RENEGADE + R5 MKII REGATTA
Design
This is a concept we have been toying with for some time and we are very excited about it. After attending many racing regattas over the years we found that people (us very much included) love the feel and comradery of racing a large open keelboat with pedestals and room for the crew to work whilst having an open deck in front of them. Similarly, other people (again, us included) love racing big catamarans and the relaxed in-race and après entertaining possibilities they offer. So we decided to put them together. The full carbon R5R features a large open racing cockpit with dual helms, a pedestal and an adaptive spray screen system for crew protection in racing conditions. There is quick access to the forward area and nets for sail changes and the mast is easily accessible from inside the cockpit. The view from the helms is excellent and moving from one helm to the other during pre-race tactics is quick and clear. Yet, step through one of the cockpit doors and you’re immediately out of, but right near the action. Step through the next set of doors and you’re in a spacious entertaining area where you guests can relax or rest during their breaks from racing.
Living
The R5 Regatta features 2 huge staterooms as found on the R5 MKII 3 cabin version, and these can either be finished the same luxurious way as the 3 cabin version or stripped of trims for a full racing machine. Then there are two aft cabins and these can be used as a full racing sail wardrobe and/or as convertible bunks for crew for overnight racing with or without a day head. She has a huge aft entertaining cockpit which can seat 12 to 14 quite easily along with the same convertible aft platform seat found on the R6 and R5 MKII. The idea behind this yacht is that the owners can race her in comfort all day, then return to the regatta anchorage and entertain their guests using a fully equipped caterer capable galley with an enormous 7 linear meters of counter space. All of the galley windows open into the coachroof and the forward section of the galley surface has a flip up section outside so that it can be utilised as a bar area with barstools placed in the sailing cockpit after racing. After the evening’s festivities, the owners and a couple of guests can retire to their luxurious staterooms with the next day of racing ahead.
Technology
Like the MKII’S, The R5 Regatta has been designed to be fitted with electric propulsion, but can also use diesel engines. She is full carbon and engineered to a racing specification over and above the standard R5 engineering.
Performance
The R5 Regatta features a taller mast, longer foils and a more aggressive sail package, as one would expect. Her hull can handle a bit more weight than the Mk1 so as to allow for entertaining and non-racing guests, so whilst blisteringly quick, she is not built as a dedicated racing only boat, so we still expect her to rate very well under various rules.
