Our test boat had the optional retractable carbon-fiber sprit and asymmetric spinnaker package. Other IRC boats we sailed had symmetric spinnakers and poles, and-not surprisingly-we found the King 40 easier to jibe. Speed-ring-equipped winches on the cabin top helped in this department.

The King 40 has twin aluminum wheels (each wheel 3'2" diameter) mounted on composite pedestals, which puts the helmsman outboard where he or she can see what's happening, and provides unobstructed access from the stern to the cockpit and the companionway. The wire-and-quadrant steering system was incredibly responsive and smooth.

The King 40's vinylester construction helps keep the boat's cost down, and with IRC, there's no advantage in having exotic material, such as carbon fiber, in the hull or deck. The hull and deck are vacuum-bagged foam-core laminates with biaxial and unidirectional E-glass. The hull-to-deck joint is bonded with a molded toe rail built to ORC requirements. Structural bulkheads are bonded to hull and deck, and structural internal glass units form the base for the interior structure and engine bed. There's also a fabricated anodized aluminum keel frame and mast step. The boat is solid all around and will be competitive after years of hard use.

There have been a number of excellent custom IRC boats showing up on racecourses in the past several years, which means the rule is succeeding in putting fast, seaworthy designs into owners' hands, particularly in the 40- to 50-foot size range, but few boats we've seen and sailed can match the King 40 in terms of grand-prix performance at production-boat price. It's an ideal boat for windward/leeward racetracks and distance racing, and will reward a good crew and driver. The enthusiasm and support from Carabetta and Carroll is clear-this is their baby after all. With a dozen boats sold (four in the United States, one in Japan, one in Australia, one in Norway, and several in England) the King 40 has obviously hit a chord with IRC racers around the world.

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Pros: Great performance and price for a 40-footer. The deck and cockpit layouts lead every sail control to where it should go.

Cons: Early models in a production run tend to be rough around the edges. Our test boat, hull No. 1, was no exception.

Designer's mission accomplished?
Mark Mills was tasked with designing a versatile IRC/One-Design racer and did just that. This one won trophies right out of the box.

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Summit King 40 Specs

LOA: 39'10''
Beam: 12'2"
Draft: 8'2"
DSPL: 15,600 lbs.
SA (u/d): 1,028/1,950 sq. ft.
Designer: Mark Mills
Base price: $335,000
www.summit-yachts.com

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