Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

McConaghy Ker 40 jumping onto the World’s stage

by John Curnow on 28 May 2011
Crew thoroughly enjoying the ride. - McConaghy Ker 40 McConaghy Boats
The Ker 40 Keronimo has had her maiden sail. This boat’s sea trials on the Solent in the UK is especially important, as she is the first of the new IRC Racers to come out of the McConaghy Boats factory.

Certainly something that was always going to redefine the 40-foot performance benchmark was to be much anticipated, so in ideal sailing conditions, just a few got to see Jonathan Goring’s sensational, all-white wonder take flight. All were impressed with Jason Ker’s latest design and she is set to campaign hard in all of the major attractions during the Northern Summer.

You would hope that a skipper with a new boat would be thrilled; Jonathan was not only thrilled but incredibly excited and very complimentary of his new vessel. ‘Keronimo hits incredible upwind numbers for a 40 footer. She reaches a solid eight knots once powered up and then simply lights up once you head downwind. Keronimo tracks incredibly well with her crew’s weight on the rail and there’s also the added benefit that the crew hikes well aft, for a much dryer ride. Honestly though, our bowman isn't used to hiking behind the helmsman downwind! She goes like a train.

She’s just excellent!’

The Ker 40 is the first boat out from the latest range of high performance racing yachts to be built by McConaghy Boats. In addition to performing above expectations out on the water, back at the dock, she looks simply magnificent, displaying all of the characteristics the market expects from a McConaghy built vessel. Given that Keronimo is a production yacht, this is a remarkable achievement and testament to the efforts of the McConaghy team, in terms of her planning and production. Little wonder then that one critical dockside observer merely commented, ‘It is a work of art!’

Jonathan Goring then went on to add, ‘The build quality is just superb. We stress tested the boat in up to 30 knots of wind today and both the hull and Hall Spar rig stood up well.’


Joint Managing Director of McConaghy Boats, Mark Evans said, ‘We’re very excited about the launch of the first Ker 40 IRC Racer. Our team have been working diligently on developing this new breed of boat for over 12 months now and it’s just fantastic to see the first boat on the water. Witnessing her exceeding expectations in performance and quality is really very satisfying.’

Jason Ker and Simon Schofield from Ker Yacht Design visited the McConaghy factory earlier in the month, before heading to Hamble and Keronimo’s sea trials. They were very impressed with the new boat's build quality and on the water performance, where her rating came out slightly under the anticipated figures, which is very good news indeed. Both Jason and Simon commented, ‘We’re very excited by the potential of this yacht.’

The 4800kg boat has been delivered on target design weight. The second hull is leaving the factory now bound for Singapore, with the Sydney based owner of Boat #3 in the McConaghy factory today, inspecting progress on his boat. Boat #4 is in the mould presently and will be on her way to her Japanese owner soon. Boats #5 and 6 are following closely behind.

‘The orders keep coming in’, said a delighted Evans. Mark has been based full time at the 10,000m² Australian owned factory in China since it was set up over six years ago, which employs over 220 people. For the globally recognised expert in composite construction, this latest project also highlights the knowledge transfer that has occurred from the Sydney, Australia facility. Indeed, around 15 expatriates are also in China full time, working on everything from the Mach 2’s and Elliott 6m’s, to the Ker 40, MC 38 and the 148-foot power trimaran. Another item in the stable and due to start next month is the first of two MC260 catamarans that have been sold.

So if you’re excited by this news and want to jump in to the most exciting 40 footer around, go to McConaghy Boats or call +61 2 999 777 22.

Barton Marine Pipe GlandsMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

A Day at the WASZP Games
Video interviews with some of the sailors and supporters of the class The WASZP Games 2025, being held at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy in the UK, has attracted 248 of the foiling dinghies to take part in a week of varied and high intensity racing.
Posted today at 7:33 pm
Admiral's Cup David Maynard Thursday Gallery
First race of the day, captured for our viewing pleasure David Maynard was out on the water to catch the action from the first on Thursday of the Admiral's Cup Inshore Racing.
Posted today at 7:04 pm
World Sailing's inaugural Impact Report
Charting a new course for a sustainable future in sport World Sailing, the global governing body for the sport of sailing, today released its first Impact Report, a comprehensive overview of the federation's significant progress in environmental sustainability and social contribution.
Posted today at 3:33 pm
Yoann Richomme returns to Fastnet
Says Elodie Bonafous' is the boat to beat This weekend's biennial Rolex Fastnet Race - one of the oldest classics in sailing - sees the IMOCA Class return to the racetrack, with eight boats on the startline on Saturday for what is the second round of this year's IMOCA Globe Series Championship.
Posted today at 3:12 pm
Fuerteventura PWA Grand Slam Day 6
Arguably the best female Freestyle final of all time Sarah-Quita Offringa pushed all the way by Maaike Huvermann in arguably the best female Freestyle final of all time, while Yentel Caers wins ‘Battle of Belgium' against Steven Van Broeckhoven to hold respective event leads.
Posted today at 11:48 am
How to follow RORC Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race
At present 451 yachts are entered, which, if all start on Saturday, will break the previous record. This year's centennial edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race will set sail this Saturday, 26 July from the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes, Isle of Wight, bound for Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France.
Posted today at 10:30 am
WASZP Games 2025 Day 3
When racing got under way, it was a game of patience, persistence, and pressure-hunting Day 3 of the WASZP Games dawned with cautious optimism as the early risers in the boat park were greeted by a light but promising northerly breeze. However, an approaching front caused the race committee to call a three-hour postponement.
Posted today at 8:23 am
Admiral's Cup Paul Wyeth Wednesday Photo Gallery
The wind was lighter, the conditions were overcast, but Paul still makes the action come alive The wind was lighter, the conditions were overcast, but Paul Wyeth still makes the action come alive with his photos. Here's his gallery from the racing on Wednesday in the 2025 Admiral's Cup.
Posted today at 5:26 am
Admiral's Cup PKC Media Wednesday Photo Gallery
Out on the water on Wednesday to capture the lighter wind action Patrick Condy of PKC Media was out on the water on Wednesday to capture the lighter wind action in the 2025 Admiral's Cup. Here are his selection of photos from the racing!
Posted today at 5:06 am
Admiral's Cup Ingrid Abery Wednesday Gallery
Up close and personal with the teams on a lighter wind day Thanks to her long lens and skill, Ingrid Abery got up close and personal with the Admiral's Cup teams on a lighter wind day in the Solent. Enjoy these crew photos, and many more in the gallery above!
Posted today at 4:46 am