# Class40

Class40 is a class of monohull sailboat and a yacht primarily used for short handed offshore and coastal racing. The class is administered by International Class40 Association which is recognised by the World Sailing.

## Background

In 2004 former Vendee Globe and Whitbread competitor, Patrice Carpentier, brought together designers, builders and sailors to formulate a new accessible class of shorthanded offshore racing boats. Now with more than 160 boats, the Class has become the most successful offshore racing class. The class is not to be confused with the Open 40 which in many ways led the way to this class.
The "Class40" can be designed by anyone provided the boat fits within the measurement rule defined. This rule takes the form of a box rule.
The association is responsible for defining and updating the class rules for the boats, and has the additional aims of co-ordinating events.
Class 40 monohulls outnumbered all other boat classes during their first appearance in the 2006 Route du Rhum, with 25 boats registered.
The Class 40 monohulls are high-performance racing boats, designed principally for single-handed or small crew offshore competition.
Class 40 monohulls sit in size between boats the small offshore classes of the Classe Mini and Beneteau Figaro 3 and the pinnacle class the IMOCA 60.
Single and double-handed sailing represents a rapidly growing sector of the sport of sailing. The Class 40 is a cheaper boat that can be sailed competitively in a range of conditions either short handed, by two people, or a solo sailor.
The class is active in Europe, but growing in North America. Boats are built on a semi-production or custom basis. The class rules though work to keep the boat affordable, limiting exotic materials and equipment seen in high end offshore boats such as the IMOCA 60.
Though some boats are sailed by pro sailors, the amateur class continues to grow as sailors look for the next challenge in offshore sailing.

## Events
### Class Starts - Oceanic Races

* Route du Rhum Solo Transatlantic Race starting in France
* Transat Jacques Vabre Two Person Transatlantic Race starting in France
* Globe 40 Race Two Person Stopping Round the World Race

### World Championships

| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2009 Hamble | Concise Sailing Team Ned Collier Wakefield (GBR) | Clarke Offshore Racing Simon Clarke (GBR) | Desafio Cabo De Hornos Felipe Cubillos (CHI) |
| 2010 Gijon | FRA 65 - Tales Sailing Team Gonzalo Botin (ESP) | FRA 83 - Mistral Loisirs – Pole Santé Elior Thierry Bouchard (FRA) | GBR 93 - Concise Sailing Team Ned Collier Wakefield (GBR) |
| 2011 - Bénodet | 104 JACK IN THE BOX  LE CLAQUIN Aloys (FRA)  Remi AUBRUN (FRA)  Ludovic ENSARGUEIX (FRA)  Camille Lecointre (FRA)  Gideon KRIGER (FRA)  Samuel MANUARD (FRA) | 65 TALES ESPAGNE  Gonzalo BOTIN (ESP)  Inigo ORTIZ (ESP)  Antonio PIRIS (ESP)  Francisco RIVERO (ESP)  Pablo SANTURDE (ESP)  Manuel CARRION (ESP)  Alesandro PELLA (ESP) | 83 COMIRIS - ELIOR SANTE  BOUCHARD Thierry (FRA)  GANDON Olivier (FRA)  MILANESE Michel (FRA)  BERENGER Gilles (FRA)  KRAUSS Oliver (FRA)  VASSELLIER Pascal (FRA) |
| 2012 - La ROCHELAISES | ESP 65 TALES | FRA 104 JACK IN THE BOX | GER 115 MARE |

### Other Events with Class Starts

* Atlantic Cup Charleston-New York-Newport May Bi-Annually
* Rolex Fastnet Race

### Other Events

The class has had numerous success in most of the prestigious offshore events.

## The records

These records are usually calculated by race directions but not endorsed by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

### 24 Hours Distance

| Date | Distance (milles) | Speed (knots) | Skipper(s) | boat | launch | crew | race |
| 2019 November 6 | 408,8 | 17,03 | Ian Lipinski & Adrien Hardy | Crédit Mutuel | 2019 | 2 | Transat Jacques Vabre |

### Non-Stop Round Britain and Ireland

Class 40 - Non-Stop Round Britain and Ireland Records :
| Finish Date | Time | Boat Type | Boat | Skipper(s) | Crew | Notes | Ref. |