FRAGRANT HARBOUR MAGAZINE, MARCH 2003.

Race1 Ker 11.3 Review

Hong Kong’s racing scene looks set for a shake-up with the arrival of Paul Bankowski’s Race1 Ker 11.3 ‘Jaywalker’. Designed by 30 year-old British designer Jason Ker, the 11.3 is an IRM one-design that performs well under IRC.

Jaywalker, the 10th Race1 Ker 11.3 to be built, is the first to be exported. Seven of the previous nine boats competed in the 2002 Rolex Commodores Cup in England, more boats than in any other class. And with three wins, two 2nds and two 3rds they were the overall winner of the Inshore series. The 11.3’s also performed well in Cowes Week and the RORC offshore races.

The Race1 team, comprising Admirals Cup veteran Phil Crebbin and Anthony Haines, were in Honk Kong last month to commission the boat before handing it over at the RHKYC dock party on 5th February.

Designed for a crew of 8-10 (nine max under IRC) the hull is built of e-glass/foam/epoxy laminate, vacuum-bagged and post cured to produce a lightweight shell. Paint is used to eliminate the weight of gelcoat and filler. A T-shaped moulding centres the interior layout for the mast step and keel attachment. All told, displacement is 4,300kg, 2,500kg of which is the keel. Jaywalker has been fitted with wheel steering, replacing the tiller, although this does reduce cockpit space. The standard model comes installed with an 18hp Yanmar 2GM20 diesel engine.

Bankowski will race Jaywalker in the remaining Uin-na-Mara Series and the coming Typhoon Series. In a harbour test sail, Jaywalker, with 13 knots true wind speed, achieved 9.5 knots boat speed. Rated at 1.159 IRC, the Race1 Ker 11.3 is designed to give the Farr 40s a run for their money.