Piet Vroon has been a RORC member for decades and this year, he is racing a brand new Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens. The Dutch based yacht is competing at the RORC IRC National Championship and is performing extremely well, having won two races so far. Similarities between Fair Do's VII, another Ker 46, were quickly dispelled, as designer, Jason Ker points out:

"Tonnerre is a completely different boat, made from a new mould. Whilst Tonnerre has a similar sail plan to Fair Do's VII, the new design is much beamier and lighter and in the last five years designers like myself have been leaning towards building faster boats for IRC. This is possible not because of any dramatic changes in the rule, but simply because we have began to understand how to design a boat that rates well under the rule, but is also able to return some good downwind speed."

The dazzling merlin blue hull of Tonnerre is a magnificent sight at this year's RORC IRC National Championship and whilst Niklas Zennstrom's TP52, RAN has been conquering Class Super Zero, if Tonnerre of Breskens had been racing in Super Zero, they would have beaten them in the first race of the championships.

Tonnerre of Breskens will be competing in the RORC Season's Points Championship and the Rolex Fastnet Race in August this year.