The Viper 640 Class has appointed SERO Sailing, of Marine City, Michigan, as its new official class builder. This “marks an exciting new chapter for the high-performance one-design class,” SERO said in a press release in mid-April. “With a vibrant racing calendar, expanding fleets, and a reputation for exciting, tactical competition, the Viper 640 class continues to attract sailors seeking both performance and community. This appointment strengthens support for the sailors who have made the Viper 640 one of the most active sportboat fleets in the world.”
The Viper 640, designed by Brian Bennett, was named Sailing World’s Boat of the Year in 1997. At a time when symmetric was about to become old school, the magazine’s Boat of the Year judges knew the 21-foot sportboat would be around for a good long while. It was solid in every measurement: “Fun and challenging to sail, a good value and appealing to a wide range of sailors,” wrote Betsy Alison at the time.
Today the Viper 640 is a World Sailing class that combines strong local fleet camaraderie with highly competitive international racing, including world championship events. With over 300 boats built, there are Viper 640 fleets in Australia, Bermuda, Canada, South Africa, Arizona, California, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Long Island Sound, the Chesapeake, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Pacific Northwest.
Steve Chapman, Chair of the Viper 640 Class Association, says, “After a long search, we are excited to appoint SERO Sailing as the class builder. During our site visit we were impressed with the professional production facility and strong customer support team,” said. “Having a builder closely connected to the North American fleet will help keep the class strong, accessible, and growing.”
The partnership, SERO Sailing says, is “a commitment to investing in the future of the class while ensuring owners and fleets benefit from closer collaboration, responsive support, readily available parts and consistent boat availability.”
SERO Sailing CEO Chris McLellan says “I have a great deal of respect for what the Viper 640 class has built. It’s an exceptional boat and an even stronger community. Our team is honored to take on the role of builder and is committed to delivering high-quality boats, reliable supply, and a long-term partnership with the class.”
“The Viper 640 community is characterized by an extraordinary number of people who set a great example for how one-design sailing should be supported,” said Todd Riccardi, Vice President of Sales at SERO Sailing, adding, “I’m excited to get out on the water and give them our full support.”
SERO Sailing, which also builds Sunfish and Sol dinghies at its Marine City facilities plans to begin production in June, working closely with the class to maintain strict one-design standards while delivering the quality and performance that Viper sailors demand. SERO intends to campaign its initial production boat at events this coming summer. Sailors interested in purchasing a new boat, spare parts, or accessories are encouraged to contact SERO.
