LOA 11.9 m (39 ft 1 in) | ||
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Class 40 is a class of monohull sailboat and a yacht primarily used for short handed offshore and coastal racing. The class is administered by International Class 40 Association which is recognised by the International Sailing Federation.
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Background
The "Class 40" 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 a world-class competition, 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.
By their design, Class 40 monohulls sits nicely in size between boats such as Classe Mini and Figaro 2 to that of the Open 60 IMOCA.
Single and double handed sailing represents a rapidly growing sector of the sport of sailing. The class 40 is a unique design that offers an affordable boat that can be sailed competitively in a range of conditions either short handed, by two people, or a solo sailor. The class is very 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.