Design #467 IMS 53

YELLOW JACKET (x Bribon) was our fourth design for Jose Cusi-Ferret to be skippered by HRM Juan Carlos of Spain. Their requirements were a boat comfortably faster than the current 49 footers in the 12 to 18 knot wind range typical of Palma. The key characteristics that set this boat apart from our previous generation of IMS designs are the short-footed headsail rig with in-line spreaders, the cruiser/racer interior and deck layout and the hull shape developed using the results of an extensive testing program that employed the CFD program SPLASH. The result is a 53’ boat that has the rig flexibility required for the ever-changing wind conditions of the Med and handicaps that fall in the middle of the 49 foot fleet.

The rig combines the handicap and handling advantages of the short-footed headsail with the advantages of in-line spreaders, runner and checkstays, namely better upwind sail-control and the ability to let the mast forward downwind.