The B45 "Kia Kaha" which was designed by Buckley Yacht Design and built by CML competed last weekend in the Round the Island Race 2016. It was a tough rounding with many classes not racing due to conditions and hundreds of retirements. The crew experienced 28 knot winds at the back of the Isle of Wight and surfed down 6ft high swells. Their top speed was recorded at 18 knots, which is the fastest the boat has travelled and nothing broke (apart from the reef line snapping on the final leg back to Cowes). The B45 handled the conditions so [...]

Following a huge amount of interest at the show, the test sail period has been extended. Following the huge interest received at the 2015 Southampton Boat Show, BYD are extending the test sail period to allow people to come and see what the new boat is made of. Interest was received from a wide demographic of sailors. The ease of using the boat makes it appealing for anyone who is either interested in solo training to families wanting a weekend getaway boat, and newbies to the sport. The RTC-22 provides a tamed platform to learn and practice or enjoy sailing on. [...]

When interviewed, the skipper said "We were delighted, but not altogether surprised at how well the Kia Kaha performed in the race. She handled beautifully in her debut race." Overall positions for the Kia Kaha were: 3rd over the line for the group 5th on handicap for the group 38th out of approx 1500 yachts racing. Find out more about the B45 Kia Kaha

The Round the Island race was the brainchild of Major Cyril Windeler who suggested the idea of having a handicapped race around the Isle of Wight, the first race was held in 1931 and the race has carried on with great success ever since. The current Race monohull record holder Mike Slade (ICAP Leopard GBR1R) and the British Vendée Globe sailors Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss GBR99) and Mike Golding (Gamesa GBR3) will all be on the famous RYS start line. Race Date: 1st June 2013 Race Start: Cowes Isle of Wight Read more about the B45

On a cold Easter bank holiday the owner, designers and crew took the B45 on her first outing sailing from Shamrock Quay on the Itchen River down to Cowes, Isle of Wight and finishing at Hythe Marina. The conceptual design performed remarkably well as conditions picked up. She was very well balanced, fizzing up wind and down wind. Jami Buckley of BYD commented “We have designed a lot of functional concepts into this boat, which worked nicely while sailing, it performed to the level and further than we expected in comparison with the analysis done prior to the launch. At [...]