America's Cupper at London Boat Show

Tucked away on the upper floor is a striking new mini America's Cupper

The budgets for America's Cup campaigns run into millions but there is now an affordable way to stage your own Cup regatta with the latest design from Ole Eide.

Small one-man keelboats are very popular in Scandinavia and the latest example from a group of Swedish and Norwegian sailors is at the London Boat Show on the Harken stand. Unlike the familiar 2.4mR design the AC-5 is a mini America's Cupper look alike.

The AC-5 is 5m long with a beam of 1.15m and carries 12.5m2 of sail plus a 14m2 masthead asymmetric, flying from the bow without a pole. The mast and boom are aluminium by Superspar with single swept spreaders and an adjustable backstay, all fittings are by Harken.

The hull is GRP built using carbon, divinycell and resin producing a very light 55kg shell before the 180kg bulb keel is added. The 1.4m keel is retractable with a small crane to allow easy transport and launching.

The hull is self-draining, steering is by pedals and the helm position allows some weight movement across the boat. In sailing trials at Marstrand the AC-5 has been sailed in two metre waves and winds up to 25 knots, with downwind speeds of over 12 knots being recorded.

Six boats are under construction in Scandinavia, where the price is equivalent to £9,000 complete with sails but without trailer. Due to the great interest so far at the show Jan Hakefelt hopes to return in the spring for sailing demonstrations.