Shakermaker, Quokka and Roaring Meg showed how fast IRM boats could be and how competitive they could be in IRC as well as IRM. The new 11.3 One-Design is a distillation of the best features of these boats and with a simplified rig configuration, will make a fabulous one-design capable of providing great value for money.

Performance

The Ker 11.3 is a development of Roaring Meg, the 35 footer that gave the 40 foot one-designs such a hard time on the water at the 2000 Commodores Cup. Our computer predictions show the 11.3 to be on average 2% faster than Roaring Meg...

Rating

While the 11.3 is obviously competitive under IRM like her predecessors, she is also particularly competitive under IRC. While under IRM, Roaring lead the 2000 Rolex Commodores Cup fleet overall on corrected time, under IRC Shakermaker destroyed class 2 in Cork 2000, winning 4 races and beating some of the established "bandits" such as the Swan 48 "Jacobite". The new 11.3 is expected to be even more competitive under IRC than her predecessors with her simple no-penalty rig configuration.

Construction

Being built out of female tooling means that, unlike one-off's, she does not have to carry the weight of filler around the race course and being painted, she does not have to carry the weight of gelcoat and backing mats unlike conventional production boats. Utilising the best features of production and one-off technology, the 11.3 is able to be produced to the quality of the best one-off's while at considerably less expense. Keel and mast loads are taken by a large simple T-Structure to reduce deflections, and structural weight.

Keel & Rudder

The keel is an ultra low centre of gravity configuration, featuring a low-maintenance aluminium-bronze strut that sockets up into the hull for maximum structural efficiency. A large hydro-dynamically-refined bulb is cast around the strut and a composite fairing is attached to the strut to form the fin. The fairing is formed out of female moulds, so re-creating the exact designed foil section time after time is guaranteed. The rudder is of carbon fibre construction and turns in high quality self aligning needle bearings for minimum friction.

Rig

A simple Carbon 2-Spreader, non-overlapping runner-less rig is fast becoming popular for its ease of use and reliability. We understand that the rating office is keen to encourage such rig types with rule tweaks in its favour. The rigging is discontinuous Nitronic 50 rod, with high quality fittings.

Engine

An 18hp Yanmar will provide plenty of power for such an easily driven boat, and a low drag folding propeller on a minimum diameter shaft provide minimum drag under sail.

Interior

An aesthetically pleasing, fully functional offshore racing interior allows the yacht to be sensibly raced in longer races such as the Fastnet and the around Ireland with ease. A three burner L-shaped galley can cater for a full crew and a sink and large coolbox are also provided. Pipe cots allow for comfortable off-watch sleeping and it is possible to sleep eight to ten aboard for situations where this is required.