All things Class40

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furler49

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2 hours ago, WLIS Jibing said:

Anyone know if Aurelien Ducroz is signing up for the TJV, and if so, on a Class 40?  I loved following his ski career, so I look forward to following his sailing adventures too in the future. 

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Yep. Aurélien will be there. His boat is being finalised at V1D2 in Caen I think..?! If I remember correctly they want to be on the water for the Channel Race. 
 

I’d love to meet him - seems like a seriously cool guy. I think he’s aiming for the 2024 VG. 

 
H

huey 2

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image.png

 
H

huey 2

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Class 40 stepping stone....Louis Duc is upgrading from Class 40 to IMOCA the cheapest way....Doing the work himself.  pic above

 
Your Mom

Your Mom

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I've been living inland for 15 years, racing small boats on lakes, while occasionally getting out to the US Northeast for some offshore races and/or cruising on other people's boats.  I have enough experience in keelboats, coastal and offshore cruising and racing, etc, for this my question to have a realistic basis, but not enough keelboat ownership experience (nor high-performance keelboat racing experience) to be able to answer this question myself.  FWIW, I'm reaching a point financially for it to be viable in the context I'm raising, but not in a high-calibre racing program context.

I've loved Class 40s since the first time I saw one.  Never been on one.  When people (usually my wife) ask "if you ever moved to a coastal location, would you want to buy a keelboat, and if so, what boat?" my answer is a Class 40.  With that said...  I wouldn't do it blindly.  I'd find a way to actually spend some time on the boats and find out whether or not I actually like them as much as I think I would.  I'm also not totally loaded, so I'd probably be looking to buy used.  I just like the idea of a fast boat that's designed for short-handed sailing.

Getting to my question...  What do people know about the Racer/Cruiser configurations on these?  Because...  My real answer to the hypothetical question has been "Class 40 Racer/Cruiser"...  Why?  Because I'd be wanting to buy it to actually both cruise and race it.  I love the idea of showing up at a cruising destination with the wife and kids on a Class 40.  And my wife can sail, and the kids like fast boats.  None of us wants a boat with wood, varnish, etc.  We don't want more stuff that can break or require maintenance than we need.  But...  We need a galley, reasonable bunks, and a head (with walls around it).  Not a stripped out racer.  I've seen Racer/Cruiser designs online, and I like the look.  My question is...  Would such a thing be as great as it seems in my head, or is a cruising cabin a blight on a boat built for racing, such that I should be envisioning a more traditional boat (like maybe a J or a Beneteau) if I want to cruise one something I can race shorthanded?

Also...  when Class 40's race, the scoring is actually handicapped, right?  Not straight OD scoring...  So a cruising C40 would theoretically get some time back at the finish, right?

 
shaggybaxter

shaggybaxter

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Hiya YM,

Coupla things spring to mind that I have noticed:

  • Water ballast. I had 400l in 2 water tanks in the cruisery version which sat under the cabin settees. Each one is prob 6' x 1.5' square so the volume is not small but it is hidden low and near to the centreline. Water ballast on a Class 40 can be 1500l and is higher and more outboard, so look for the tanks as it may get in the way of any planned reno. 
  • The cabin top is there it protect the crew, but takes up a lot of room. A more traditional cabintop opens up a nuts amount of space, (but gives less protection of course). 
  •  The frame design is all about structural integrity and usually pays lip service to convenience. I gained an appreciation for how unobtrusive my frames were when moving about the cabin in cruise mode.
  • The wide beam can sure rock a lot in a bad anchorage. Always made me think a hammock slung in the main cabin woulda been a much better sleep.  

Just some random thoughts for you. Me personally? I'd buy a cruiser or racer version again tomorrow no problem. 

 
Tanton Y_M

Tanton Y_M

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shaggybaxter said:
Hiya YM,

Coupla things spring to mind that I have noticed:

  • Water ballast. I had 400l in 2 water tanks in the cruisery version which sat under the cabin settees. Each one is prob 6' x 1.5' square so the volume is not small but it is hidden low and near to the centreline. Water ballast on a Class 40 can be 1500l and is higher and more outboard, so look for the tanks as it may get in the way of any planned reno. 
  • The cabin top is there it protect the crew, but takes up a lot of room. A more traditional cabintop opens up a nuts amount of space, (but gives less protection of course). 
  •  The frame design is all about structural integrity and usually pays lip service to convenience. I gained an appreciation for how unobtrusive my frames were when moving about the cabin in cruise mode.
  • The wide beam can sure rock a lot in a bad anchorage. Always made me think a hammock slung in the main cabin woulda been a much better sleep.  

Just some random thoughts for you. Me personally? I'd buy a cruiser or racer version again tomorrow no problem. 
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Maybe this first version with the limitation on the Scow bow width. Very different lines from my latest, but in my mind this 2013 Model would quite fit a double sailing purpose of cruising and racing. 

0383058001615497888_282ga1-mar11-21.jpg

0085750001615498646_282lpl-mar11-21.jpg

C40,2013E.jpg

0744737001615498285_282ga2-mar11-21.jpg

 
P

plugger

Member
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MY 2cents...couldnt help after replying to the "Want to upgrade from Catalina 275 to Pogo 30/36, but can't convince the wife." thread haha...

"My misso would vouch for our Pogo40...Its an 09 model, think early C40 with the shallower 2.2m draft, still has runners, and super basic interior.  Have enjoyed the Breton start of winter ~2 degrees C, to the hot Greek summer high 30's C...all with a daughter from 2-5yo over the seasons.  Strong, simple, fast, easy to handle ( can be a bit of a bitch in tight marinas and cross winds...) but Id take it any day over any of the usual mass productions boats Ive skippered working in the Med- think anything new from Benny Oceanis 46's to Lagoon 52's and everything in between.  We're pretty laid back when it comes to comfort and amenities...but everyone has their take on things!  The newer models are much more comfy inside, much better finished, and the swing keel version would be fucking awesome to get in close to shore next to the cats!"

All depends on how much racing vs how much camping you want to do on the water...the earlier Pogo's are a wicked mix of comfy vs fast...having said that they're never gonna be close to the newer C40's which some are doing IMOCA 24hr runs of only a decade or so ago...

 
B

bridhb

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As someone that doesn't know squat about these "new" type scow bows, other than watching videos of the minis, do they go better, as good, or worse beating into a short, steep chop than a pointy boat?  I realize that is probably not what they are designed for.  The videos of minis seem to suggest they push a lot of water forward in those type of conditions but I have no idea if it is slowing them down.  They sure seem to scream with cracked sheets though.

 
JonRowe

JonRowe

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bridhb said:
As someone that doesn't know squat about these "new" type scow bows, other than watching videos of the minis, do they go better, as good, or worse beating into a short, steep chop than a pointy boat?  I realize that is probably not what they are designed for.  The videos of minis seem to suggest they push a lot of water forward in those type of conditions but I have no idea if it is slowing them down.  They sure seem to scream with cracked sheets though.
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From racing against them, the scows are slower up wind than the pointy bows, but minis are very scow like in general, 6.5m boats with 3m wide sterns. The top series boat is probably still the Pogo 3, which is a hybrid really, not a pointy bow, with the Maxi being the next potential. The older more pointy minis can hold on a lot more up wind, but just get smoked down wind by any of the more modern designs. (I race a Pogo 2).

 
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B

bridhb

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JonRowe said:
From racing against them, the scows are slower up wind than the pointy bows, but minis are very scow like in general, 6.5m boats with 3m wide sterns. The top series boat is probably still the Pogo 3, which is a hybrid really, not a pointy bow, with the Maxi being the next potential. The older more pointy minis can hold on a lot more up wind, but just get smoked down wind by any of the more modern designs. (I race a Pogo 2).
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Thanks.  Watching the videos and the fuss they seem to make through the water when beating, that is what I would have expected but the designers seem to be very smart people.  Maybe someday I can get a ride on one of these type of boats, it would be a thrill.  Probably closer to my laser than my early 80's IOR racer/cruiser.

 
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