Early Class 40 boats were designed to emphasize offwind speed at the expense of versatility. Like modern Open boats, Jim has penned a Class 40 hull that will go to weather while still putting up some stunning speeds off the wind.
The sailplan is striking, with a huge flat-topped mainsail to maximize sail area. The 105% genoa will furl on the headstay. The staysail and storm jib will hank onto an adjustable inner stay. The retractable carbon bowsprit will accommodate furling Code Sails or socked asymmetrical spinnakers of over 2,200 square feet for amazing offwind speeds in even the lightest of winds.
While chined hulls are all the rage these days, Jim Antrim has been employing chines to great advantage in some of his designs for years. The Novis 40 employs two chines. At upwind heel angles the forefoot chine acts as a Vee bottom to soften the ride. The more visible chine aft provides offwind stability and power. Every Class 40 is powerful off the wind; the Novis 40 will sparkle upwind as well.
The cockpit is huge, taking full advantage of the beam of over thirteen feet. The twin rudders are tiller steered (twin wheels are optional). The cockpit is designed to allow the boat to be efficiently sailed shorthanded while allowing ample room for typical crewed events or family cruising. A built-in hard dodger over the companionway keeps the boat dry in surfing conditions. Sail and reefing controls are led aft to the cockpit for safe sail control in any seaway.
Below deck, the most obvious feature is the centrally mounted navigation station. This allows the skipper or navigator a comfortable place to monitor the position of the boat on long passages as well as great place to rest. Basic cooking facilities are just forward of the nav station including a sink.
Class 40 rules require four fixed bunks, and the Novis 40 has two bunks aft, one to port and starboard, and two in the main cabin. These are true adjuctable offshore bunks. Options below decks include a full shower, a traditional galley, and full-width double berth aft.
Along each side of the boat are the water ballast tanks that allow the boat to outperform the typical 40 footer. Fill the tanks when the wind pipes up and rather than reef and the Novis 40 really begins to perform, with offwind speeds well into the 20s as the boat begins to surf
Draft: 9 ft. 0 in.
Beam: 14 ft. 10 in.
Displacement: 9920
