Construction continues on the new Archambault M34, the boat which will replace the Farr 30 (ex-Mumm 30) as the one design for the Tour de France a la Voile for the 2011 season. The very first M34 will be launched this April under Nexus Dean Barker Team's colours. 

The first two units will take part in the 2010 "Tour de France à la Voile" at Dunkerque.

LOA: 10.34 m
Beam: 2.98 m
Displacement: 2400 kg
Draft: 1.70 m / 2.5 m
Sail area upwind: 72 m2
Spinnaker: 130 m2

www.m34.eu

The new Jeanneau 53 is a performance-oriented Philippe Briand hull with a long waterline, providing seaworthiness and speed.

The standard keel option is epoxy encapsulated cast iron, 2.28m in length and weighs 4985 kg. A shallow keel option is available at 1.80 m and 5376 kg. The spade rudder has a foam core and GRP skin over a composite stock.

In it's "performance package" configuration the 53 has a fractional rig built by Z-Spar, standing rigging is discontinuous wire, running rigging is Dyneema. The fully battened mainsail is mounted on rolling mast cars. There is a hydraulic backstay adjuster, triradial cut 135 genoa and a max-prop folding propeller.

LOA: 16.06 m
Hull length: 15.73 m
Beam: 4.77 m
Light displacement: 14,935 kg.
Standard keel draft: 2.28 m
Optional shallow keel draft: 1.80 m
Standard sail area: 132 m2
Performance sail area: 146 m2
CE Category (in process): A

www.jeanneau.com

The first 65 ft "X-Yachts Performance Cruiser" has been launched, rigged, and tested.

X-65 has been designed and developed as a "mini super yacht", where sail handling systems enables shorthanded crews to handle the yacht. The standard carbon mast, which normally comes with a "Park Avenue" carbon boom, however on hull 01 this is replaced with a newly developed FurlerBoom, which is electrically powered from a Bamar integral electrical motor.

Standard winches are all electrical selftailing models by Harken, tracks and blocks are by "Ronstan" Liros Spectra sheets and halyards are all operated by the three cockpit winches, where they are stored inside deck integrated compartments.

All running rigging runs below the deck surfaces, which are covered with teak laid decks. The deck recessed spray hood dodger is neatly stored below two rigid GRP deck lids, which makes the deck design look extremely smooth and clean.

Another 7 X-65's are planned for delivery before mid 2010.

www.x-yachts.com

The new Dufour 34 Evolution reveals the new direction taken by the yard since the introduction of the Dufour 45 Performance.

Much attention has been paid to ergonomics, and so, for greater use, the crew can access the sail locker either form the interior or from the exterior. The new Dufour 34e has a new helm console and entirely redesigned cockpit layout. The coach roof, side decks and large open cockpit make crew movements easier.

Hand laminated GRP Hull, vacuum bagged. PVC foam core sandwich above water line. NPG Gelcoat with first layer of cloth impregnated with NPG resin forming an optimum barrier against osmosis. Inner moulded hull bottom, structural framing laminated to the hull.

Principal specifications:
LOA: 10.60 m
Hull length: 10.28 m
Beam: 3.48 m
Light displacement: 5400 kg.
Draft: 1.50 m
Sail area: approx 65 m2
Designers: Umberto Felci / Patrick Roséo

www.dufour-yachts.com

Wauquiez Yachts debuted their new "Opium 39" at Salon Nautique in early December.

Opium 39 is made of fiber glass, balsa and PVC foam sandwich with a vinylester core; two keel options are available: fixed and lifting. The interior is finished with teak trimmed Okume.

Principal specifications:

LOA: 11.47 m
LWL: 11.02 m
Beam: 4.18 m
Draft (fixed keel): 2.13 m
Draft (lifting keel): 1.45 m
Light displacement: 5000 kg
Mainsail: 44 m2
Genoa: 43 m2
Spinnaker: 125 m2
Asymmetric: 115 m2
Design: Marc Lombard

www.wauquiez.com

Beneteau turned again to Farr Yacht Design for the new Beneteau First 40, the replacement for the very successful First 40.7. Beneteau describes the boat as being designed for cruising but adaptable for racing. That adaptation certainly proved itself in the recent Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, where "Two True", one of the first new Farr-designed Beneteau First 40 stock production racer/cruiser to be imported into Australia, won IRC overall by 42 minutes from another new First 40, Wicked (Mike Welsh) after a close race-long duel in which they followed a similar strategy - stay well east of the rhumbline.

The First 40 comes in two configurations: shallow and deep draught.

Prinicipal specifications:
Hull length: 12.24 m
LOA: 12.58 m
Beam: 3.89 m
Light displacement: 7900 kg.
Minimum shallow draught: 1.95 m
Minimum deep draught: 2.45 m
Total sail area: 98 m2
CE Certification: A12-B12-C12

www.beneteau.com

From the board of Laurie Davidson comes the latest in a long line of high performance race yachts for a Californian owner. This is the second serious race boat that Franklin's have built for him, the first being the 52 foot Davidson designed Pendragon IV built some 9 years ago.

Pendragon VI is 69 feet in length, the design team included Dibley Marine of Auckland New Zealand. The interior ends are finished in high gloss over the carbon fibre while the centre area is a paint finish with American maple trim and red upholstery.

The owner plans to race Pendragon VI in the Transpac as well as both offshore and inshore races in North America.

Photo at right from Nigel Price in Sail-World.com

Build pics from Franklin Boatyards.

The J/95 opens up a new world to sailors who may have otherwise thought that high performance in shallow water was the special preserve of power boats.

The J/95’s performance hull emphasizes high form stability, relatively narrow beam and an easily driven shape. A modest upwind sail plan powers this boat at speeds and upwind tacking angles that sailors expect from a J. The J/95 will sail upwind with the centerboard fully retracted and retain its stability while doing so.  Over 90% of J/95’s ballast is in the fixed lead keel, with the rest in the foil shaped bronze centerboard.

To optimize steering control during shoal draft operation, the J/95 is specified with tandem rudders.

The J/95 has high speed potential, especially with a large masthead asymmetric spinnaker and a raised centerboard.

jboats.com

Simonis Voogd has designed a new high performance, all carbon 60 footer called Guardian 60. This yacht will be a natural follow up on the Next 56 range of yachts which were constructed in New Zealand. This high-tech composite yacht will be fitted with twin rudders and lifting keel, as well as a rotating wing mast.

The boat is currently in build at the Boat Developments yard in Falmouth.

The wingmast with a span of 650 mm is under construction at Southern Spars in New Zealand and the design team, consisting of structural engineers and system engineers are working overtime to get the boat to the water in Spring 2010.

www.boatdevelopments.com
www.simonis.com

The Elan 380 is a new high performance cruiser designed to capture the spirit of the performance oriented sailor and at the same time offering comfortable cruising in style for his family or friends.

The open transom with efficient cockpit layout is designed to fulfil the needs of racing crew as well the ease of handling while shorthanded cruising. All lines including German mainsheet system under deck led back to cockpit to powerful self-tailing winches accompanied with large diameter wheel.

Design Rob Humphreys

sail.elan-yachts.com