SEASON REVIEW KEELBOATS
Belgium, and concluded: “We’re looking
forward to a massive participation, and
can announce a new trophy for ‘vintage’
IOR-half Tonners with overlapping
sails and an IRC-rating below 0.945.”
The latest news from Nautor’s
Swan is the creation of the Swan One
Design – an organised race circuit for
three existing one designs – ClubSwan
42, Swan 45 and ClubSwan 50. This
new project is designed to ensure the
continuity for The Nations Trophy, and
new Mediterranean and US Leagues
calendar. Diana McConnell from the
Swan class that celebrated its tenth
anniversary in 2017 also tells us that asRight
Nautor’s Swan has
a new one design
race circuit for
boats including
the ClubSwan 50from January 2018, a new European
association under the direction of
Nautor’s Swan will manage the class.
“Most of the boats are now located
in Europe. A number of the original
owners in the US have had their boats
for ten years and are ready to move
to new projects. There is discussion as
to possible rule changes, but nothing
is definite at this point,” she explains.NEW LAUNCHES
Among the surge of new boat launches
in the 2017 season came the IC37
Melges 37 from Melges Performance
Sailboats. This super sleek new boat,
which is being targeted at Corinthian
sailors, was part commisioned by
the New York Yacht Club who will
be taking 20 boats, all set to be
delivered by 2019. Plus we understand
at least another ten are on order.
The recent Botin-designed Melges
40 , which features twin rudders and
a canting keel is already proving
to be a popular, exhilarating one-
design for windward/leeward
racing with good support for its
competitive Grand Prix Series.Right
The Half Tonner
class continues
to enjoy a revival;
Racing in the
competitive
Swan 45s
Below
Sun Fast 3200;
JPK 10.10; The
Botin-designed
Melges 40PAUL WYETHCARLO BORLENGHIDAVID HARDINGCARLO BORLENGHIDAVID HARDING C/O MELGESFebruary 2018 Yachts & Yachting 65Keelboat classes_AC-GC-hg_th_TH.indd 65 19/12/2017 09:26