Fast cruiser carbone Finot-Conq, first three hulls N°1 to N°3
The FC53 (sometimes noted FC3 53 by the designer) is a 16.16 m (17.56 m overall) fast cruising sailboat designed by Finot-Conq and built by Knierim Yachtbau in Kiel. The design transposes IMOCA 60 architectural choices into a fast cruising format: wide hull, reduced displacement, lifting keel, and water ballast.
Hull architecture and construction
- Hull length: 16.16 m (17.56 m overall)
- Beam: 5.26 m
- Air draft: 23.30 m
- Draft: 1.60 m / 3.75 m (lifting keel)
- Light displacement: 10 to 11 t depending on options
- Construction: prepreg carbon-epoxy sandwich, Corecell core (hull) and Nomex core (deck, structure)
- Water ballast: 1 t per side
- Sail area: 175 m² upwind, 315 m² downwind
- Propulsion: Volvo 75 hp (saildrive), Fisher Panda 10 kVA generator, 200 l/h watermaker
Hull architecture and appendages by Finot-Conq, interior and exterior design by Pierre Forgia, project management by David de Prémorel. Prepreg carbon construction at Knierim Yachtbau, a German yard specialized in high-performance composite sailboats (IMOCA, Class40, Maxi).
The first three hulls
- Hull N°1 — Spock, launched July 2016. First FC53, commissioned by an experienced racer seeking a fast long-range cruiser for short-handed sailing.
- Hull N°2 — Kiwi Spirit II, delivered in 2017.
- Hull N°3 — Nica, launched April 2018, intended for a circumnavigation program as a couple with participation in regattas en route.
