RACING YACHT BUILT IN KOREA TO BE USED IN WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR
The new KM36 being lifted into the water
The new KM36 being lifted into the water

Image © Craig Mitchell/WMRT
Sail Plan of the new KM36 which is used at the Korea Match Cup
Sail Plan of the new KM36 which is used at the Korea Match Cup
Test sail of the new KM36 which is used at the Korea Match Cup
Test sail of the new KM36 which is used at the Korea Match Cup

Image © Craig Mitchell/WMRT
Korean boat builder Advanced Marine Tech has completed the first in a series of eight racing yachts for the third event of the World Match circuit to be held in Korea for the first time in June this year.

The first boat was unveiled by the Governor Kim So-Moon of Gyeonggi Province in front of Seoul city Hall in April. The Korea Match series will be held alongside the Korea International Boat Show from June 10-15 to be held at Jeongok Marina on Korea's west coast some 70km from the capital Seoul.

The first boat was unveiled by the Governor Kim So-Moon of Gyeonggi Province in front of Seoul city Hall in April 2008. The Korea Match Cup will be held alongside the Korea International Boat Show from June 10-16 2008 at Jeongok Marina on Korea's west coast some 70km from the capital Seoul.

Sanghong Lee, CEO of Advanced Marine Tech based in Hwaseong City Korea, said: "The launch of the first of these new boats is a very important event as it is the first race yacht to be built and sailed in Korea. It is the result of a successful collaboration between my company Advanced Marine Technologies Ltd, and a group of New Zealand based companies including Designer Brett Bakewell-White."

The boat has been designed as a fast yacht that is available in two different configurations. The first is the Match Race version that will be used for a new round of the World Match Racing Tour to be held in Korea for the first time in June this year, and the second configuration is an IRC racer/cruiser format to be produced for export worldwide.

The boat utilises a centreline retracting carbon bowsprit and asymmetric spinnakers. The ballast is carried in a bulb on a deep keel and combined with a flat bilged hull produces a very stiff and powerful yacht. The keel construction used ensures that all foils are identical and accurately finished — essential for a match racing fleet.

A unique feature of the match racing version is the addition of a cameraman's cupola in the deck where there would usually be the main companionway. This will ensure that the onboard film coverage will be unique and right in the thick of the action.

By IBI Magazine/Mike Derrett
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