Med40 Series 2018

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Med40 Series – Grand Prix yacht racing’s most exciting new class launches in the Mediterranean

The first event of a thrilling new sailing circuit – the Med40 Series – that promises to open up high-performance planing boats to a wider audience, will kick off at the Sail Racing PalmaVela in May 2018.

Founded by the yachting entrepreneur, Siggi Mansaker and the cutting-edge yacht designer, Shaun Carkeek, the Med40 Series, will follow the Fast40+ class rule. Boats of both new and old design will be allowed to enter, however, new boats should be built according to the rule. Initially, the series will accommodate a wide rating band at the lower end.
“The Med40 Series has evolved out of a real need on the European circuit for a more open high-performance planing boat that has that wow-factor,” Carkeek, said. “Most of the boats being raced at the moment don’t plane downwind, these boats do and once you’ve sailed one it’s hard to go back.”

For the organisers, this Series is a natural evolution. Carkeek has been designing successfully for every high-performance circuit on the globe, right up to the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race, for over two decades. He introduced this high-performance concept in the USA after discussion with clients at the New York Yacht Club eight years ago.
“I’ve been designing these 40-footers for 7-8 years,” he said. “We started this class in the US; we developed the HPR (High Performance Racing) rule and the boats raced all over the US winning every major regatta. Then, gradually, design offices came round to it and that led to the Fast40+. The Med40 Series is the next logical step as the 40ft class grows internationally.”

The high-performance Fast40+ has been highly successful in the UK in the Solent after its debut in 2016 and the Med40 Series will bring that drama to the Med in 2018.

The first Med40 Series has four rounds scheduled during the summer of 2018 with an autumn series planned for October to December.

Season 2018 – Palma de Mallorca
Round 1 Sail Racing Palma Vela, May
Round 2 MED40 Series, June
Round 3 MED 40 Series, July
Round 4 Copa Del Rey, August
Autumn Series: October to December