The World Match Racing Tour today announced the Fareast 28R keelboat has been selected and approved for the Shenzhen Bao’an Match Cup, host of the WMRT Finals in Shenzhen, China from 15-19 December 2021.
A new fleet of seven Fareast 28R’s will be built for the event by Shanghai based manufacturer Far East Boats, a World Sailing One-Design Class.
The selection of the Simonis-Voogd designed Fareast 28R for the WMRT Finals was agreed following consultation between WMRT and the Shenzhen Bao’an District Government, host sponsor of the Shenzhen Bao’an Match Cup which will host the WMRT Finals from 2021-2025 in an agreement secured with the Tour last year.
“The Fareast 28R is a popular and proven match racing boat,” WMRT Executive Director, James Pleasance, commented.
“It is of course an advantage that the boats are built in China, as this also helps to reduce any unnecessary shipping from both a cost and sustainability angle.
“The Fareast 28R has been used in previous WMRT events, including the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, so the teams are used to their handling and performance. We are excited to see a brand-new fleet being built for the Tour Finals in December.”
Established in 2002, the company to-date has built over 18,000 boats across a comprehensive range of dinghies and keelboats, racing yachts, catamarans and rigid inflatables. It is represented in over 50 countries, and all boats are built at its own state-of-the-art 20,000sqm facility just outside Shanghai, with a capacity to build between 30–40 boats per month.
Over 500 28R boats have been sold so far, with a growing fleet covering Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Oceania, including Korea, the Philippines, Sweden, Germany, Holland, UK, USA, Canada, Seychelles, South Africa and Australia.
Constructed using an ISO polyester-foam core sandwich, the yacht is equipped with high quality hardware from industry leading suppliers including Harken, Robline, Spinlock and Selden.
“We are delighted with the opportunity to build a new fleet of Fareast 28R yachts for the first Shenzhen Bao’an Match Cup and WMRT Finals in December,” Ms Demolar DU, CEO of Far East Boats commented.
“We have seen the yachts used successfully at match racing events around the world. It is a privilege to have our boats used at the event which will determine the official Match Racing world champion.”
The new fleet of seven yachts will be built around October, prior to being commissioned and delivered for the event in December. The boats will have the very latest modifications, following feedback from a number of professional sailors over the last few months.
The inaugural Shenzhen Bao’an Match Cup will play host to the WMRT Finals from 15-19 December in Shenzhen, China.
For information on Far East Boats, visit: www.fareastboats.com and www.fareast28r.com
For information on the World Match Racing Tour, visit: http://www.wmrt.com
WMRT media
