Desing: VX 40 Catamaran

The VX 40 (see header photo) is the new star of the sailing world.
Although the boat and class had some exposure with the Volvo Extreme 40 circuit, the boat´s biggest success has been the adoption as a training vessel for BMWOracle Racing and Alinghi.

Essentially a scaled beach cat concept, a huge Tornado with Yves Lode style lines that resembles his Dart F18 and Spitfire boats, built by Tornado guru Goran Marstrom and manage by Tornado Sport company owned by Herbert Deckesen and Mitch Booth.

Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget

Some data from the builder:

Aircraft and Formula 1 production technology
The boat is produced in an Autoclave from Carbon Fiber and Nomex core. This technology is normally reserved for aircraft construction or F1 car racing with limited use in yacht mast construction. Basically the Autoclave is a pressurised oven that allows a much greater vacuum on the laminate and then baked at 120 deg c produces the ultimate high strength light weight structure.
The Volvo Extreme 40 will be the largest boat ever built in Autoclave and will set the new standard in mid size multihull construction.
Boat SpecLength (LOA): 40ft (12.19m)
Beam: 26ft (7.92m)
Displacement: 1250kg
Mast height: 62ft (18.89m)
Mainsail: 75msq (upwind and downwind sailing)
Jib: 25msq (upwind sailing)
Gennaker: 78msq (downwind sailing)
Top speed: 40 knots
Boat Designers, Builders and Suppliers:
Designer: Yves Loday, in collaboration with Mitch Booth and Herbert Dercksen
Builders: TornadoSport

Suppliers: North Sails, Holmatro, Harken, Maffioli, Marstrom , Heol composites

For us the VX40 represents the chance to show the “slow guys” what sailing is all about… speed and fun.
Welcome to the multihull revolution…. I mean everyone´s invited, ISAF just didn’t´t open the invitation though…