Nick Bubb who recently completed the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race aboard the 30ft Shuttleworth trimaran Kenmore Homes has announced he will be racing a brand-new chartered Class 40 during the forthcoming Route du Rhum race.

The Class 40 at 40ft loa with a fixed keel and water ballast is essentially a cross between a Mini Transat and an Open 60 which Bubb believes is an ideal stepping stone towards his long held ambition to race in the Open 60 class.

For the Route du Rhum, which starts on 29 October from St Malo and finishes approximately three weeks later in Guadeloupe, Bubb will be up against 30 other Class 40s in a fleet that includes, past winners of the Mini Transat, Figaro and Admiral’s Cup as well as several ex Vendee Globe skippers. As well as Class 40s, the fleet of over 80 will include Open 60 and 50, mono and multihulls and a smaller mono and multihulls. The Class 40 division is the largest fleet and should see some of the closest racing.

Bubb is currently in La Trinite, France working with the build team in an effort to complete the yacht as soon as possible, hopefully by the middle of September. The aim then is to complete trials before heading off on a 1,000-mile solo qualifier.

Having supported Bubb through his Mini Transat sailing as well as being title sponsors of his 30ft trimaran, Kenmore Homes are back once again, this time in partnership with the Kenmore Property Group and Aggmore Property. The new boat will be christened Kenmore Homes and Bubb hopes to confirm further technical partners in the near future.