| L.O.A. | 12.20m | 40'0" |
| L.W.L. | 12.00m | 39'4" |
| BEAM | 3.50m | 11'6" |
| DRAFT | 2.80m | 9'2" |
| DSPL | 400kg | 5.31T |
| SAIL AREA | ||
| Main | 51.90sq m | 558sq ft |
| Genoa | 47.85sq m | 515sq ft |
The Radford 12.2m Racing Yacht Design # 26 - was designed for a range of racing and cruising options including fully crewed racing - around the buoys and long distance, short-handed racing and fast, light weight cruising. The displacement is a little low for effective long term cruising which normally involves extra stores, gear and weight.
The hull has more beam than some of my other designs without being excessive. It has a long waterline, light displacement, fine waterlines forward and a distinct vee in the hull sections. The yacht is fast reaching and running with good form stability and righting moments for fast windward performance. It has a spade rudder and a lifting bulb keel. The lifting bulb keel gives best stability for weight when lowered and good access to shallow waters when raised. The foil is fabricated from Sandvik duplex stainless steel with a lead bulb horizontally bolted to the bottom sections of the foil. It is raised using an hydraulic cylinder which is pinned at the house and drops vertically into the case and foil. For short-handed racing there are water ballast tanks to give more stability than the fully crewed configuration. The water ballast is for added stability and is not essential to obtain fast sailing performance. Consequently the tanks can be used for lockers - which may be the preferred option for cruising.
The construction drawings are for cedar strip hull and FRP / foam sandwich deck and have A.B.S. plan approval. The 12.2m has a large triple spreader rig with swept-back spreaders. There is a fourth spreader at the hounds if a masthead spinnaker is to be used.
The cockpit has a combination of racing and cruising features. Two deck hatches aft give access to a large lazarette which is separated from the accommodation by a watertight bulkhead. A gas bottle locker is located at the aft end of the cockpit with room for 2 x 4.5kg bottles. There are no coamings where the helmsman and mainsheet hand sit and the seats are cut away to give a comfortable outboard sitting position. The cut away section can be raised to form full length seats if preferred. The forward part of the cockpit has seats and coamings. Halyard and control lines lead aft to the cockpit. Halyard tail boxes extending from house top to seat height give good stowage for tails etc. More locker space is located under the winch coamings. The companionway is 300mm forward of the cockpit and when the hatch is fully closed it gives excellent protection for the companionway doors. Forward of the collision bulkhead is an anchor locker and chain locker - not the best place for excess weight when racing but very convenient for cruising.
The R12.2m is not a large volume yacht so the accommodation shown is a simple but practical layout. There are two large quarter berths with stowage under and outboard lockers or water ballast tanks. Opening ports in the cockpit seat fronts give ventilation to these berths. The engine (21 - 28HP) is located under the forward end of the cockpit with the fuel tank aft. The galley and chart table are either side of the companionway and include an ice box and stowage areas. The windows shown are fixed but opening ports can be used for improved ventilation. Integral water tanks are located under the aft end of the settees. The settees have a good width base and angled backs which are straightened to give comfortable width berths. Outboard are lockers or water ballast tanks. The keel case extends through the table to the house top. Further forward is the head and shower and a fwd cabin with double berth. Space is provided for a sump tank and more stowage under the berth.
In conclusion, the R12.2m Racing Yacht is designed for exciting club racing, offshore PHS and IMS racing as well as short-handed racing and cruising a very versatile yacht.
FOOTNOTE: Ron Lally and "Red Jacket" (the first Radford 12.2m) have scooped the pool, winning the W.A. Yachting Association's SISKA Trophy for the Top Ocean Racing Yacht of the 1996 season. On the way to winning the SISKA Trophy, "Red Jacket" won both Class A IMS and YAH Handicap sections in the Blue Water Series covering long distance races. In January 1997 "Red Jacket" took line honours in the Fremantle to Bunbury Race beating three fifty foot yachts!
Twice Ron Lally trucked "Red Jacket" from Perth to Sydney for the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race. In 1998, "Red Jacket" retired during the early stages of "the storm" (see Stability section for storm photos), with a damaged D1 fitting on the mast. In 1999, "Red Jacket" completed the race in good style, winning Division C - IMS and was only beaten on handicap by boats in Division A.
In April 2000 "Red Jacket" was sold to a new owner on Lake Macquarie and renamed "Force Twelve".
In 2009 "Red Jacket/ Force Twelve" found a new owner and home in Tasmania.