Race1 Ker 9.8 - Press Comments

"DRESSED TO THE 9.8s"

AS MENTIONED last issue, the Race1/Ker operation is set to launch a new, smaller version of its successful 11.3 for next season. A builder is currently being appointed but it does seem likely that the leading contenders will be the current 11.3 builders, Vision Yachts and Ovington, who made a good job of building the Farr 52s and, having series built Mumm 30s, are well experienced.

Although the full set of drawings are only now being completed - full details will be available at the Southampton Boat Show on stand 302 - there are already three or four probable customers. In most respects the 9.8 will be a scaled down 11.3, with a similar hydrodynamic profile and rig; it will be some of the detailing that will be changed for easier series production.

While Race1/Ker tooled for the 11.3 with an initial expectation of selling around 10 boats - its success means it expects to have 20 on the water by next summer, with 11 sold to date this time the team is projecting to sell 50 9.8s over the next few years.

'The success of the 11.3 has now outstripped even our expectations,' said Jonny Falkner of Race1. 'Jason has proven very accurate in his predictions as to its performance and we're very pleased to be working on other boats.' Ker is aiming for the 9.8 (a 32.5-footer in old money) to be quicker round the track than a Prima 38, and probably quicker than the IMX 40 in the lighter stuff.

One key aim is to make the boat competitive under IRC so that it will have broad appeal to those racing in mixed fleets in other regions; but it will also be competitive under IRM, or as a one-design class when racing at Cowes or Cork. It should come out with a rating of around 1.095 IRC and IRM of 0.994. Conventionally that would make it one of the quicker Class 2 boats.

The package price is due to be just under £90,000, ex-VAT and sails, but including an instrument pack and a cradle. A charter and boat management package - similar to that which Race1 offers with the 11.3 - is being put together. (Around half of the 11.3 owners have opted for this, although many have been having too much fun with their new toys to charter them out regularly.)

So far the 9.8 has attracted interest from a few owners who will use the 9.8 for racing while they maintain a pure cruiser or a cruiser/racer as well, for more leisurely sailing.

Obviously the key intention is to have at least four or five boats on the water for the trials for next year's Rolex Commodores' Cup, and boats will be available for visiting teams to charter for this event.

Jason believes the class splits for the Commodores' Cup will go something like: a small boat class at less than 1.0, so Mumm 30s, Ker 9.8s, lD35, Ker 9m, to the Mumm 36 as the quickest boat; then a middle boat fleet at 1.0-1.065/1.070 or thereabouts so 11.3s, Farr 40s; then a bigger boat fleet at 1.040 and above - so once again the Farr 40 would fit both big and mid sized categories, as would the 11.3, with the top end of this class being probably the Farr 52s.

Meanwhile, also on the cards is a new Race1/Ker 42-footer, probably in carbon, which will be much more offshore focused including a full set of pipe-cots and aft sited nav station. Already a couple of existing Ker customers are keen to go in this direction. Confirming Ker's desire to go head-to-head with the Farr, he is also working on a 52-footer and has clients to sell this idea to. The 11.3s will have their first national championship later this month at the Royal Southern YC.