McConaghy Boats claims Supermaxi record

by Rob Mundle on 16 Jan 2006 While Bob Oatley’s canting keel supermaxi yacht Wild Oats XI continues to receive accolades around the world for its historic and record breaking triple-crown result in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the yacht’s builder, McConaghy Boats, is claiming an associated record of its own.

The 98ft long Reichel/Pugh designed Wild Oats XI was built in record time at the McConaghy facility in Sydney so it would be ready to compete.

Wild Oats XI’s result in the 628nm Hobart classic was unparalleled since the inaugural contest in 1945. As well as claiming a stunning line honours victory in race record time it took overall honours on IRC handicap.

And when Neville Crichton’s McConaghy-built near sistership, Alfa Romeo, finished a close second across the line and second on handicap McConaghy Boats could also claim a rare 1-2 double on the international ocean racing scene.

Already recognised as a world leader in the construction of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced canting keel ocean racers, McConaghy Boats had no hesitation in meeting Bob Oatley’s requirement for the yacht to be built in little more than nine months so it would be ready for the start on December 26.

Construction commenced mid February last year and Wild Oats XI was delivered on schedule on December 1, just over three weeks before the start gun sounded. The crew, under the leadership of sailing master and skipper Mark Richards, was then able to complete a near seamless preparation for the big event.

‘This was already a major project because of the size and complexity of the design,’ said McConaghy Boats director, Jon Morris, ‘but to then add such a tight time frame to the equation made it extremely challenging. It is a credit to the entire team at McConaghy that as well as meeting that challenge we produced a hull that passed every test and took every prize available to it in the Hobart race. Our vast experience in building high-tech canting ballast, twin foil yachts was certainly a plus for us.

‘The achievement was made even more commendable by the fact that neither Wild Oats XI nor Alfa Romeo have had any problems with their canting keel or steering systems. This is a testament to the thoroughness and experience of the design and build process employed by McConaghy and the key parties involved in these groundbreaking boats. Central Coast Hydraulics designed and built the keel ram and all other hydraulic systems while Olectric Systems created the programs to control the complex hydraulic systems. Additionally, the yacht designers Reichel/Pugh, and the composite engineers SP Technologies, did a superb job in coming up with a structure that would absorb the massive loads that these boats generate.’

The results achieved by Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo adds to an already impressive list of successes for McConaghy Boats when it comes to canting keel yachts that they have built. The Max Z86 Morning Glory obliterated the 2005 Transpac record and Newport-Bermuda record in 2004; the Owen Clarke designed canting keel Open 50 Art Forms also set a new record for the single handed Transat in 2005. In addition to these the company continues to see outstanding performances from the Dubois 90 Genuine Risk and the 66ft Wild Oats.

For more information please contact Jon Morris at McConaghy Boats.
Telephone + 61 (0) 2 9997 7722 or email jmorris@mcconaghy-aus.com