Shockwave (Davidson 46)

The first of Neville Crichton's famous Shockwave series of offshore racing yachts was a Davidson 46, designed and built for the 1980 Clipper Cup series. However, she missed the first set of trials for the New Zealand team and was only launched in time for the second evaluation series. While the number of new yachts being built during 1979/80 for regattas such as the Clipper Cup was low, the fractional-rigged Shockwave joined two other new Davidson yachts, the masthead rigged Snow White 2 (47ft) and the fractional Brother Dominic (41ft).

Like her near sisters, Shockwave sported fairly radical stern sections, with a very square and straight aft run behind the trademark Davidson bustle, this area being so flat that it formed a chine where it met the aft topside area. The transom was reasonably upright in around the centreline, but the transom/sheerline intersection was moved aggressively forward by a triangular-shaped cutout at the point where that intersection met the after girth station measurement as defined by the IOR rule. Most IOR boats tended to achieve the same result by more angled transoms, but this arrangement allowed a longer deck area, and an aftward and central position for the running backstays. It also yielded a low 33.8ft rating.

Shockwave sails to windward in the 1980 Clipper Cup - her chiselled aft sections clearly visible

Another view of the stern sections of Shockwave, with Ragamuffin ahead and to leeward (photo Adrian Herbert/Seahorse)

Close up view of a happy crew aboard Shockwave as she slides downwind during the 1980 Clipper Cup (photo Phil Uhl)

Shockwave was sailed in the 1980 Clipper Cup by Stu Brentnall and his crew from his earlier Red Lion and Export Lion campaigns. She didn't make it into the New Zealand team, but went on to finish second overall, behind the Peterson-designed 45-footer Ragamuffin, with the same placings being achieved in Class B. Ragamuffin's overall win also spearheaded an Australian team win, joined by the Davidson Two-Tonner Sweet Caroline and the S&S-design Challenge II. The New Zealand team of Anticipation (Lexcen 50), Brother Dominic and Country Boy (Farr 36) finished fourth.

Shockwave in close company with former New Zealand yachts Inca and Gerontius (photo Phil Uhl)

Shockwave (middle on starboard) between Shenandoah (left) and Challenge II during the Lahaina Sauza Cup in 1980 that was held prior to the Clipper Cup (photo Phil Uhl | Facebook)

The stern shape of Shockwave is visible in this recent (2024) photo of a near sistership (photo Facebook)

Shockwave went on to sail in the 1980 Big Boat Series, but was dismasted in the last race. She was later bought by a San Francisco yachtsman David Fladien and became Confrontation. She finished 11th in the 'Atlantic Perpetual' division in the 1982 Big Boat Series (with results of 8/13/7/8/8) and also raced in the 1982 Clipper Cup.

Confrontation sailing in San Francisco during a Big Boat Series regatta during the 1980s (photo Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing)