Rising Star
Racing editor Andi Robertson sails Archambault’s A40RC, an off the shelf refined regatta performer. In the right hands, it’s a potent weapon… ARCHAMBAULT Yachts’ Joubert Nivelt designed A35 was one of the stars of the last Rolex Commodore’s Cup which was an all the more outstanding performance given that the top boat overall was an early model of a stock production racer cruiser. Since then the A35 has sold over 60 units for the company which remains a relatively mid-scale producer, striving not to take on the Beneteau and Jeanneau giants of the world, but to keep their company growing steadily and increasing their export market. Archambault build around 160 boats a year and are situated inland. On a line between Paris and Bordeaux they are about half way between the two cities. While their success in the flourishing IRC race boat market has given them a growing presence in France, the strength of IRC and the appetite for good race boats which can sail to a published rating has seen the A35 sell well around the IRC world - and the growth continues apace. At this year’s Bell Lawrie Scottish Series already there are four A35s entered with prospects of another one or two to come. While the boats are well built by craftsmen in a yard with an extensive history, they do tend to be no-frills. They are in the business of building quality race boats with an easily kept interior. While the interior of the A40RC is nicely appointed however, it is still all about necessities. They see luxurious furniture as added cost, money and weight, rather than added value. The A40RC made its debut at the Paris Boat Show in December and already the order book is filling up. Their production year runs to the end of July and within that period they expect to have sold at least a dozen. Already in France there are four racing. At Spi Ouest they took four of the top eight places, even with a rash of OCS’s among the more fancied Batistyl and Paprec. In the UK, the Army Sailing Association have taken delivery of the first A40RC which they will campaign actively. With the A35, Bernard Nivelt was accurate in drawing a boat to a good rating, and the A40RC follows a broadly similar formula. Nivelt states that they work closely around specific DLR and SA:D values to start with and, over the years, have developed an accurate picture of what IRC likes and what it taxes. At this year’s Rolex Commodore’s Cup, Archambault expect to have three A40RCs competing in the French teams and judging by recent performances this is a realistic objective. They have already sold another boat into Mediterranean France and one each to Norway and Sweden. The Commodore’s Cup is the ultimate shop window for the new boat, and after that sales will really be galvanised. The key statement for the A40RC is that it is a regatta boat aimed at winning. It is an off the shelf performer, and that means the package should be right from the beginning. When there are already half a dozen boats knocking seven bells out of each other in France in the name of trials and at different regattas, then Archambault are very much up to speed on what is working in terms of rating and optimising. It is already a refined product, unlike say buying even a Beneteau 36.7 or an X Yacht when the race package should be the real deal rather than simply a starting point to build on. It’s a relatively moderate hull design. In common with the A35 there is sufficient power in the stern sections to keep the speed rising when the breeze and seas are up, something of an IRC failing in many narrow range designs, but so too they manage to keep wetted surface to a minimum. There are clear indications of pride and attention to detail. The hull to deck join is neatly executed with minimal filler required. The hull is infusion moulded vinylester resin over a PVC foam core while the deck uses a modern resin transfer system for a PVC foam sandwich. The main internal bulkheads are all infusion moulded to reduce weight and add strength and stiffness. The standard rig is a 9/10ths two spreader alloy, but the majority of serious racers are going for the Formula Spars rig pack in high modulus carbon with twin alloy spreaders swept to 20°. Tuning controls include a hydraulic jack, Farr 40 style. Rod rigging is standard with the race pack option. The high modulus carbon rig adds an extra €42,757 inc tax, and the high modulus carbon wheels and rudder an extra €16k approx. THE TEST We sailed Batistyl off the Brittany coast in February with a crew of Spanish J133 sailors who are interested in making a change. We had about 9-12 knots of breeze, perfect spring sunshine and pleasant temperatures. The ergonomics of the boat are excellent. It is a proper race boat with a large, functional cockpit and plenty of space around the twin wheels. The rudder and the wheels are set slightly forward in the cockpit, so there is ample space behind the helm for a dedicated tactician, or an owner’s guest. The helm has five simple foot braces and the mainsheet is a standard German A style arrangement. The boat is very much a race boat and is best suited to those who are looking for their next challenge up from a cruiser racer. The groove upwind is defined and rewards good, accurate steering and sail trim, and yet it still sails to 95% for a less accomplished helm. In around eight knots we were making seven knots upwind and tacking through 73-74 degrees. The boat feels fingertip light, sensitive to trim and heel and therefore rewards good crewing and steering with that extra few percent. When over pressed there was ample feel on the rudder to keep the boat on track, although it did not load especially heavily before it would spin out. That said, we only saw the boat spin out once and that was when it broached under kite with a less than attentive Spanish tester on the wheel. It felt quick and responsive hard on the wind. Crew weight on the rail is rewarded - it is not especially tender, but neither does it feel stiff when pressed. The few times we had her pressed there was ample feel on the helm. Through the tack the boat accelerated evenly and easily and it was a delight to build speed and height with the efficient headsail controls. The hull form also lends itself to a quick bow down mode for speed off the start line, not something that is always a virtue of narrow WL IRC specific boats. And downwind the boat appeared to have a good all round performance. We suffered a little mixing Spanish, English and French trying to sail optimum angles downwind, but it was certainly quick enough to do the business, and a delight to steer. Again, the helm is light but will keep you ‘honest’. At 130° AWA we made 6.45, 6.5 knots of boat speed in 11 knots TWS. On something close to a beam reach in 10 knots we were up to 7.8 to 8.2 in 10 knots TWS. TEARDROP WINDOWS The interior is pleasingly finished and functionally simple. The semi teardrop windows afford natural light, and there is plenty of space. The woodwork, in moabi mahogany, appears good in every area and there is no skimping or saving on finish or attention to detail. And for those of us from the north of Britain who will still sleep on board at regattas, there is plenty of bed space and ‘swinging’ room. The sleeping complement will be ten. At the back there are big, twin symmetrical double cabins aft, and a large double berth forward. The galley is spacious with two burner stove and oven, a 75litre icebox, plenty of large, closed lockers and a Lewmar hatch overhead. The forward facing navigation station is ideal with good, accessible space to mount instruments, as well as ample stowage. The main saloon area is spacious with good sized, comfortable linear seating either side of a central drop leaf table. The main heads is forward. Overall the A40RC is a winner in every department. It is a refined racer cruiser which comes as close to delivering silverware winning performance as part of the inventory, but it is a boat which will do best with an experienced core crew, or a team who want to learn to take their performance to the next level. With a good IRC handicap it will be a potent weapon all over the north of Europe. • The Archambault range is available in the north of Britain through Nick Stratton Yachts based at Rhu Marina and Fairlie Quay Marina. At the time of going to press, the price tag of a standard A40RC excluding options, plus delivery, commissioning and VAT was from £155,000.