The Class 40 is the hot rod of offshore racing boats. This is a “box rule” class – within specified limitations, mostly concerned with keeping costs in check, any boat that can fit inside a box 12.19m (40 feet) long, 4.50 meters wide, with a draft of 3.0 meters and a mast no more than 19 meters above the waterline will meet the rule. There are no lifting foils, carbon hulls or any of the other expensive speed tricks that drive costs through the roof, but designers have found plenty of ways to continue to make new boats faster, and to make existing boats faster as well, like all good hot-rodders do.
Learn more about the class here.
The Kent Racing Class 40 is #34. She was launched as Ocean Warrior in 2007 and completed two of the legs of the Portimao Ocean Race before returning tothe Bahamas, the home waters of the owners. We purchased the boat in late 2020 and in the spring of 2021 we put her through a substantial refit, sandblasting her all the old paint off her bottom and giving her a great racing surface. Her instruments have been updated and new sails ordered from the Doyle loft in New Zealand where Gator works. She has been re-christened KENT RACING, at least until a sponsor is found that allows us to re-brand her.
Every Class 40 races the others boat-for-boat…there is no handicap. Designers have really gotten a handle on how to make these boats fast, and the newest examples are blazingly quick. The Class 40 Association has a Vintage category, into which we fit, that allows older boats to be recognized for their performance against others of their era. We look forward to both levels of competition.