News

It was the 10th edition of this celebrated Festival of Speed in Douarnenez, which saw Bruno Jourdren and his crew of Kito de Pavant and Bernard Stamm compete with their Rogers Class 40- Le Pal. The team had some very impressive runs with a score line of 1,3,1 putting them in poll position, ahead of Giovanni Soldini –(Telecom Italia) until gear failure in the final race kept them off the podium.


We were delighted to see the production built Rogers Class 40 beating Soldini’s Telecom Italia in two out of the first three races, including overall victory in one of the time trials.

The Rogers 46 Yeoman XXXII had a very successful Antigua Sailing Week at the hands of our Rogers 82 client. Using the Rogers 46 as a training boat for his developing crew, Brian Benjamin helmed her to second place in class in what proved to be boat-breaking swells for many of the competition. The Rogers 46 was hot on the heals of the professionally crewed TP 52 Rio for most of the week, providing spectacular video footage which included the Rogers 46 planing past her larger rival downwind after the first mark of the Redonda Race on Day Five. www.sailingweek.com/v2/video.php


Photo: Tim Gregoire/ SAILING Magazine

The inaugural RORC Caribbean 600 race started on 23rd February from English Harbour, Antigua. This 605 nautical mile yacht race, zig zagged north as far as St Maarten and as far south as Guadeloupe. The race attracted 30 boats including some of the world‚Äôs most prestigious racing yachts- Sojana and ICAP Leopard as well as a Swan 90, Swan 62’s, a Cookson 50, Class 40s and the Rogers 46 Yeoman XXXII. Conditions were perfect and enviably, particularly when reading the blogs whilst sitting in England!

Congratulations go to David Aisher and his crew on board Yeoman XXXII who finished winners of IRC Class Zero (on the water and on corrected time) and also 4th overall on corrected. The crew consisted of friends and RORC members including RORC Commodore Andrew McIrvine. Overall podium places went to: Lee Overlay Partners (Cookson 50), ICAP Leopard (super maxi) and DSK Pioneer (Swan 90).

The build of this new performance cruiser racer at Goetz Custom Boats is progressing very well and is on schedule for launch April 2010. Currently the bulkheads are in, the internal structuring is nearing completion and the deck is moulded. Interest is strong for this IRC design and as a result, RYD are now developing a larger yacht with a similiar philosophy.

From the team at Rogers Yacht Design and Rogers Yacht Sales, we wish all our readers, owners, builders and suppliers a very Happy Christmas and New Year!

We have had a fantastic year both on and off the water. The Rogers Class 40s and 46s have produced an exceptional list of top results and with the launch of our first Open 60 and completing the design work for the Rogers 82, 2008 has been our best year in 17 years of business.

The RYD office will be closed between Wednesday 24th December – Monday 5th January ’09.

Day 40, nearly half way round, 40% of fleet abandoned to date, with others carrying severe damage such as Paprec-Virbac 2 with a broken rudder…..Jonny is still in the race. Currently in the freezing conditions of the Southern Oceans, Artemis II and Jonny are bearing up well, though a damaged dagger board will limit her performance up wind on port tack.

Our thoughts go out to Mike Golding who recently abandoned. He was leading at the time when he was dismasted and particularly to Yann Elies on Generali who broke his leg yesterday. He awaits naval rescue on Saturday and we wish him a speedy and safe rescue and recovery.

These ongoing incidences only continue to remind us all just how incredibly tough this race is, even for the very best.

The first major mile stone has been completed on the new Rogers 82 at Goetz Custom Boats. The hull has been released from the hull plug, weighed and moved into the fit-out hall. The deck is currently being laminated and will be complete late in January, whilst hull fairing and internals structure are being installed upside down.

The project is currently slightly ahead of schedule and she is looking stunning. As milestones are reached, news will be posted. For details on this IRC thoroughbred contact RYD and take a peak at the current article in Yachting World January ’09 issue, page 120-121.

After months and months of preparation and incredible hard work by the whole team it was an emotional farewell to Jonny and Artemis II, as they finally left the dock in Sable d’Olonne, for the start of the 2008-’09 Vendee Globe.

We have designed a leading edge boat and one that we believe is robust enough to ‚Äòendure‚Äô and to look after Jonny over 26,000 miles. It is a long tough race known as the ‘Everest of Ocean Races’ where anything can happen, even to the very best and most experienced skippers. Ultimately, you have to be in it to win it. Starting this epic race is an achievement in itself, crossing the finish line‚Ķ‚Ķ.is something else!

The Vendee Race has a fantastic easy to use web site with regular video links, news releases and a race tracker. To follow:http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/

The Class 40 2008 season ended on a high for Tanguy de Lamotte and the Rogers Class 40s in general. Tanguy recently took part in the Morbihan Mondail 40 event in La Trinite sur Mer, which proved to be a true international event with 20 competeing boats. Tanguy and his crew won 4 out of the 5 races and took the tile of Class 40 2008 overall Champion. Mention must also be given to Mark Wynne-Smith and his crew who gained a 5th overall.

2008 has been a remarkable season for the Rogers boats and we are delighted with the many podium positions that have been achieved by our owners. We all look forward to following the 2009 season.

The first unveiling of the new Rogers 82 Performance Cruiser Racer will take place at the Monaco Yacht Show next week (24th‚Äì 27th September ’08). The RYD team will be on Stand QT24, T-Central Tent and available to discuss this exciting new design in detail.

For further information or to book an appointment, please call Kerry at our offices on: +44 (0)1590 672000 or e.mail: Kerry@rogersyachtdesign.com.

If you can’t make it to the show, go to ‘Current Projects’ on this site to read more.