Hakes Marine HH 42: Speed Machine

The Hakes Marine HH42 is designed to go fast. Period.

By Zuzana Prochazka

December 3, 2015

Optimized for eight to 14 knots of true wind, the HH42 is a racing machine from the drawing board of Judel/Vrolijk, whose winning designs range from cruisers to America's Cup winners. A 100-percent pre-preg carbon-fiber speedster, the slick design resembles a Transpac 52 and shares many of the previous racer’s lines.

The HH 42 is optimized for IRC, which comprises 80 percent of world racing rules.

This raceboat is built by Hudson Yacht and Marine in Xiamen, China, under the supervision of Paul Hakes of New Zealand, who has a long history of building light boats with slippery hulls. The double-spreader rig has twin running backstays, a fathead mainsail, and a carbon mast from Southern Spars. The two-piece rig with a joiner is designed for easy packing and transportation so the boats can be sent to race anywhere. The deck is cored with thermo-formed, damage-tolerant foam, and even the bulkheads are pre-preg carbon for weight savings. Interior lighting is both red and white and all wiring is to aircraft spec.

The HH 42 is available with either twin wheels placed well forward, or a tiller behind, which is a long traveler recessed into the sole. Seven Performa winches manage the loads and there are athwartship jib tracks, hydraulic backstay deflectors, and an all-business working cockpit that will accommodate a crew of 10, even though the boat can be sailed somewhat efficiently with five.

Below the waterline of the HH 42 are high aspect ratio foils for the rudder and a nine-foot draft keel, which is on an integrated socket for quick removal.

Inside the HH 42 is as spartan as any racer, but in a pinch it could do multi-day offshore runs. An enclosed head, a nav desk of sorts, and single-burner gas stovetop are the highlights. Standing headroom is only for really short racers, and although there’s space for 10 to sleep at a time, the bunks are mostly basic pipe berths. The interior is sufficient for what will go on in there: sleeping, navigating, and sail packing.

The HH42 has a 30 HP Yanmar for auxiliary power and charging batteries to run lights, pumps, and electronics. A Gori folding propeller is standard. A half dozen of these models are racing around the world and although that’s not enough to form a one-design class, these boats are busy topping the competition in regattas around the globe.

For more information, visit Hakes Marine.

Specifications
Length	41'4"
Beam	14'3"
Draft	9'2"
Sail Area	NA
Displacement	10,912 lbs
Fuel capacity	11 gal.
Water capacity	13 gal.

Written by: Zuzana Prochazka

Zuzana Prochazka is a writer and photographer who freelances for a dozen boating magazines and websites. A USCG 100 Ton Master, Zuzana has cruised, chartered and skippered flotillas in many parts of the world and serves as a presenter on charter destinations and topics. She is the Chair of the New Product Awards committee, judging innovative boats and gear at NMMA and NMEA shows, and currently serves as immediate past president of Boating Writers International. She contributes to Boats.com and YachtWorld.com, and also blogs regularly on her boat review site, TalkoftheDock.com.