Monday 30 November 2009

Foundation 36 - Specifically designed for Match Racing


Minoprio and Bruni match racing the Foundation 36s at the Sunseeker Australia Cup. Image copyright Sail-World.com/AUS.

by Rob Kothe

The concept for the Foundation 36 yacht, used in this week's Australia Cup, was developed by the Western Australian Yachting Foundation now trading as Swan River Sailing in conjunction with the boat builder Peter Milner Yachts and the designer Brett Bakewell-White.


Foundation 36 preliminary sail plan. Supplied image.

After discussion with the boat builder, the Foundation commissioned the New Zealand designer Brett Bakewell-White to come up with a yacht that complied with the IMS rule for the minimum accommodation requirements, but would pass the stringent guidelines to USL codes for surveyed vessels determined by the Western Australian Department of Transport.


Foundation 36 hull lines. Supplied image.

In 1995, when the time came to replace the Foundations’ fleet of Farr 36 yachts, the Foundation realised that there was not a yacht available in Australia, or the world, that suited the parameters of a fast and easy to sail 36 foot yacht at an affordable price.

The Foundation specifically wanted a yacht for day sailing with a racing crew of 5 (for Match Racing), or that would comfortably sail with 12 people for corporate sailing functions.

Sunseeker Australia Cup

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