Ker 52, FAST EXIT II

Broker’s Comments

The new breed of scow-like offshore yacht is starting to grow into the handicap fleets. From the beginnings in the Mini Transat fleet with the awesome performance of the MAGNUM in 2010, ears have pricked up in the box rule offshore classes of the Class 40 and the IMOCA who are now almost exclusively scow shaped at the front of the fleet.

Note: 1st in Division 2 and 3rd overall & elapsed in the 2025 Transpac race, awarded Merlin Trophy for fastest elapsed time (7d 15h) of a non-powered yacht (no power assisted winches, etc.). One of only fifty yachts to complete the 2,225-nm race in under eight days since it began in 1906.

Because she was so fast and finished at night, no helicopter footage could be taken. But some great videos from the 2025 race can be found on the Fast Exit YouTube Channel. Below are the metrics from the moment Fast Exit finished the race:

Note: On ZERO GRAVITY 51. 1st Overall 2010 Sydney to Hobart Race as SECRET MEN’S BUSINESS, then 4th IRC 1 in 2013 as PRIMITIVE COOL.

FAST EXIT II started life as VARUNA, a very successful Ker 51, with a power to weight ratio above TP52s and was more offshore orientated and very successful. She had a few more successful owners, and now in her current ownership is based on the West Coast USA, where they know a lot about reaching fast and going downwind quickly.

It was found that the original design was very good, but in the larger swells, the crew were changing down to flatter spinnakers to keep the bow up and in control.

A study with the owner, Jason Ker, and Alan Andrews, concluded that the hull shape was very fast indeed, but in order to be able to push harder, more reserve buoyancy was required in the bow, and a longer bowsprit. The resultant design and work to the yacht gave her and scow-like planning and turned the yacht into a rocketship upwind and downwind and is leading the way into offshore racing.

In addition to the design and build work, the yacht has been cosseted and updated constantly – the sail wardrobe from North is fresh and well up to date, Carbon rigging is recent and even the engine was replaced in 2022. She really is a yacht that will light up and is in exceptional condition.

She is also a comfortable yacht to race, with full standing headroom, nav station, waterproof and with her own private, enclosed heads compartment and stiffening crash bulkheads fore and aft.

Brief Summary of Updates Since 2020

• Replaced bow forward of mast to achieve added reserve buoyancy and scow-like planning.
• An extensive inventory of North Sails, 90% of which new in 2023 with balance new in 2025.
• Extended carbon fiber bowsprit 2.5-ft to 11.5-ft to enhance VMG off-wind sailing (2020).
• New keel fin with kelp cutter and 15% larger cord length to improve upwind sailing to latest hydrodynamic foil shapes by Ker Yacht Design (2020).
• Underwater camera to observe foils anytime from either Zeus Chartplotter (2023).
• Rudder updated to accommodate a kelp cutter (2024).
• New Volvo Pentek D2-40F Diesel and Saildrive (2022).
• Moved from AMG to Lithium batteries to reduce weight (2020).
• Replaced all electrical wiring and electronics (2020).

Ratings

• 2019 IRC Rating: Certificate 40161: 1.388 (Oystercatcher XXXIII).
• 2024 PHFR of SoCal Certificate 51007C: OWC-78; RLC -76; W/L -80 spm.
• 2024 PHFR of SoCal Certificate 51007E: OWC-80; RLC -78; W/L -84 spm.
• 2024 ORR Inshore: Closed Course Med (Cl/Crs): 1.2285 TCF; Offshore Offwind: 1.2525 TCF.
• 2025 ORR Offshore: Closed Course Med (Cl/Crs): 1.2232 TCF; Offshore Offwind: 1.2421 TCF.

We have a great deal of detailed information on the yacht, available through request.

Race Results

• 1st IRC 1 / 4th Overall: Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race (IRC).
• 1st Overall: Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race (IRC).
• 1st in Class: Cowes Week (IRC).
• 1st in Class: UK IRC National Championships (IRC).
• 2nd IRC Zero Rolex Fastnet Race (IRC).
• 1st IRC 2: Key West Race Week (IRC).
• 1st Overall: San Diego to Puerto Vallarta Race (ORR).
• 1st in Class: SoCal 300 Race (ORR).
• 2nd in Class / 4th Overall: Newport to Cabo San Lucas Race (ORR).
• 1st to Finish in Class / 2nd in Class: Transpac Race (ORR).
• 1st to Finish / 1st in Class / 3rd Overall out of 145 competitors: Newport to Ensenada (PHRF).
• 1st in Class / 2nd Overall out of 70 competitors: Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race (PHRF).
• 1st in Class: Channel Islands 500 Race (ORR).
• 1st Overall / 1st in Class / 2nd to Finish out of 130 competitors: Newport to Ensenada (PHRF).
• 1st in Class / 3rd Overall & Elapsed / Merlin Trophy for fastest non-powered Yacht: Transpac Race (ORR).

Official ORR Measurements

• LOA 52.513ft / 16.006m
• Beam 15.597ft / 4.754m
• Draft 12.313ft / 3.753m

Owner’s Comments

FAST EXIT II is a Grand Prix all carbon 16.0-meter yacht with a mission to compete successfully under IRC, ORR, and PHRF rating systems. She has been featured in several articles including on the cover of Sailing World, in Seahorse Magazine, and is the cover of the 2025 Ultimate Sailing Calendar.

The Ker 52 is configurable for buoy racing to offshore events. Although of similar size, she is not constrained by the TP52 box rule. So, with her bow replaced in 2023 after an exhaustive examination of 200 candidate shapes, FAST EXIT II sits at the leading edge of yacht design and is faster than ever, as confirmed with a record of winning across global events (see Seahorse Magazine June 2023 article “Music to the Ears”) and dominant win in the 2025 Transpac.

As with TP52s, the Ker 52 comes configurable for buoy racing with suitable forward hatch, roller wheel just after the hatch and spinnaker retrieval line reel aft driven by the pedestals for fast take downs. The hydraulic pumps are drivable by the pedestals and all bunks, watermaker, fore and aft watertight bulks, etc. are removable so she can be configured as a big dinghy.

After undergoing a rigorous annual maintenance and receipt of new North sails in preparation for the 2025 race season, FAST EXIT II focused on winning the 2025 Transpac in July and succeeded. She lacks for nothing and is ready to win again.

A benchmarking of FAST EXIT II against world class TP52 competitors can be provided upon request.