Formidable 3 is a very powerful boat, the Lutra 56ft, owned by, Dutch shipping magnet, Pieter Vroon. Formidable 3 is a one off, designed by Gerard Dijkstra who has developed a worldwide reputation for his innovative yacht design. Among his best known designs is triple-masted Dynarig yacht, Maltese Falcon.

Formidable 3 is a very unusual cruiser/racer; although her structure is almost entirely made of carbon fibre, she is fully fitted out below. Built with a lifting keel and water ballast, in cruising mode she has less draught and has increased stability for short -handed sailing due to the water ballast replacing crew weight on the rail.

The Corinthian crew are a blend of Dutch, Belgian, English, American and South Africans. Matt Trautman runs the boat and the bow and has plans for a Class 40 campaign next year, at 22, he has already crossed the Atlantic five times but he is not the youngest crewman on board;

Tom Vroon is the crew’s principle grinder, a seriously physical job, at just sixteen years of age he was thoroughly enjoying his first ever Skandia Cowes Week and commented; ” It is great to come to Cowes and race in Class one, especially against so many TP52s. I definitely want to sail in that class but my ultimate ambition is to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race in the future.”

Formidable 3 has been extremely successful, including winning class in the 2,500 mile Round Britain and Ireland Race last year. The distinctive, marlin blue, yacht showed its true pedigree in a hair-raising run down the east coast of Britain. She was wetter than an otter’s pocket hurtling down the North Sea, surfing consistently at over 24 knots and hitting, a mind boggling, top speed of 31 knots down one particular wave.

Click here to see a video of the Formidable 3 at full speed .

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