Continental was designed as a fast cruiser/racer by Australian John King and built by Kanga Birtles who is currently sailing King-designed 60-footer in the BOC Challenge solo around the world race. He skippered this yacht, as Apple Endeavour, in the 1988 Bicentennial Around Australia Race, placing second in the fully crewed division. Since being raced by Mike Champion, Continental has achieved excellent results under IMS handicaps and was second in IMS Division 1 of last year’s Sydney Hobart.