Ancasta Race Boats has announced a new partnership with Sangiorgio Marine to bring the new Reichel/Pugh designed Admiral 42 racing yacht to market – a yacht engineered with the singular purpose of winning the Admiral’s Cup.
This next‑generation design represents a bold shift in grand‑prix yacht development.
Ancasta Race Boats’ Sam Pearson explains: “While the current landscape has been dominated by inshore‑optimised platforms, trying to make old designs work for a purpose they were not originally intended, the new Reichel/Pugh–Sangiorgio Marine project takes a decisive step to offer a more offshore friendly platform.
“Every line, laminate, and load path has been conceived to deliver relentless pace offshore without compromising the precision and punch required for inshore W/L racing.”
A new benchmark in offshore‑led performance
With many inshore designs in the current playing field, it is understood that under true offshore conditions these boats quickly turn towards a boat and crew preservation sailing mode.
“Noting these new ‘team events’ have a roughly 50% weighting towards the offshore sailing component, this is a huge area to explore performance gains, which is not currently catered for in the marketplace,” continues Pearson.
“In addition to that and knowing that fast, 40 footers are a clear sweet spot under IRC and ORC ratings, the Admiral 42 caters for a vast offshore calendar that the current breed of boats simply have to overlook due to their ultra-aggressive W/L approach.
“The concept of the new Admiral 42 is that this is a yacht you would actively choose to take offshore and race in the iconic RORC and ROLEX regattas, which is what primarily stands this design apart from others in this space.”
How is that achieved?
- Offshore-first hull form delivering stability, power, and control in real ocean conditions, which is primarily achieved thanks to her semi-scow, high-volume hull design, that we have already seen gain huge success in other boats of not dissimilar concept.
- High‑efficiency appendages broadly more optimised for reaching and running conditions – where modern offshore races are won or lost – the addition of small twin rudders, with overall less wetted surface than a single rudder, adds grip due to reduced ventilation and puts the helm in far more control.
- State‑of‑the‑art construction from Sangiorgio Marine – which has been heavily involved in the construction of the successful MUSA Class 40s in recent years – is supremely confident that offshore durability can be achieved without compromising that ultra-lightweight 4000kg build required for inshore pace-setting.
- A fully integrated design–build loop between Reichel/Pugh, Sangiorgio Marine, and Ancasta Race Boats facilitates flexibility in the design of the Admiral 42 to meet the demands of an individual owner’s chosen calendar and how far they wish to push the inshore or offshore ability.
A challenger to the established order
“This yacht is not a refinement of what already exists – it is a deliberate challenge to it,” says Pearson. “With the Admirals Cup returning as the pinnacle of team racing, the demand for a platform capable of excelling across offshore and inshore disciplines has never been higher. This design answers that call with a fresh perspective and an uncompromising brief.”
A partnership built for performance
The newly signed agreement between Ancasta Race Boats and Sangiorgio Marine brings together three powerhouses of the performance sailing world. Ancasta’s global reach and technical expertise will support owners from initial consultation through commissioning, optimisation, and ongoing campaign management.
Pearson adds: “This project represents a new outlook for offshore‑capable grand‑prix racing. Reichel/Pugh have delivered a design that pushes the envelope, and Sangiorgio Marine’s build quality is exceptional. Together, we’re bringing a new weapon to the starting line – one that is purpose‑built for the modern Admiral’s Cup and one that offers owners a truly composed yacht in offshore conditions.”
Availability
The first build slots for the new Admiral 42 are now open – with limited production ensuring focus on quality, performance, and competitive advantage.
Teams targeting the Admiral’s Cup and other major offshore events are encouraged to enquire early, with current build times estimated to be circa seven months.
For technical specifications or build slot availability contact Ancasta Race Boats via raceboats@ancasta.com or call +44 7759 424900.
