BUILDERS OF THE FASTEST YACHTS ON THE PLANET

Specialists in extremely light and strong carbon fibre laminated structures and components for the marine, rail, auto, aeronautical, architectural, medical and industrial sectors. 

Welcome to the inaugural issue of McConaghy eNews. Periodically, we'll be sending you updates of our current projects, new products, race results of our yachts as they campaign around the globe and we'll also tell you what's happening at our Sydney and China facilities. Thanks for giving us a read and don't forget to forward our eNews to your favourite "Yachtie" or carbon fibre junkie; they'll thank you for it!

LEOPARD 3 - MORE RECORDS!

McConaghy built ICAP Leopard 3, owned by Mike Slade took line honours in the inaugural RORC Caribbean 600. Completing the course in 44 hours and 5 minutes, ICAP Leopard 3 set an awesome pace for competitors to beat in future editions of the race.

ICAP Leopard 3 also took line honours in the Heineken Cape to Bahia Race in January, setting a new course record and completing the 3,330 nautical mile course in 10 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes and 35 seconds. In 2nd place was the McConaghy built, Reichel Pugh designed Rambler (originally launched as Alfa Romeo 1).

Mike Slade, proud owner of ICAP Leopard 3, said shortly after the finish: "This has been a truly fantastic race and I'm delighted to set a new course record. We've pushed ICAP Leopard 3 hard throughout the race and it's a great feeling to add yet another course record to our collection."

These two new records represent ICAP Leopard 3's 11th and 12th record since her launch in Australia in 2007. McConaghy Australia Managing Director Jono Morris stated that this is an outstanding achievement for all those involved; owner Mike Slade, Farr Design and McConaghy Boats and their suppliers.

"PIMP YOUR RIDE" - MCCONAGHY'S FAMOUS CARBON FIBRE STEERING WHEELS

McConaghy, the originator of the Carbon Fibre Y-Spoke Steering Wheel, now has an easy to install adjustable universal centre, which enables all of our wheels to be fitted to just about every yacht out there.

Light, extremely strong and competitively priced, all McConaghy carbon fibre steering wheels are pressure and temperature cured using pre-preg carbon fibre. Their lightweight nature eliminates flywheel effect and provides the helmsman with unprecedented rudder feedback and control.

Leading designers, and skippers around the world choose McConaghy and this season 7 out of 8 Volvo Cup teams depend on McConaghy carbon fibre steering wheels and steering systems. Images to the right - Mini Maxi "Loki" in sea trials in Sydney Harbour and Volvo Cup Team Ericsson rounding Cape Horn ahead of the pack in some very angry weather!

A McConaghy carbon fibre wheel is one of the most functional and without a doubt the sexiest accessory available for your yacht.

Shipped worldwide, they're available in 1000mm, 1100mm, 1200mm, 1300mm and 1600mm diameters. Click here to order direct from McConaghy!

MCCONAGHY CHINA EXPANSION

We're pleased to announce the expansion of our China operation. Within the next few weeks we'll be moving into our third 2,500 square meter facility located right next to our two existing buildings.

Some of the bigger projects on the production floor include a 70 foot carbon fibre Reichel Pugh race yacht and a 130' power trimaran designed by John Shuttleworth. On the production side McConaghy has a few major dinghy projects on the go and is building not only the boats but the majority of the small components that go with them.

Mach 2, the next generation of foiling moth is now well underway in China and she made a spectacular début and finished second in the Zhik Australian Moth National Championships in Geelong near Melborne in January 2009. A stunning result for the boat's first regatta and its helmsman, former Moth World Champion Simon Payne. Australian Olympian Nathan Outteridge won the regatta while at the helm of a McConaghy built Bladerider proving yet again that McConaghy built boats really are the fastest in the world.

In late 08 McConaghy was selected to build the Elliott 6m, the newly appointed Women's Match Racer for the 2012 Olympics. Production has begun and first boats should emerge in June.

McConaghy China builds a full range of products including industrial and marine components, high performance dinghies and complete racing and cruising vessels. Mark Evans, Managing Director of McConaghy China states that "with 7,500+ square meters of production space; autoclave capabilities, CNC routers and mills, a metal shop, in-house drafting capabilities and 3D modelling we can provide our customers with a complete range of production capabilities not found easily in combination elsewhere and under one roof, well actually 3 rooves now." Google Earth 22° 04' 49.00"N - 113° 15' 32.00"E if you're curious.

LUTRA 80 - THE FIRST GLIMPSE

Construction of the new Lutra 80 is well underway for this high performance canting keel, racer / cruiser for use in the Mediterranean.

Employing the Airbus approach to construction, McConaghy is building this carbon fibre sailing machine in their Sydney facility while coordinating the construction and delivery of the various major components being built off site and delivered just in time for installation.

SP Gurit Australia are supplying the carbon fibre materials along with their engineering expertise while Marxcraft in Queensland, brings style and elegance to the interior whilst conforming to the minimum weight restrictions imposed by the owner and designers. Other top rated companies such as Central Coasts Hydraulics, Olectric Systems, North Sails Sydney and Southern Spars New Zealand are contributing their expertise in helping to build this outstanding vessel due for launch in early 2010.

McConaghy Australia Managing Director Jono Morris elaborated on the Lutra 80 project. "It's McConaghy's exceptional staff, the use of CAD, 3D modelling and full size mock-ups that makes this approach possible."

"McConaghy boats are known internationally for building high performance boats that win races and break records as soon as they leave the factory. We have always been proud of the level of finish of these race boats - both inside and out, so it's exciting for us to now be able to use those skills on a project where the owner's philosophy includes elegant performance cruising along with racing."

MCCONAGHY YACHT WILD OATS XI MAKES HISTORY

The McConaghy built, Reichel Pugh designed Wild Oats XI has created history, with an unprecedented fourth consecutive line honors victory in the 63rd running of the 630 nautical mile Rolex Sydney - Hobart Yacht Race. Crossing the finish line with a time of 1 day 20 hours 34 minutes and 14 seconds - just two hours outside the race record Wild Oats XI set in 2005, the record breaking Maxi was met by delighted owner Bob Oatley, who praised the skipper, crew and members of the McConaghy build team who were dockside to welcome the boat.

Prior to the race, skipper Mark Richards made it clear that victory for the race favourite would not be easy, "The boat will be flying downwind at 25 -30 knots, and it has been built to withstand hitting something hard." East of Tasmania, Wild Oats XI collided with a two metre shark whilst sailing at 20 knots which wrapped itself around the rudder. Once this was freed, Wild Oats XI took control of the race, finishing an hour and seven minutes ahead of its main rival.

Congratulations to Bob Oatley, Mark Richards, the entire crew, and Reichel Pugh!

MCCONAGHY LICENSED MANUFACTURER OF THE ELLIOTT 6M

Following ISAF decision to select the Elliott 6m for the Women's Keelboat Match Racing event, which makes its debut at the London Olympic games in 2012, McConaghy Boats has been selected as the licensed manufacturer of the Elliott 6m.

The Elliott 6m is a manoeuvrable, proven, three person match racing keel boat with a crew weight limit 205kgs. Elliott 6m construction is well underway at McConaghy Boats China with MNA deliveries beginning in May 2009. The Elliott 6m has a carbon fibre mast, boom, spinnaker pole, rudder and keel fin. The keel is detachable allowing four Elliott 6m to comfortably fit inside a standard 40 ft shipping container, complete with rigs, keels and rudders.

The Elliott 6m will be on show at regattas throughout the world in the lead up to 2012 Olympics in Weymouth and will prove to be an exciting class for competitors, umpires and spectators alike.