Sea change... Part I

Canting-keel technology will impact the fundamentals of offshore sailing to an extent unmatched since the introduction of composite construction 25 years ago. In this series of articles Farr Yacht Design present their own view of the major issues involved. In Part I the Farr team look at the burgeoning popularity of canting-keel boats and offer some insight into the design trade-offs faced in their development

Growth without end?

In the next six to 12 months the ranks of canting-keel race boats are due to expand dramatically. Many boats in the Mini 6.5m and IMOCA classes (Open 50/60) have already been fitted with canting keels, now firmly established as the fastest configuration. A number of recent 'supermaxis' - including the MaxZ86s, Genuine Risk, Mari Cha IV, Skandia, Maiden Hong Kong and Maximus to name a few - have also adopted canting keels and these will soon be joined by half a dozen Volvo Open 70s, several Cookson 50s and many others. Canting-keel boats have won three Vendée Globes, two Round the World Alone races, numerous Mini Transats and many other long-distance events.

To read the remainder of this and many other topical technical articles, please purchase your copy of the May 2005 edition of Seahorse International Sailing, available at selected newsstands or by calling: + 44 (0) 1590 671899 or by email at: info@seahorse.co.uk

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