice Carpentier,[1] brought together designers, builders and sailors to formulate a new accessible class of shorthanded offshore racing boats. Now with more than 160 boats, the Class has become the most successful offshore racing class. The class is not to be confused with the Open 40 which in many ways led the way to this class.
The "Class40" can be designed by anyone provided the boat fits within the measurement rule defined. This rule takes the form of a box rule.
The association is responsible for defining and updating the class rules for the boats, and has the additional aims of co-ordinating events.
Class 40 monohulls outnumbered all other boat classes during their first appearance in the 2006 Route du Rhum, with 25 boats registered.
The Class 40 monohulls are high-performance racing boats, designed principally for single-handed or small crew offshore competition.
Class 40 monohulls sit in size between boats the small offshore classes of the Classe Mini and Beneteau Figaro 3 and the pinnacle class the IMOCA 60.
Single and double-handed sailing represents a rapidly growing sector of the sport of sailing. The Class 40 is a cheaper boat that can be sailed competitively in a range of conditions either short handed, by two people, or a solo sailor.
The class is active in Europe, but growing in North America. Boats are built on a semi-production or custom basis. The class rules though work to keep the boat affordable, limiting exotic materials and equipment seen in high end offshore boats such as the IMOCA 60.
Though some boats are sailed by pro sailors, the amateur class continues to grow as sailors look for the next challenge in offshore sailing.
Events
Class Starts - Oceanic Races
- Route du Rhum Solo Transatlantic Race starting in France
- Transat Jacques Vabre Two Person Transatlantic Race starting in France
- Globe 40 Race Two Person Stopping Round the World Race
World Championships
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Hamble | Concise Sailing Team Ned Collier Wakefield (GBR)
|
Clarke Offshore Racing Simon Clarke (GBR)
|
Desafio Cabo De Hornos Felipe Cubillos (CHI)
|
| 2010 Gijon[2] | FRA 65 - Tales Sailing Team Gonzalo Botin (ESP)
|
FRA 83 - Mistral Loisirs – Pole Santé Elior Thierry Bouchard (FRA)
|
GBR 93 - Concise Sailing Team Ned Collier Wakefield (GBR)
|
| 2011 - Bénodet | 104 JACK IN THE BOX
|
65 TALES ESPAGNE
|
83 COMIRIS - ELIOR SANTE
|
| 2012 - La ROCHELAISES[3] | ESP 65 TALES | FRA 104 JACK IN THE BOX | GER 115 MARE |
Other Events with Class Starts
- Atlantic Cup Charleston-New York-Newport May Bi-Annually
- Rolex Fastnet Race
Other Events
The class has had numerous success in most of the prestigious offshore events.
The records
These records are usually calculated by race directions but not endorsed by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.
24 Hours Distance
| Date | Distance (milles) |
Speed (knots) |
Skipper(s) | boat | launch | crew | race |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 November 6 | 408,8[4] | 17,03 | Ian Lipinski & Adrien Hardy | Crédit Mutuel | 2019 | 2 | Transat Jacques Vabre |
Non-Stop Round Britain and Ireland
| Finish Date | Time | Boat Type | Boat | Skipper(s) | Crew | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singlehanded | |||||||
| 2020-07-09 | 7d 17h 50m 47s | Class40 | Crédit Mutuel |  Ian Lipinski (POL) |
N/A | [5] | |
| 2004-06 | 11d 12h 26m 48s | Open 40 | "Roaring Forty" |  Michel Kleinjans (BEL) |
N/A | [6] | |
| Crewed Record | |||||||
| 2020 | 7d 06h 27m 25s | Class40 | 'Banque de Leman' |  Simon Koster (SUI) |
Justine Mettraux (SUI) and Valentin Gautier (SUI) |
[7][8] | |
| 2020-07-09 | 7d 17h 50m 47s | Class40 | Crédit Mutuel | Ian Lipinski (FRA) |
None | ||
| 2018-08-20 | 8d 4h 14m 49s | Class40 | "Imerys Clean Energy" | Phil Sharp (GBR) |
+crew | set during RORC Race | [9] |
| 2014-08-20 | 8d 19h 06m 49s | Class40 | 'Swish' | Roderick Knowles (GBR) |
+2 other crew | set during RORC Race | [10] |
| 2010 | 9d 13h 32m 20s | Class40 | Concise 2 | Ned Collier Wakefield (GBR) |
+5 other crew | set during RORC Race | [11] |
References
- ^ "Class40". Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "MUNDIAL CLASS40 Gijon (MONDIAL) - Class40".
- ^ Mondial classe 40's evolution October 2012 Archived 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Excès de vitesse et gros coup de frein". www.transatjacquesvabre.org. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "WSSR Newsletter No 319. Ian Lipinski. Around Britain and Ireland. 05/08/20".
- ^ "Belgian sailor sets new single handed Round Ireland record".
- ^ "New Around Britain and Ireland record >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News". 2 September 2020.
- ^ "WSSR Newsletter No 320. Simon Koster. Around Britain and Ireland. 02/09/20".
- ^ "Phil Sharp and team win Round Britain and Ireland". 21 August 2018.
- ^ "New Around Britain and Ireland Monohull 40ft and less world record".
- ^ Kunstmann, Stefan. "Concise 2 finish". Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race Website. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
External links
- Official web site of the International Class 40 association
- North American Official web site of the North American Class 40 association
- World Sailing Class 40 Microsite