Design and Construction
The Ker 40+ measures 12.55 meters overall with a beam of 4.18 meters and a draft of 2.90 meters, displacing 4,178 kilograms. Those numbers describe a narrow, deep, light hull shaped for speed under the Fast40+ rule rather than volume below. Construction is carbon/epoxy/foam, and the boat carries an ISO Structural rating of A with an ISO OSR rating of 1, the latter marking her as built to offshore special-regulation standards for serious competition. As a one-design build, every hull should match the same tooling and specification, which is what lets the class race on equal terms. McConaghy built the boat in carbon/epoxy/foam as stated by the designer.
Rig and Sail Plan
Southern Spars supplied the spars, Lewmar the deck hardware, and B&G the electrical systems, a trinity of grand-prix suppliers suited to a boat whose upwind sail area is 98 square meters and downwind area is 248 square meters. The masthead-sloop rig and spade rudder recorded in the background specifications pair with that sail plan to give a powerful, easily driven platform. A base rating of 1.266 under the Fast40+ rule places her among the quicker boats in that band, and the combination of low displacement and tall rig explains the string of podium finishes.
Performance Record
The Ker 40+ did not merely enter the Fast40+ circuit; she dominated its early seasons. In 2015 she took first overall in the Fast40+ first race and first in class in the Round the Island Race, then closed 2016 with first overall in Fast40+ Series Round 5. The 2017 season was a sweep: first in class at the UK IRC National Championship Fast 40 Class, the RORC Vice Admirals Cup Fast 40 Class, the Fast40+ Easter Challenge, and the RORC Easter Challenge Fast 40, plus first overall in the Fast 40 Season Championship and the UK FAST40+ IRC National Championship. She was still winning in 2020, taking first division A IRC and PHRF in the Edgartown Yacht Club Round the Island Race. That record is the clearest argument for the design: a highly successful design in the words of her designer, backed by five years of silverware.
The Verdict
The McConaghy Ker 40+ is a focused one-design racer built in carbon/epoxy/foam to the Fast40+ rule, carrying offshore-rated structure and a grand-prix rig and electronics suite. Her record from 2015 through 2020 shows sustained class and overall wins, which is the strongest possible endorsement of the design's speed and consistency. She is a competition platform proven by results, not a cruiser with belowdeck amenities.
Pros
- One-design build to the Fast40+ rule for level racing
- Carbon/epoxy/foam construction with ISO Structural A and OSR 1 ratings
- Southern Spars, Lewmar, and B&G grand-prix equipment
- Dominant race record from 2015 to 2020 including the 2017 UK FAST40+ IRC National Championship
Cons
- Racing monohull with no described cruising accommodations
- Focused competition platform rather than a dual-purpose boat
