The Manuard 50-foot scow, winner of the RORC Transatlantic 2026
Palanad 4 is an IRC-rated 50-foot scow designed by Sam Manuard and built by JPS Production (La Trinité-sur-Mer). Launched on July 19, 2025, it targets offshore racing with a reduced crew and a platform optimized for downwind sailing. Owner: Olivier Magré, also winner of the RORC Transatlantic 2021 on the Class40 Mach 40.4 Palanad 3.
Design and technical features
The boat transposes Class40 and Mini 6.50 solutions to 50 feet: scow bow, near-maximal beam carried to the transom, canting keel, asymmetric daggerboards, open cockpit, and double companionway. The canting keel generates lift to help the boat lift out of the water in rough seas and allows an IRC rating close to TP52s with a more powerful hull and a reduced crew.
- Length: 50 feet (~15.2 m)
- Beam: close to 5 m, carried to the stern
- Hull: scow (wide and voluminous bow)
- Appendages: canting keel + asymmetric daggerboards
- Deck: large cockpit, double companionway
- IRC TCC: 1.426 (vs 1.360–1.400 for a TP52)
Heritage: from Mach 45 Cartouche to the 50-foot scow
The project follows in the footsteps of the Mach 45 Cartouche, launched in 2006 by Sam Manuard and Nicolas Groleau (founder of JPS), the first IRC-rated cruiser-racer with a canting keel designed by the duo. Manuard also co-signed the Pogo RC with Bernard Nivelt before establishing the scow concept in Class40, Mini 6.50, and IMOCA. The Palanad 4 specification adds habitability constraints (real bunks, usable cockpit for cruising) to the racing base.
Boat achievements
- RORC Transatlantic Race 2026: 1st overall IRC, Lanzarote to Antigua in 8 days 5 hours 55 minutes 50 seconds (avg ~15 knots), ahead of the fourteen other IRC entries including Ino Noir (Carkeek 45). Only the Baltic 111 Raven (34 m, foil-assisted) recorded a faster elapsed time, also breaking the monohull record (6 days 22 hours 27 minutes).
- RORC Caribbean 600 2026: 1st IRC Zero and class line honors in 2 days 10 hours 32 minutes 31 seconds, ahead of Ino Noir and Rán (overall win by Leopard 3).
- Rolex Fastnet Race 2025: 2nd IRC Zero — the boat’s first offshore race.
2026 schedule: Spi Ouest-France, ArMen Race, Round Britain and Ireland.
