Archambault 40RC
Name
Arcadia
Design
Archambault 40RC
Skippers / owner
Peter Davison, PJ
Hull length
12 m / 40′
Draft
2.5 m
Launch Year
2008
Weight
6850 kg
Yacht club
Royal Melbourne yacht squadron – RMYS
Arcadia is an Archambault 40RC, a French-built racer-cruiser designed by Joubert/Nivelt Design and constructed by Archambault Yachts as part of the successful A40 series. The 40RC (Racer-Cruiser) is a performance-oriented yacht that bridges competitive handicap racing with capable cruising attributes, earning a strong reputation among sailors looking for versatile speed and offshore credibility.
The Archambault 40RC has an overall length of about 11.98 m (39.3 ft), a beam of approximately 3.75–3.8 m, and a draft near 2.5 m, reflecting its racer-leaning hull and deep fin keel setup. Displacement sits around 6 650–6 800 kg with roughly 3 100–3 500 kg of ballast, giving the design a high ballast-to-displacement ratio that supports performance sailing and balanced stability in a range of conditions.
Built with vacuum-infused fiberglass sandwich construction and equipped with a fractional sloop rig and spade rudder, the A40RC delivers a lively and responsive sailing experience. Its sail area and hull form are tuned for spirited performance, with a sail area-to-displacement ratio that suggests strong performance potential relative to displacement.
While designed to excel on the racecourse, the Archambault 40RC also offers accommodation for extended cruising, typically featuring a layout with berths and essential facilities that make it suitable for weekend cruising or regatta campaigns with live-aboard needs met.
Arcadia, under the ownership and skippering of Peter Davison PJ, has been an active competitor in Victorian and Australian waters. The boat has campaigned in local regattas, ORCV offshore series, and had multiple appearances in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, with Arcadia first competing in Hobart in 2018 and continuing to represent its class in subsequent campaigns.
The Archambault 40RC’s blend of racer performance, offshore capability and solid construction make it a popular choice for sailors who want a competitive yacht that is also adaptable to varied sailing programs beyond pure one-design fleets.
Yachts I’ve Raced & Cruised On
From offshore racers to cruiser-racers, this is a snapshot of the yachts I’ve been crew aboard in recent seasons. Search by boat length. And find out about the yachts I have sailed on and with whom.
