IrfTOKfna
January 2013
Mixed feelings
There is no doubt those behind this America's Cup were relieved to see fashion giant Prada deliver another campaign. But seeing as the Cup organiser and the Cup Defender are to all intents indivisible, they are also understandably concerned about their biggest rival Emirates Team New Zealand acquiring such a co-operative training partner. In fact, for most beyond the bubble this is good news, making it more likely that there will be a real fight come the America's Cup in September. Team New Zealand will waste no time in taking advantage of a second, almost identical AC72 to trial with, sailed by a crack crew paid for by somebody else. Champagne all round. The Kiwis are also ahead of everyone else in terms of good sailing days, putting 16 carefully chosen days on the clock before their first AC72 went in for modifications -changes most likely aheady in situ on Luna Rossa's boat. The process has been well thought through and the Defender's angst about it only increased following their crash in October. Oracle, however, as with Dennis Conner's shrewd 1987 Cup campaign, are preparing for a different regatta from today's challengers, who must survive the winds of August before getting into the lighter air of September. As normal, the deck is stacked. Few can argue that Luna Rossa bringing the Cup back to Europe would not be the best imaginable outcome. Picture a Prada-backed Cup in Italy; we already have our new offices earmarked - though given who Prada must defeat to get at Oracle, we have not as yet put down the deposit. We must always hope...
COVER: Carlo Borlenghi/Prada INSET: Gilles Martin-Raget
F E A T U R E S
22
ZerotoieranGe
Head of V 0 6 5 rule compliance JAMES D A D D and Green Marine CEO M A R C E L M U L L E R describe what it takes to create a 6'5ft one-design
8
Update
T E R R Y H U T C H I N S O N has a handy new friend, cruelty and joy mark the 2012-13 Vendée Globe start, W O U T E R VERBRAAK checks out the choices and R O D N E Y PATTISSON says the moment is here to call time on the Medal Race
26
Last of the Mohicans - Part 1
As you might expect, B I L L GOGGINS found spending time with ocean-racing legend L O I C K P E Y R O N to be an illuminating experience
30
BoxofTice
JONAS H O G H - C H R I S T E N S E N provided the drama and intrigue to make the 2012 Olympic Regatta one to remember... A N D Y RICE has the back story to a crazy week i n sailing
32
Unhelpful
BLUE R O B I N S O N talks to Oracle skipper J I M M Y SPITHILL a b o u t ' t h a t capsize and w i t h team manager G R A N T S I M M E R about the consequences
36
Old school
A change of pace for round-the-world racer W O U T E R V E R B R A A K as he gets to grips w i t h the demands of racing a modern J Class monster
14
World news
M I C H E L DESJOYEAUX shares his Vendée Globe tips, a happy time in La Corse, PATRIZIO BERTELLI gets a Cup voice, Aussie Olyinpic reflections and peace breaks out offshore... DOBBS DAVIS, IVOR WILKINS, BLUE
ROBINSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER
20
Paul Gayard
And the Artemis CEO is disappointed w i t h reaction to extending the America's Cup W o r l d Series
24
IRG column
Decide f o r yourself. JAMES D A D D
38
Understanding the task
Epsilon Optics founder ROB KNAPP explains the advantages and practicalities of making wider use of real-time load monitoring i n structures
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
And surely the secrecy game is finally up?
42
Design - Stiffer, faster, but every
bit as glorious
Yachting Developments head I A N C O O K describes taking a major step into new territory w i t h the rebuild of the mighty Endeavour
AQ
SeahorseWM table
-Gutting edge
The best y o u can get in Imoca 60 steering... w i t h DENIS J U H E L and M I C H E L DESJOYEAUX
48
RORG news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorsev^gdMdi calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Two w o r t h y contributors to the wider game Left: tempting
fate... a s predicted by IWr Desjoyeaux, his protegee Fran90is Gabart powered into an early lead in the Vendée Globe on the Verdier-VPLP design IVIacif-with the pace of three similar boats at the front of the fleet prompting c o n c e r n for rivals hoping for a closer battle. T h e r e ' s a very long way to go, however, but this design pairing has gone a long way quickly. Wleanwhile, wisely staying in L e s S a b l e s was Javier Sansó's hound, Botox (inset), with all the n e c e s s a r y accreditation...
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Contents
I
Inbetweeners
Craig Saittervvaitli drives tlie the VO60 RS Components during the Volvo Baltic Race - skippered by former Volvo Ocean Race winner Erie Williams. In spite of the extreme purpose for which they were originally created, the great bulk of boats ever built for the Whitbread and then Volvo round-the-world races have continued to find gainful employment of one form or another. If you look hard enough, even most of those ageing lOR maxis and mini-maxis will be found afloat somewhere, often still working away hard on charter in a quieter corner of the world. Certainly that was the case up to and including the robust VO60s, built in Kevlar (to general builder disgust) and as a result pretty much indestructible. But the small number of VO70s built for recent editions of the race are a httle more of a handful - even when being used by new Volvo Race teams as a training platform. There is a tiny group of well-quahfied VO70 operations offering opportunities to race these monsters, but even in expert hands they need to be treated - and maintained - with far more respect than their predecessors. In the right hands the VO70 today offers a quite unmissable sailing experience, especially offshore, but, rather like an America's Cup boat, if they are not kept in top condition and without the right people in charge they can be truly dangerous. One day the recycling of these fantastic 'used' raceboats may become a serious issue, but while they are still around check out the people you are going to sea with and grab any chance you get. And take gloves...
COVER: Oskar Kihiborg/Volvo INSET: Helena Darvelid/SailRocket
F E A T U R E S
26
From the tat
Volvo Ocean Race CEO K N U T FROSTAD is onside w i t h our campaign to improve engineering safety and M A R C E L L O PERSICO is getting thoroughly immersed i n the V 0 6 5 team spirit
30
Next
BEN AINSLIE tells BLUE R O B I N S O N about life after London 2012 and o f t h e changing demands of sourcing an America's Cup sponsorship deal
32
Quietly beavering away
STEPHANE D Y E N and Switzerland's Hydros Team are w o r k i n g hard to broaden the argument for l i f t i n g foils
36
Olympic retrospective
A N D Y RICE reflects on the changes, good and bad, i n the Olympic family
38
A Swedish Mohican?
Leading a French Cup team while consulting to the Swedes, BILL GOGGINS asks h o w L O I C K P E Y R O N can possibly keep everybody happy...
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST8
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N on 12 months of experience and surprise, W O U T E R V E R B R A A K studies the Vendée Globe leaders, PETERG I L M O U R hangs up his boots, PAUL C A Y A R D reckons the 2013 Cup has barely begun and B R I A N H A N C O C K asks V L A D M U R N I K O V to put his case for stepped hull shapes...
16
World news
V I N C E N T RIOU's sorry tale, MRCE GOLDlNG's card gets marked, FRANCOIS GABART nicks J-P's thunder, D A V I D LE PELLEY's school for talent, the Oats gets a nose-job and HPR hits Key West. DOBBS DAVIS, IVOR WILKINS, BLUE ROBINSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER
24
Rod Davis - Passion
And some good ideas on how to go about rediscovering it...
28
ORG column
A chance to play together at last? JASON K E R
Design - Strictly practical
T I M H O U G H T O N reports on a pragmatic effort to deliver a foiler for mass consumption
U
SeahorsebuM table
-Maximum value
J A S O N KER is bringing a stonkingly priced new 37-footer to the market which w i l l also help test current theories of I R C - O R C i compatibility
46
Seahorse regatta calendar
48
RORG news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
67
Sailor ofthe Month
The only question... who to p u t up against them
We did not use these s h o t s of Sam Davies returning to L e s S a b l e s , having retired from the Vendée Globe, simply to upset dedicated but frustrated singlehanded skippers not lucky enough to live in France (although we know it will). Rather to marvel at the depth of public support that the Vendée s k i p p e r s know that they can all rely upon. Fast or slow, front of the fleet or the very back, this is typical of the turnout. And a s for the guy who wins the race next month...
S o very c l o s e
Imagine losing the Vendée Globe by little more than three hours after the best part of 30,000 miles of the hardest racing imaginable. That was Armel Le Cléac'h's lot as he arrived in Les Sables to take the runner-up slot for the second time in two races. That said, it's not all bad news for Le Cléac'h since his current sponsor Banque Populaire have just bought him Franck Cammas's former Groupama 3, on which the former Figaro winner will shortly start to pursue major race wins as well as singlehanded oceanic records. The relative performances of Le Cléac'h's Vendée steed and that of its near-sistership Macif were indeed practically identical. Mr;c//skipper Francois Gabart got a nice jump in the south making good the use of his Mich Desjoyeaux-inspired blast reacher, but otherwise the boats sailed around the world at the same speed. It is possible, of course, that having made a break soon after rounding Cape Horn, Gabart kept something in reserve - although the final margin suggests otherwise. In terms of performance both these boats were head and shoulders faster than most of their rivals - even Barcelona Race winner Jean-Pierre Dick struggled to match the two leaders' pace on his own very similar VerdierA'PLP design. Probably the next best performance in this Vendée Globe was put up by Alex Thomson on his six-year-old Farr design, the only previous generation boat to keep at least loosely in touch with the frontrunners. The Hugo Boss team's decision to focus on rehability rather than risk building a new boat proved to be a shrewd one... COVER: Vincent Curutchet/DPPI INSET: J e s u s Renedo
F E A T U R E S
25
Nice Start
Super Series manager ROB W E I L A N D had cause to feel satisfied having taken his fleet to Florida
26
No small undertaking
R I C H A R D BRISIUS is again immersed i n the Volvo Race and w i t h his second all-women team
31
The entertainment business
ED DUBOIS explains his choice of description f o r his field of operation w i t h i n the growing superyacht arena
34
Small boats, big lessons
BEN M O O N looks at development in the A-Cats and contrasts i t w i t h their larger America's Cup cousins
38
Under the covers
ROBERT H O P K I N S makes a strong case f o r improving the onboard measurement of leeway
baby goes afloat, PETER H O L M B E R G explains the changes (for the better) on the Caribbean circuit, a satisfactory HPR debut, plus PATRICE CARPENTIER has been tracking some significant changes i n the ranks of the G-Class multihulls
16
World news
Those Vendée Globe lessons in f u l l , the keel sagas continue, Imoca 60 budgets, young blood on a charge in New Zealand, a new-look Barcelona World Race, TP52s thriving down under and a
good night's fundraising! BLUE ROBINSON, PATTQCE CARPENTIER, DOBBS DAVIS, ^ CARLOS PICH, I V O R WILIONS
22
Rod Davis
And a fly-on-the-wall America's Cup insight
42
This dog is going to hunt - Part 2
PAUL LARSEN tells BLUE R O B I N S O N why he is keen to see his speed record come under threat
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST8
Update
T E R R Y H U T C H I N S O N returns to Key West, FVOR W I L K I N S watches as D A L T O N ' S new
28
ORC column
It all comes d o w n to the fleet splits
44
Design
- Outside assistance
Even N o r t h 3 D i chief B I L L PEARSON can be surprised by today's sailboat technology
46
5ed
/r0r5e build table
- O f f t o a remarkable start
STUART J O H N S T O N E looks behind the seeming instant success of J/Boats' new little flyer
48
S e a t e d regatta calendar
50
RORG news
E D D I E W A R D E N O W E N
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Tenacity, seamanship and a very big contribution
S a i l s as art... a courageous innovation during this year's (sub zero) London Boat Show, supported by CNM Estates, s a w 10 Star mainsails painted by well-known artists, which were then u s e d by an invited fleet to compete for the UK Star title. The spectacular s h o w was especially rewarding for Xavier Rohart who took the win. Seahorse rather politely finished up at mid-fleet
s t a r t of something big
When Eric Tabarly, seen here during Jiis epic win in die 1976 OSTAR singlehanded race, first started to draw the attention of tlie French public to the daring exploits of the nation's small but growing band of solo adventurers, he had no idea where it would lead. Certainly, it was not just the French who were there at the start, but they grasped the mantle and took this new sport of solo ocean racing to imdreamt heights. Images we have published recently of the reception afforded the leading Vendée Globe finishers have since been put in perspective by the turnouts that greeted the last boats home. Indeed, several thousand people turned out to welcome back the early race retirees, like Sam Davies, such is the depth of passion France reserves for its ocean-racing heroes. Although Tabarly had enjoyed considerable success before his solo transatlantic win in 1976, this was the result that finally cemented his fame and reputation. Competing alone onboard a heavy aluminium-built lOR maxi was an epic undertaking. But the 1976 race also ran into some of the worst weather that the North Atlantic can deliver... indeed at one point Tabarly had turned around and was running for home as he struggled with exhaustion and gear failure. And to top it all, Tabarly's Pen Diiick VI was competing, among a fleet that also included some good early multihulls, with Alain Colas's 236ft giant of the seas, Cltib Mediterranée. In the end sanity, extraordinary grit and some magnificent seamanship prevailed. Tabarly took the win while Colas's giant suffered repeated halyard failures. It was a genuinely historic result
COVER: Eric
T a b a r l y / B a t e a u x / D P P I INSET: JM Liot/DPPI
F E A T U R E S
22
Ran is the champion!
A n d class manager ROB W E I L A N D also has news of the latest 52 Super Series developments
24
Progress report
B R I T T W A R D is among the most eager of those looking f o r w a r d to the launch of V O 65 N o l
26
Handy tool!
What w o u l d our ancestors have said... a this i n a regular-looking wrist watch
29
No stone unturned
M I K K O B R U M M E R o f WB-Sails paints a vivid picture of the level of development that goes into today's successful Olympic class sails and rigs
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
8
Update
TERRY H U T G H I N S O N counts his chickens, PETER H O L M B E R G enjoys another Caribbean 'winter', DEE S M I T H and some good opening moves for HPR. Plus cruising at 30kt... what happens when you ask N I G E L IRENS and B E N O I T CABARET to design your ideal boat
32
The more you know the
faster you go
J O C E L Y N B L E R I O T talks to aero whizz PIERRE BOURCIER about a more scientific route to a better understanding of rig performance
34
The entertainment business
-Keeping things sane
ED DUBOIS discusses the necessary steps being taken to protect the superyacht racing fraternity
37
216,000 miles of testing...
C O N R A D C O L M A N failed to wear them out!
39
Forecasting the forecast
W O U T E R V E R B R A A K explains what lies behind the popular concept of ensemble routing
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E G R E V I L L E
16
World news
Vendée Globe wrap, D A V E BARNES and RICK D O D S O N are back i n the game,
G O N Z A L O B O T I N keeps it i n the family, M A T BELCHER looks forward to Rio with confidence and US offshore safety. BLUE ROBDMSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER, DOBBS DAVIS, CARLOS PICH, FVOR WILKINS
23
Paul Cayard
A n d taking it on the chin
28
IRG column
JAMES D A D D introduces his support band...
42
Design-Total design
International 14 ace PAUL BIEKER w i t h his latest typically innovative new offshore design
A^
SeahorsebuM table
- Pure performance
T w o new mid-sized rockets... ripe f o r H P R
48
Seahorse regniidi calendar
50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Both 'high mileage'... a tough choice, we reckon
Palma, Majorca w a s the setting when the Olympic c i r c u s started up again in earnest last month, with many of the big Olympic teams holding training c a m p s ahead of this y e a r ' s P r i n c e s s Sofia Trophy. The newly Olympic mixed Nacra 17s (left) were clearly taking a while to get to grips with the frequently rough conditions
eContents
P H L t A i i k k ^
The more the merrier
The top end of the classic yacht racing scene is further evidence, if any were needed, that true exclusivity will always have a value, and that to be really exclusive something must be either very old, in very short supply or preferably both. Finally, the object in question should ideally be beautiful. As long as all these criteria are met then the monetary value of such an object will be limited only by the money supply among wealthy connoisseurs. Hence an original Ferrari GTO (ofwhich only 39 were built), which would have cost you about $3milhon seven or eight years ago, will now change hands at $30million (modest gasp). There is simply more cash around at the top today and so old-fashioned notions of what something is 'fundamentally worth' are redundant. Is this an investment pitch to put together a syndicate to buy a J Class, like the replica of Ranger seen on the cover? Certainly not! The J Class that race today - five of them lined up at St Earths - are new boats built to old lines or tenuous restorations, at most incorporating a few original features. But this narrow but intense demand for fine objects with genuine heritage, whether restoration or faithful replica (and many of the most prized classic cars are little more original than is Ranger), is not going to diminish any time soon... which is marvellous news for sailing and for the sailing industry! At a time when the once reliable personnel needs of the America's Cup have been severely dislocated, it is also extremely good news for the many skilled sailors who are needed to keep these new-old monsters moving safely in the right direction!
COVER: Oskar Kihiborg INSET: Thierry Martinez
F E A T U R E S
24
The driving force
K E N READ and B R U N O DUBOIS talk to DOBBS DAVIS about the philosophy and the execution of a radical V 0 6 5 sail programme
the chess i n Long Beach, PETER H O L M B E R G is relieved that the J Class (and others) all missed each other, CAMPBELL FIELD speaks i n defence of 'tracker transparency' and DOBBS DAVIS goes onboard one of the aU-time Whitbread greats
26
Tal(ing
Stock
ROB W E I L A N D broadens his analysis w i t h a look at relative modernity among rating systems
28
As good as it gets
T I M S M Y T H and the Oracle build team at Core Boatbuilders are finding success with an innovative new fabric
32
50 shades of spray
G U I L L A U M E VERDIER puts a strong case f o r the M u l t i 5 0 class to J O C E L Y N B L E R I O T
34
A rare b r e e d - P a r t I
Designer M A R K M I L L S has been busy, below the radar but busy. A n d a new m a x i racer is the result
39
Lift-Off
N A T H A N O U T T E R I D G E is finding that the America's Cup is a very different proposition f r o m his previous Olympic and skiff racing experience
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE
16
World news
Erwan Tabarly (finally) makes the top step, Figaro sail travails, a vintage (chilly) Spi Ouest, the M O O S E goes one-design racing, SEAN L A N G M A N takes GARL RYVES for a burnout
and DOBBS DAVIS says farewell to an old friend and a genuine America's Cup legend.
BLUE ROBINSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER, I V O R WILIONS
22
Rod Davis
We shouldn't speculate on the next America's Cup class... O h , w h y not?
30
ORG column
And yacht technology is alive and well, say A N D Y C L A U G H T O N and J A S O N K E R
42
Design - A boat for all seasons
R O L F V R O L I J K looks to have pulled o f f some very clever maths w i t h his new I R C / O R C / H P R (sic) flyer - built i n China by PAUL HAKES
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
45
SeahorsebuM table - Like topsy
T O M H U M P H R E Y S celebrates his office's return to the Class 40... n o w w i t h the gloves o f f
48
56a/ror56 regatta calendar
50
RORG news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
Update
67
Sailor ofthe iositii
A time to reflect
Magnus Olsson (above) has not just won a race - though he did that a lot - he is just typically enjoying himself helping the ladies of the current SCA Volvo Ocean Race project at their training base at Puerto Calero in the Canary Islands. As well as being an extraordinary motivator, a deep love of sailing and the ocean ran through the big Swede's veins, so that he actually had no choice but to help and cajole others around him to find out just what they were capable of... while all the time having a great deal of fun along the way. Magnus Olsson sailed and raced every conceivable type of sailboat during his long and always vigorous career, from Orma 60 to supermaxi, but it was on the deep ocean that he was happiest, and never more so than competing hard in his beloved Whitbread and then Volvo around the world races. Six times he took part in this great adventure, on Drum, Tbe Card, Itttnim Justitia, EF Language, Assa Abloy and Ericsson 3. He won the race outright with Paul Cayard on EF but an even bigger smile was seen when he won the leg into Rio with his crew of 'nippers' on Ericsson 3, in the 2008/9 event, having outflanked the fleet after starting the event's longest leg a full day late following boat damage. Magnus's passing was shortly followed by the tragic death of Andrew Simpson in San Francisco - and what seems so ironic is that here again, was a sailor, a much younger sailor, who shared many of Magnus Olsson's most enviable traits. Always ready with a kind word for anyone, nothing was ever too much trouble for Britain's big two-time Olympic medallist. Both men truly loved sailing
COVER: Rick Tomlinson INSET: Fried Elliott
F E A T U R E S
24
State of play
A N D R E W HURST talks to Volvo Ocean Race CEO K N U T FROSTAD about progress to date
26
Level spirit
ROB W E I L A N D is very clear that a good rule or sporting regulation needs to be easily enforceable
29
Fastnetfocus
Quantum Sails are leaving nothing to chance w i t h their customers f o r the big race
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
30
The wizard of Santa Gruz
- P a r t i
BILL LEE wrote the original TP52 rule, is heavily involved i n HPR and launched an entire sailing movement
32
Glass Struggle
No-one understands the modern Imoca 60 class more than G U I L L A U M E V E R D I E R - so who better to comment on the recent rule changes...
34
Seamless - Part I
ERIC H A L L gives us a lesson i n (carbon) history Partners' most recent design output
llpilate
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N celebrates a birthday... Class40s grab a US beachhead, I V O R W I L K I N S reviews the Cup reviews, VASCO V A S C O T T O continues to enjoy life (and win races). Plus a trinity of rating experts sets out the U M S stall
16
World news
Transadantic history, the wider importance of Team New Zealand, Caribbean wrap,
Oracle Racing's third contender and US America's Cup reflections. DOBBS
DAVIS, BLUE ROBINSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER, TVOR WILKINS
22
Paul Gayard
Remembering t w o great sailors
28
IRG column
The mystery of inclination...
41
Design - A fascinating year
A D O L F O C A R R A U describes some of Botin
38
A rare b r e e d - P a r t II
A designer tour of MARIC M I L L S ' new M a x i
44
RORG news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
40
Back story
A famous name and f r o m humble beginnings
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE
45
Seahorse build table - Glamour
A look at that speedy new Botm 40-footer
48
Seahorse regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Extremes of the displacement spectrum
A s F r a n c i s J o y o n and T h o m a s Coville do battle once again over s o m e of the most important oceanic records, a good time to remember the great Alain C o l a s , s e e n here in Plymouth (inset) and later during the 1972 O S T A R singlehanded transatlantic race which he went on to win onboard h i s spidery unpainted aluminium trimaran IVtanureva. Originally built a s Pen DuicicIVfor E r i c Tabarly, IVIanureva was the first large racing trimaran. C o l a s disappeared on the s a m e boat during the 1978 Route du Rlium; it was widely s u s p e c t e d that advanced corrosion led to his yacht breaking up during a storm
Ready for the off
Mini Transat skipper Stan Maslard has the only brand new Proto Mini 6.50 in this year's 'big' race, although Gwenolé (son of Gilles) Cabinet is racing a sistership that was launched in late 2012. Maslard's new boat is from Marc Lombard, who eschewed the option of drawing a scow design in a concession to the reduced reaching component in this year's event, which reverts to the traditional Guadeloupe finish. The drop-off in new Protos is easy to explain; the boats have got very costly, there are plenty of good boats on the market, and the latest Series Minis, including Lombard's own Argo, are getting ever closer in pace to their bejewelled rivals. Overall the race - and the Classe Mini - remam in ridiculously rude health, with race entry once again heavily oversubscribed. The latest Minis also look more refined than some of their 'blunt instrument, max power' predecessors, reflecting the changes seen in the bigger Imoca 60 fleet during the last few years. Boats now go upwind as well as down, and you are less likely to catch a carbon splinter if you work barefoot. Meanwhile, the master ofthe 'big oceans', Francis Joyon, pulled off yet another remarkable, and for him thoroughly typical, result with a new solo transatlantic record time a few minutes under 5 days and 3 hours, hacking a frankly incredible 16 hours off the previous mark. Many ceased following this greatest of oceanic racers a couple of days into his latest adventure, so slow was his start - but then Joyon got the bit between his teeth, practically carrying his big red trimaran across the finish line. Yet again...
COVER: Christophe Breschi
INSET: Jacques Vapillon
F E A T U R E S
24
Leading edge
A L O N F I N K E L S T E I N explains how his team at Farr Yacht Design set about improving both performance and value w i t h foils for the V 0 6 5
26
Gravitating eastward
ROB W E I L A N D is starting to look to the Adriatic
27
The Story unfurls...
Ronstan's new range of low-profile big boat furlers were developed w i t h top down applications very much in mind
29
Building the wee beasties
A m i d all the drama of the 34th America's Cup, boatbuilders T I M S M Y T H and M A R K T U R N E R have been hitting both their weight targets and their deadlines w i t h an incredible degree of professional rigour...
32
The wizard of Santa Gruz
- P a r t II
H o w could you ever write a story about BILL LEE without looking at the mythical tales of Merlin...
34
Another way
W i t h the advent of Stratis laminate technology Doyle Sails i n New Zealand has found itself at the very epicentre of this growing company's activity
A N D R E W HURST
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N is glad to be back out there racing 52s, BILL LEE addresses 'that' gorilla in the room, R O D N E Y PATTISSON is cautious about 'inshore' attempts on 'offshore' records and N I K L A S Z E N N S T R O M goes f o r the treble...
16
World news
The M i n i Transat returns to its roots, new boats fly out of La France, young Kiwis prepare for San
Francisco, McConaghy go all classical and a Transpac preview. DOBBS DAVIS,
BLUE ROBINSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER, I V O R WILKINS
22
Rod Davis
On ways to distinguish the finest wheat f r o m the very best of the chaff
39
S e a m l e s s - P a r t II
ERIC H A L L presents a case study of Bella Mente
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE
38
0RGGoiumn
Good science - ALESSANDRO N A Z A R E T H
42
Design - Gatching the wave
M u l t i h u l l design guru M A R T I N FISCHER is extremely p r o u d of his new mid-sized offering
44
RORG news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
SeahorsebuM table - Fantastical
A 'very' one-off f r o m G U I L L A U M E V E R D I E R
48
Seahorse regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
This one is going to be hard...
Now with Vendée Globe veteran Y v e s Parlier in his regular crew, Alain Thébault's Hydroptère c a r v e s up San F r a n c i s c o Bay in a relevant demonstration of the potential for foil-borne sailing craft that can c r o s s o c e a n s a s well a s sheltered inshore waters. In Croatia (inset) Humphreys Yacht D e s i g n ' s latest C l a s s 4 0 quietly went afloat this month - s o m e contrast in sterns with that 1980s I C R design in the background
e
Contents
September 2013
F E A T U R E S
24
Time
is
on our side
Groupama may not be returning to defend their Volvo Race title but skipper F R A N K G A M M A S tells PATRICE CARPENTIER that w i t h the switch to a new one design he is not ruling i t out
26
OntraGl(for2016
ROB W E I L A N D ' s calm persistence is pajdng off w i t h a new TP52 build and three more on the way
All t h e gear
Trust the Italians... Chris Draper and his crew onboard Luna Rossa look the absolute donkey's bits in their elegant and typically stylish AC72 outfits. But in spite of their loyalty to both the America's Cup and their Emirates Team New Zealand training partners, it quickly became clear at the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup that the Italians have a mountain to climb if they are to offer any serious opposition to New Zealand's men in black. This fact was largely acknowledged by team principal Patrizio Bertelli when he confirmed that his primary goal was to stay connected to the Cup in the hope that the next event would prove more viable, more classy and worthy of a more comprehensive effort. As we move into the 34 th Cup only two of the four competing teams are really focusing on the current edition; with Artemis now freely conceding a similar focus on hfe post-September. With just the Kiwis and the Defender 'in the game' we must surely all hope that the final Match proves worthy of its bilhng. The odds, however, do not look promising, with two different approaches taken to the AC72 rule by the Cup's two likely finallists. Oracle have a much smaller boat, in volume terms, probably better in the light, while Dalton's boys have a powerful breeze-on machine and a visceral, animal hunger to relieve Larry Ellison's large team of the increasingly wearying burden of being the Cup holders. If the New Zealander's second boat is as light as it looks efficient then they should have a good chance whatever the weather. If not then the America's Cup Match really will prove the icing on a pretty tasteless and thoroughly over-egged cake
COVER AND INSET: Sander Van Der Borch
27
Hardworl( pays
Quantum's D A V E F L Y N N looks at the out-of-the-box thinking applied to one of the latest I R C 52 rig configurations
29
Two in a row
Swedish skipper B J O R N H A N S E N successfully defends his Swedish M a t c h Cup title and i n dramatic style
31
Support structure
T I M S M Y T H and PAUL BIEKER talk to I V O R W I L K I N S about the remarkable challenge o f building l i f t foils f o r the new AC72 fleet
36
Master teaclier
BLUE R O B I N S O N sits down w i t h the coaching magician at Emirates T N Z . . . G L E N N ASHBY
38
Tlie old lady needed a facelift
L O I C K PEYRON'S thoughts on the state of the America's Cup are more gallant than they may sound - as he explains to J O C E L Y N BLERIOT
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE7
Editorial
A N D R E W H U R S T8
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N is concerned about the opening deltas in the Louis V u i t t o n Cup, DEE S M I T H has been enjoying getting behind the science of San Francisco Bay, A N D Y RICE talks to ROBERT SCHEIDT and other Olympic luminaries about proposed changes f o r Rio 2016 and sailing bids its sad farewells to T E D H O O D
14
World news
F R A N K : G A M M A S grasps the Tour Voile, Y A N N GUI C H A R D considers going solo on 'Banque Pop',
Manuard designs to the (Class40) fore, Kiwis' race rethink, A L E X PELLA enjoys his first
taste o f the big multihulls and the ballast comes unravelled at the ORC worlds... DOBBS DAVIS, BLUE ROBINSON,
CARLOS PICH, R/OR W I L K I N S , PATRICE CARPENTIER
22
Paul Gayard
And it's time to go sailing again
28
IRG column
Finding the right tools for the job. JAMES D A D D
40
Design - Relentless
Introducing the Akilaria RC3 Class40 w i t h M A R C L O M B A R D and L I O N E L H U E T Z
42
RORG news
E D D I E W A R D E N O W E N
AZ
SeahorsebuM table
- A new generation
The ultra-slippery DSS-assisted QuantSO has gone into series production. M I C H A E L AEPPLI
46
Seahorse
regRttR calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Two men who always go i t alone...
When men were m e n . . . and there was never time for a haircut. Marc (left) and Y v e s Pajot sail in from a race at the 505 worlds in 1974, w h i c h they won, adding to the Olympic silver medal they picked up in Kiel in 1972 In the FD c l a s s . Of the two brothers it would be Marc who would go on to greater glory a s an o c e a n i c shorthanded superstar and also a three-time A m e r i c a ' s Cup campaigning skipper
(
Contents
October 2013
I'
I
C l a s s i c
The Irish Ker 39 Antix beats bacli from the Fastnet Rock "Wow, what a race! This year's edition certainly didn't disappoint as it presented us with all the ingredients of what this great ocean classic is about. I was fortunate enough to be sailing with one of the most competitive boats in the Solent, the Ker 40 Magnum III. The team is well rounded with a broad spectrum of skills onboard and a highly passionate owner-driver. Straight after the starting gun we were short-tacking along the Isle of Wight shore, exchanging blows with the other Kers. Intense, fun racing, pretty much as good as it gets. Out of the Solent, a classic beat along the south coast followed. I love this beat, as however many times you do it, it is always a slightly different mix of tides and windshifts. Leading at first, and seeing the larger boats making big gains inshore, we decided to be slighriy more inshore, but soon fell into a big wind hole... The Irish Sea was to see a turn of fortune, as we firstly used the strong current along the shelf of the Scilly Islands to get back in touch with the peloton. The long leg to the Fastnet Rock is where you have to switch gears from coastal sailing to open ocean strategy. With a high-pressure ridge to cross and then a warm front, there was plenty to get my head around. We played the game well to take a substantial lead at the Fastnet Rock. A fast ride back with a good choice of sides at the Traffic Separation Zone and home for a wm in Class 1 but only sixth overall... We'll have to come back and do it all again. BriUiant!' - Wouter Verbraak, navigator. Magnum III
COVER: Daniel F o r s t e r / R o l e x INSET: Chris Cameron
22
Making it pay
Extracting maximum value f r o m that Volvo Ocean Race campaign. R I C H A R D BRISIUS, S A M D U L K A and K E V I N E Y L A N
25
Fast and fun... the 52 way
W i t h a new TP52 rule i n the o f f i n g f o r 2015 ROB W E I L A N D celebrates having as many as five brand new builds in the pipeline
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
llïMiate
Emirates take a shower, TERRY H U T C H I N S O N makes it home (briefly), STEVE B E N J A M I N is working hard to promote the virtues of HPR, a new take on racing shorthanded offshore plus mangling the science... a physicist writes
26
Sails at the extreme
B I L L PEARSON draws attention to some of the significant milestones i n the evolution o f t h e latest offshore racing sails
30
Building (two) better
Mini Maxis
Those raceboat builds are getting rollin once again. M A R C E L L O PERSICO
31
Quietly evolving
A N D Y RICE catches up w i t h foiler M o t h guru K E V I N E L L W A Y ahead of this year's worlds
34
Living the dream
America's Cup sailor PETER H O L M B E R G gives a step-by-step guide to planning a successful programme of racing in the Caribbean (mon...)
38
Principles
I n the first part of his extended interview w i t h Australia's secret sailing weapon - V I C T O R K O V A L E N K O - BLUE R O B I N S O N reflects on life immediately following London 2012
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE
14
World news
The Class40 continues to boom, a speedy new beast f r o m ROB SHAW, Australian sailing prepares
itself for Rio 2016 and some good old-fashioned match racing. DOBBS
DAVIS, BLUE ROBINSON, CARLOS PICH, I V O R WILKINS, PATRICE
CARPENTIER
20
Rod Davis
ust treat AC34 like any other sailboat
24
ORG column
Taking stock... DOBBS DAVIS
40
Design - A thing of beauty
D O M I N I K SCHEURER and G O N Z A L O R E D O N D O present the delectable new D3
42
RORG news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
AZ
SeahorsebuMtable
- P r e s s i n g on
S H A U N CARKEEK is on a roll w i t h H P R
46
Seahorse regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Ladies first... that's up to you, the reader
Left: Where did it
all go w r o n g ? IVlodern skiff-like c l a s s e s sail s o fast that the rigs need to be self-adjusting... s o g o e s the theory. Sailmaker Mike L e n n o n ' s latest E x o c e t foiler Moth g i v e s the lie to that one! Note the wound adjustment (with yellow line) to control the default elevator position. Inset: A b u Dhabi O c e a n R a c i n g ' s lan Walker congratulates S a m Davies and the S C A crew in Plymouth
Memorable
Well, the new wind limits made it painful for spectators - and also for the sailors - but we finally got a result in the 34th America's Cup. There were many lessons learnt but this event also served to remind us that as long as length is defined, a good restricted-class rule can provide competition every bit as close as will ever be seen in a true one-design fleet. Just as the 52SuperSeries reminds us, waterline length is king, even, it would seem, with a foiling catamaran (well, in 2013 at least!). Given that we keep being reassured of this simple fact, it is surely remarkable how much time and effort were expended over the years using complex formulae to try to rate boats so that they could compete on time in events like the old Ton Cup regattas - yet without requiring that boats at least have the same length overall. Other lessons of the 34th America's Cup: on average around 36,000 people were watching the races live on YouTube worldwide, with a maximum of about 80,000 watching the first encounters soon falling by aroimd half; patience with the (ridiculous) wind limits ran thin: within 20 seconds of the last-gasp postponement of Race 12 more than half the remaining YouTube audience had switched off, unwilling to 'wait and see'; you can match race catamarans, that was an obvious truism from Race 1 onwards; this really was a case of some of the very best sailors in the world going head to head - confirmed by their obvious step-up in performance as soon as 'Battler Ben' joined the afterguard of Oracle Racing. Finally, AC34 took sailing forward... no argument there
COVER:
Sander van der Borch INSET:
Gilles Martin-Raget
F E A T U R E S
22
Keeping in touch
'A camera w i t h a mast on it', says R I C K Y DEPPE
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
26
Chasing gold in Bermuda
W i l l the whippersnappers' role continue?
27
A sunnier outlook
ROB W E I L A N D must feel as if he has toughed it out through a fiery (economic) battleground
28
A Structure of excellence
BLUE R O B I N S O N talks 1983 and Aussie Olympic swimming... w i t h J O H N B E R T R A N D
30
Innovation... and evolution
GEOFF STOCK reflects upon the first 216 boats laimched by Green M a r i n e . . .
31
A necessary Step
I V O R W I L K I N S was paying close attention as Emirates T N Z took their third Louis Vuitton Cup victory
34
Marlowgoloopy
Greasing the loops and other tricks of the trade
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N on the Cup, I V O R W I L K I N S on crowd support and Team N e w Zealand's secret lakeside laboratory. Plus the Youth America's Cup and N Y Y C invitational
14
World news
Does Groupama have an eye on the Cup, Fastnet heroics, more multihulls (in Kiwi), ERNESTO [BERTARELLI] opts for Hamilton Island, X A B I the missionary and the 'domestic' US market. DOBBS DAVIS, BLUE ROBINSON, CARLOS PICH, I V O R WILKINS, PATRICE CARPENTIER
24
IRC column
Resurgent M i n i Maxis. JAMES D A D D
25
Paul Gayard
And the (magnificent) Star class is calling once again
37
Redemption
The 34th America's Cup match truly had it all and I V O R W I L K I N S was there to see it. Plus, those critical opening salvoes f o r America's Cup 35...
42
Principles-Part II
The w o r l d of soccer tries hard to lure away one of Olympic sailing's most respected characters
R E G U L A R S
4
Gommodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE
44
D e s i g n - ( I t ' s all about
the) proportions
Designer PASCAL C O N Q tells the story of Finot-Conq's bracingly p o w e r f u l new 100-footer
47
S e a t e d build table
- (More) genius
I A N FARRIER'S affordable and speedy new trimarans start to r o l l out of the factory at last
50
Seahorse regatta calendar
52
RORG news
E D D I E W A R D E N O W E N
71
Sailor ofthe Month
And some long-overdue championship plaudits.
Nationality was much d i s c u s s e d at A m e r i c a ' s Cup 34, particularly when o n e of the only A m e r i c a n s on the Oracle 'USA' s q u a d , J o h n Kostecki, was summarily flicked in favour of Sir Ben Ainslie. T h e U S A ' s Netscape founder, J i m Clark, w a s s o incensed by the lack of a true American team that he was backing the Kiwis with this giant New Zealand flag
(inset) on his
megayacht
e
Contents
December 2013
F E A T U R E S
When Jean-Pierre Dick and Roland Jourdain capsized their MOD 70 trimaran in training for the Transat Jacques Vabre it marked the second time one of these big one-designs has gone over. What is interesting is that in both cases the boats did not succumb to the usual trimaran default of flipping diagonally forward over a buried bow, both these boats simply capsized monohull style while sailing upwind; it is possible that even these highly experienced crews have become complacent given the generally benign nature of the conditions at the time - certainly while the headsail sheet was quickly blown on Virbac the main traveller does not appear to have been released. The MOD 70 class could do without such dramas; the fleet is struggling to achieve critical mass with enough boats to run their own race programme and having such high-profile accidents will not add to the comfort level of any potential new sponsors - whether for a regatta programme or for an individual boat. While they have their own internal struggles to keep up the class's growth there is also the external negative that two of the biggest sponsors in French sailing - Sodebo and Macif - have recently committed to larger-scale projects in pursuit of oceanic shorthanded records. It is to be hoped that the MOD 70s get through the next 12 months and find some sort of sustamable structure; for the great majority of sailors they offer easily the best chance of finding a sponsor and a programme, being well-priced and with a strong class organisation in place. But the clock is now ticking
COVER: Yvan Zedda INSET:
Sander van der Borch
22
Start your engines...
BOB FISHER tags a ride as Team SCA start sailing i n earnest on the first Volvo Ocean 65
26
Passion, madness and tiope...
52 Super Series manager ROB W E I L A N D
29
Unmanned... but far from
unmanageable
R I C H A R D JENKINS reports on 'another' interesring sailing project in San Francisco.
32
One week in September
So h o w did Oracle turn things around so very dramatically? Key Oracle USA team members including PAUL BIEKER, SCOTT
FERGUSON, E D U A R D O C A R R O L L , M I C H E L K E R M A R E C and PHILIPPE PRESTI provide some of the answers A ^
38
Hell, yes!
J O C E L Y N BLERIOT sits d o w n w i t h Vendée Globe iron man Y A N N ELIES
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
M I K E GREVILLE7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST8
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N advises caution f o r
AC35, I V O R W L K I N S looks at the scale o f t h e Emirates T N Z design programme and A N D Y RICE catches up w i t h N A T H A N O U T T E R I D G E
14
World news
CAMiVIAS again, GABART's big reward, the J I M M Y SPITHILL story in full, a refreshing repatri-ation for Emirates T N Z and some other big boats get to go racing on San Francisco Bay... DOBBS DAVIS, BLUE ROBINSON, CARLOS PICH, I V O R WILKINS, PATRICE CARPENTIER
24
Rod Davis
Remarkably, Emirates T N Z never blinked once
28
ORC column
B R U N O F I N Z I and a satisfactory year to date
41
Design - Intelligent design
PAUL B O G A T A J gives an illustration of the level of development that is
taking place among the top end of the N most competitive one-design fleets |
44
Seahorse regatta calendar
46
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
A7
SeahorsebuMtdhle
- A (swift) new baby
PETER J O H N S T O N E introduces the rapid new Gunboat G4
67
Sailor ofthe Month
M o r e prizes than you could shake a stick at
Lift foils are making rapid inroads among the s h a r p e n d of the kitesurf-ing fraternity which h a s become blasé about the standard (high) level of perfor-m a n c e a n d Is now looking to go faster. Interestingly, the kitefoils employ a single tandem foil configuration rather than using two separate foils Moth style. With the recent launch of a foil-set for a L a s e r , the sailing world is only going one way
