Summit Yachts announces it's latest model: the Summit 45 designed by Mark Mills. This collaboration has been successful with our other two racer/cruiser models, the Summit 35 and the Summit 40.

The Summit 45, however, is aimed at serious competitors only. The numerous rating systems including ORC, ORR, IRC and of course, PHRF, create a challenging offshore racing environment. A typical campaign may compete under three or more different systems in a single year! One thing all the systems have in common is that they are evolving toward lighter, faster, more technically advanced designs.

The Summit 45 deck and interior are designed for maximum efficiency either around the buoys or offshore. 45 feet is a great size for offshore racing while still a reasonable size for typical inshore events. The fixed sprit, runnerless carbon rig is relatively easy to handle by an amateur crew, but it will reward talented crews with incredible performance. With a downwind sail area to weight ratio over 78, the Summit 45 will be a rocket in offshore classics like the Hobart, Transpac or Newport-Bermuda. The Summit 45 continues Mills' design trend toward powerful upwind boats with a very low VCG and high initial stability. Fortunately, all the major rating systems are moving in the same direction.

Construction is to custom race boat specifications. At 45 feet, all carbon construction makes sense structurally, and rating vs. performance. The rig, deck gear, and layout are designed for maximum performance as is. However, the Summit 45 is virtually a custom build, so individual ideas in gear or layout can be readily incorporated.