41' 2015 Custom Mills 41

HUNTER (ex FINAL FINAL)  is an IRC41 from Mark Mills, launched in 2016 having been built by McConaghy Boats.

With a detailed understanding of the IRC/ORC rule, this racer was penned with a more offshore focus, whilst maintaining similar characteristics to the inshore flyers

During her 4 year spell in Asia she was one of the standout boats and with twin wheels, pedestal and Hall Spars rig.

Sold back into the states in 2021, her new owner named her FINAL FINAL and dominated racing up and down the east coast and the Great Lakes (overall Mackinaw winner in 2023)

HUNTER  - Mills 41 IRC Design

Builder: McConaghy Boats China.

LOA: 12.52m

LH: 10.94

Displacement: 4464kg

CONSTRUCTION

Hull built on male mould. Deck built over jigs.

E glass, core cell foam cored, resin infused Epoxy Construction

Autoclaved prepreg carbon rudder stock

Autoclaved prepreg carbon bow pole (removable)

Carbon keel internal structure

SG iron keel fin strut and lead bulb

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

From the designer Mark Mills: The design process involved a comprehensive CFD driven VPP study with our research partners KND / Sailing Performance, looking at multiple hull shape options, foil configurations, and sail plan sizes. This work built on our previous studies for new designs based on increasing form stability when heeled, resulting in significant gain upwind in a breeze. The focus for this design was to ensure these gains could be combined with strength in light/medium airs, as well as breezier conditions offshore in events like the Vietnam Race. Since these ambitions are not always mutually compatible, it became clear that including as much modabilitiy as possible into the basic boat would offer a range of benefits: firstly it provides the client a far wider range of competitive configurations by adjusting the key components of Draft, Displacement, Trim, and Sail Area. Secondly in the light of the IRC rule’s transition in recent years towards accommodating lighter faster designs including wide mode'able ranges in as many parameters as possible opens up the ability to respond to future rule adjustments flexibly, extending the competitive life of the boat. Thirdly it allowed the basic hull shape to deliver a wider range of possibilities for other clients looking to optimise future builds of the design more significantly for different conditions.

Engineering partner SDK of Rhode Island is one of the world’s leading composite race boat engineers with prominent TP52 and Mini-Maxi designs as well as the current America’s Cup holder. They have produced a refined structural layout with a focus on weight reduction, global stiffness, and ease of movement internally, resulting in a simple interior with features such as a basic galley and cooler stowage on either side of the mast, Nav seat on the engine box, and a head to Starboard forwards adding offshore functionality.

This hull  in particular reflects the lead clients desire to keep the boat very simple and offshore-friendly, combining a rating conscious e-glass/epoxy/foam hull and deck construction with carbon in the high load keel structure to reduce weight and increase stiffness.