Cork Reports

From the winning 1720 Babbelaas Bach; Farr 40s; designer Mark Mills on Thunder's win; the Laser SB3s

Designer Mark Mills writes:

The Mills Design Cruiser/Racer Thunder II triumphed in IRC Class 0 at Ford Cork Week last Friday, against stiff competition from a large fleet ranging from Swan 60s to custom IRC raceboats.

Her current streak of competitive form (she led the IRC Nationals recently) saw her win and take the class on the last day in very testing conditions in Cork harbour. Owner Rob Boulter expressed his delight at the quality of the weeks racing and at Thunder's exceptional light and medium airs performance.

His result is all the more remarkable in light of the fact that his regular crew of talented amateurs were sailing against paid professionals, in a cedar hulled cruiser/racer design against foam/epoxy one-offs, and with only asymmetric spinnakers flown from a bowsprit to navigate the light airs of Cork Week. A month previously she exhibited the same pace by leading the UK IRC Nationals for two of the three days.

Built by UK builders 2HO in 2000, Thunder was our response to Rob's brief for a competitive IRC design which could also be sailed offshore with a reduced crew.

In many ways Thunder II is an example of a newer style of fast dual-purpose yacht with no runners, no spinnaker pole, a simple but functional interior, and a race ready deck layout that also boasts a large diameter wheel, coamings, and cockpit seats.

The high performance hull shape has slightly adjusted parameters for improved light air performance, to take account of the slight reduction in the versatility of asymmetric spinnakers set from the retractable bowsprit. On deck low coamings surround the cockpit, cockpit seats offer improved comfort, and wheel steering means every control is at the fingertips of the small crew. The underdeck mainsheet is a nice touch, as is the recessed roller furler in the foredeck.

In addition to thier custom work, Mills Design is currently busy finalising drawings for a production 46' Cruiser/Racer to be built by a major builder, details of which will be announced shortly.