What's in a name? Plenty, when you build the world's fastest boats

12:36 AM Thu 8 Oct 2009 GMT

'This could be you in a few months time, if you win the McConaghy Carbon Fibre Performance Wheel that is the prize in the 2009/10 MMOC. - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship' John Curnow

What's in a name? Plenty, when you're the makers of the world's fastest boats. The 2009/10 McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship is going to have one McConaghy Carbon Fibre Performance Wheel as the major prize in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's Performance Handicap Division. It all gets underway with the Melbourne to Stanley race on October 31 (a qualifying event for the Christmas time races), entries for which close on October 17.

Anyway, what is most important about the prize is the serious performance this fantastic wheel will add to your racing. By being extremely light, McConaghy Carbon Fibre Performance Wheels offer reduced flywheel effect and provide you with unprecedented rudder feedback. Form follows function, true enough, so it is good to know that cool also has exceptional ergonomics, which has got help your hands by making it a whole lot nicer to hang on to during those long cold overnight legs.

Got to get your hands on this! - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow

McConaghy's invented the composite wheel back in the 80's and have been improving it ever since. For a long time in fact, you had to buy the whole boat just to get one. Once exclusively the domain of the Maxi Yacht world, McConaghy Carbon Fibre Performance Wheels will now fit most major pedestal brands and have always been the only choice for many pro-sailors. It is little wonder then, that seven out of eight yachts in the last Volvo Ocean Race featured McConaghy steering wheels and systems. 'We're proud to be associated with the ORCV this season and be able to provide one of our fantastic Carbon Fibre Performance Wheels. Our wheels will not only offer some serious performance benefits to skippers on a lot of production boats, they really are a great looking piece of kit both out on the course and moored to the quay', said McConaghy's Director of Business Development, Cameron McTavish.

McConaghy is an international company, who have been on the leading edge of high tech materials construction since their inception over 40 years ago. Their facilities in Sydney and China, have earned a well-deserved reputation domestically and internationally as the specialists in extremely light and strong carbon fibre laminated structures and components. Interestingly, McConaghy operate not only in the marine business, but also help the rail, automotive, aeronautical, architectural, medical and industrial sectors with their strong, lightweight solutions.

Their reputation further extends to pushing the envelope and they literally thrive on innovation. McConaghy's diversity is the key to their success. With 2,500 square metres in Sydney, Australia and 7,500 square metres over three factories in Zhuhai, China they produce a wide range of products from their world famous maxi and mini-maxi yachts such as Alfa Romeo, Wild Oats, ICAP Leopard, to small production racing yachts such as the Olympic Class Elliott 6m and the Mach 2 foiling Moth.

Over the years, McConaghy has developed and perfected some of the strongest and lightest yacht and industrial components ever made. Many of these have since become production items. McConaghy's commitment to light weight and innovative high quality products that they offer their customers is an incredible mix of capabilities, which is not often found in combination elsewhere.

Unmistakable, Y-spoke, McConaghy Carbon Fibre Performance Wheel - McConaghy Melbourne Offshore Championship - John Curnow

That diversity will be reflected in the way the points will be gathered in each race of the series, including the inshore races - Cock of the Bay, King of the Derwent and TasPorts Cup. And as a mark of your efforts out on the water, each winner will get to fly the McConaghy's Melbourne Offshore Championship yellow ribband from their backstay.

Fluttering in the breeze, these soon-to-be-coveted items will denote not only your performance, but inspire and remind you to keep striving for the best on those long overnight watches. ORCV Commodore, George Shaw was also elated. 'This is tremendously exciting. What a great brand to have partner with us. We're very appreciative and delighted to be offering this sensational wheel in the Performance Handicap class', he went on to add. In fact, the only thing you'll need to fit this ?ber-cool piece of carbon fibre 'Bling' onto your boat your prize is a spanner.

The ORCV runs at least seven ocean races every year into or across Bass Strait, including the long distance Melbourne to Hobart Races via both the West and East Coasts of Tasmania. A not-for-profit organisation, the ORCV is also a significant educator for all users of the ocean and runs a range of training and education courses each year to increase safety, awareness and usage of Australia's vast waterways. Please see orcv.org.au for details.

To go and see more wheels and check out what other ?ber-cool components are on offer now at the McConaghy's eStore, like carbon fibre tube, handrails, toe rails, stanchions, rudders and foils, click HERE ( www.mcconaghy-aus.com/store/ ) or call +61 (0)2 9997 7722.