Contents Seahorse, 1999

(

C o n t e n t s

J a n u a r y 1 9 9 9

F E A T U R E S

31 Towards c l a r i t y and s i m p l i c i t y For some time it has been well known that there were anomalies in the 1996-2000 rules, espe-cially as applied to match racing. Team New Zealand have been pushing for changes for some time, and recently some were made. But is it time for a whole new approach? RUSSELL C O U n S and TIM JEFFERY

Farr 40 OD world championship and 1D35 US nationals reports, Route du Rhum fleet storm south, man-overboard row in Sydney, Macquarie

Innovation winding up to 50, Sydney-Hobart preview, Syd Fischer scores

America's Cup points (ashore), Coutts returns to match-race circuit to take

Bermuda Gold Cup, Cayard hits back at Bitter End Pro-Am, and the Mari-Cha transatlantic story - and , lessons for The Race 2000. With

FRONT COVER: 3 4 mOB Itl lieaven? V Mm PATRICE CARPENTIER, IV^OR

Mike Golding s t o r m s into It sorted its differences with ISAF, but \ WILKINS, ROB

C a p e Town on Team Group the ORC failed to address IMS stability at MUNDLE, DOBBS DAVIS, J O H N

4 to win leg one of the its annual round of meetings. ORC and ITC ROBERSON and ALASTAIR ABREHART

Around Alone R a c e member DAVID LYONS reports from Palma and

This opening performance p^UL HENDERSON gives his views on the ^ P | | i i | RmmPÉ

X % ? " ^ r k i n g En

^f'^oSL

at the JMV shipyard in

S^n 6o\^a?b"üt'Th'Zgl , '^c M^" ' " " ^ ^ ' i TTM 2 4 O l y m p i c AwA sDiall b o a t n e w s Goldingl projec mlnag^

ÏJÏïpP

v'^'"^ T

T7

A ^on't take that old 49er to Sydney, nor your ment te'am'ieant hard on ^FFERY reports on eg one of he Around Europe wing-mast. PETER BENTLEY JMV to produce precisely the ^1™*:'

^^''^'^ ^^^^^^^A^^Vl^^^Jc'^^.''%

I'^Ports on the 1998 ISAE conference "

boat they wanted, the French routemg strategies and ALEX PETERSON talks

builders were impressed with to Class 2 winner JEAN-PIERRE MOULIGNE nn P . . «

Golding's quiet but dedicated •^0 A m e n C a S UUP ttOWS

approach and his patience Ai T h p V n l v n f l f i A a i l RanP Musical chairs begin as Fehlmann leaves FAST

and attention to detail. The V * 2 0 0 0 , Challenger Association meeting in

result is what is probably one A HBW Ora Bermuda and syndicate profiles. T I M JEFFERY of, if not the best-finished The Volvo Ocean Race is certain to be a step up

Open 60 yet seen, light and from its predecessor in many areas, not least OQ ICIIC n n l l i m n

very strong Second place promotional investment. We talk to the man in . , , „ . ^ T T ^ hnisher Isabella Autissier had choree HELGE ALTEN starts a second term PAUL HENDERSON

expected Golding to have ^ ' gives his verdict on the ISAF conference speed on her now three-year- , • _

old PRB, but was surprised 4 4 TOPPing t l l B y O a r . . . 4 7 Qggjg _ O* , j . t , by the margin of difference. peter Gilmour and the Pizza-la team defended Z, i, ^ T . ^ '

Autissier herself had htted a ^^eir world match-race title in Japan in ^ ^ " ^ ^^chts managing director Giorgio Tn 7h u " ; ' ' ° " r ^ T ' t " November. Race report from ANDY ^ ^ S " " ' ^^^"'bes the development and ^ive L?boIt mor?power° HEMMINGS and an insight from Gilmour's innovation that went mto creating the give ner Boat more power. \^„„f-,^„ bowman KA7TTHTKO SOFTTKTT company's new showpiece German Frers steld?reflLl^nTsThuT KAZUHIKO SOFUKU j ^ ^ . g ^ ^ j swing-keeled 88-footer, Tiketitan

shape, it seems the progress

R E G U L A R S

cn p ,

made in lighter structures, — — OU dedAOfSd raCODOat

more sophisticated swing 4 l O m m O d O r e S lOtteP hlliW t a h i o keel mechanisms and more UUIIU IdUIC advanced rig configurations ^ C/l"* ' I

" ^ ^ " ^ IN D R E W HURST 52 RORC n e w s a n d Race D i r e c t o r ' s

estimated that his new hull lOttCr shape offered an improve- ^ I | n H a t p ALAN GREEN

ment or about one per cent U UpUulC

on its predécessor, but IR2000 meets I M S in Palma and the ISAF/Sperry n r o • Autissier feels that in some Top-Sider sailor of the year awards 00 SeRllOrSe CalOndaP conditions the new boats are

as much as three per cent

faster - in around, the worlds easaaa r''flk;'«««(, rw l ' / • r /' ' . •

/ The 'mam man ; leading Open Class designer Jean-Marie Finot admires the canting and rotating wing mast fitted to Raphael Dinelll's new Open 60, Sodebo

Savourons la Vie {far left), which

was launched just before the Route du Rhum even a t w o per cent margin is

a couple of days. O f course, that is only part of the story, and Autissier has shown that tactically she is master of the field. Over the long haul she stdl remains most people's favourite f o r an overall w i n , but t w o days is a l o t to concede and can only add to the pressure.

Cover: J a q u e s Vapillon. Inset Guy Guriiey

a r i i l i W j a M F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 9

FRONT COVER: Laurent Bourgnon celebt r a celebt e s his s e c o n d c o n s e c -utive Route du Rhum win For the Swiss-French solo star, this latest Transatlantic victory w i l l have special sig-nificance, as he works hard to secure the sponsorship he now urgently needs to com-plete his new 38 metre Nigel hens designed catamaran, for w h i c h Bourgnon n o w has a finished plug sitting in a shed near his home in Brittany. For Bourgnon, and for the other skippers trying to raise funds f o r The Race, the launch i n December of Steve Fossett's impressive 32 metre M o r e l l i / M e l v i n designed PlayStation (see

p.8), should also bring some

benefits. The publicity Fossett's new boat is certain to generate w i l l raise the profile o f Bruno Peyron's r o u n d the w o r l d event, w h i c h i n turn should assist i n the wider quest f o r cash. Bourgnon, meanwhile, w i t h his latest victory, really has established himself as the man to beat i n this disci-pline. H i s record o f achieve-ment i n offshore multihuUs stands comparison w i t h any-one, w i t h his outright and solo 24 hour record of 538 miles being perhaps his crowning glory. But Bourgnon is well aware that though that distance w i l l survive f o r some time as a solo record, once Steve Fossett's team start to w i n d up their new machine it is likely to be quickly superced-ed as sailing's outright 24 hour benchmark. Bourgnon knows that he needs a new boat, and he needs i t soon. N o one deserves i t more.

Cover Thierry Martinez Inset J e a n Marie-U o t / D P P I

F E A T U R E S

33

The most fun you'll ever have?

Commodore Explorer designer GILLES OLLIER talks to DAVID PALMER about tbe development of his new 35m catamaran, conceived for The Race 2000.

37

The Volvo Ocean Race

Moving on...

As website commentator for the last Whitbread Race, grand-prix navigator MARK CHISNELL was well placed to assess areas of possible change for the next Volvo Ocean Race. This is his 'wish list'.

40

A hard start

The opening of leg two brought brutal conditions to the Around Alone fleet and saw race favourite Isabelle Autissier's poor Southern Ocean luck return yet again. T I M JEFFERY reports.

45

For the greater good

Sail developments for the Around Alone fleet should have immediate benefits for other areas of the sport. BARRY and RUSSELL

PICKTHALL look at the progress made.

R E G U L A R S

4

Commodore's letter

7

Editorial

ANDREW HURST

8

Update

Steve Fossett's PlayStation goes afloat and the newly amended ISAF match racing rules come under the spotlight in St Thomas.

10

World news

Bourgnon takes Route du Rhum double as Coville and MacArthur top the monohuU divisions, plus Mumm 30 worlds, strong IMS fleet for Key West Race Week, Dickson loses out

to Brady at New Zealand match-race champs (just), James Spithill scores on offshore debut, Australian Olympic sailors cash up, and Macquarie Innovation goes back in the shed. PATRICE CARPENTIER, FVOR WILKINS, ROB MUNDLE and DOBBS DAVIS.

21

Rod Davis

'You have no idea': the Prada Sailing Director learns to sail lACC boats in Auckland

22

Olympic and small boat news

Bundock and Forbes dominate Tornado worlds in Brazil, ERIC DROUGLEZ. Plus Nicho drops by the skiffs - and wins, and ROB BROWN'S 49er tip of the month.

26

America's Gup news

Prada syndicate profi ed, windy times in Auckland and will DC merge with Holmberg? T I M JEFFERY

28

ORG

'That' stability quick fix - and why it happened. KEN WELLER.

31

Seahorse letters

One rule and one language (please), requests ROB WEILAND.

48

Design - Hobart rocket?

ANDY DOVELL describes an unusual design brief recently completed for a lightweight new Australian mini-maxi.

50 Seahorse ncebotit

build table

52

RORG news and Race Director's

letter

The Fastnet gains a Class Zero. ALAN GREEN

65 Seahorse calBnAdir

A windy second day at the Mumm 30 worlds, In Carolina, brought good spectacle for those watching.

March 1999

I R E S

34 A

black day

ROB MUNDLE reports on the tragic events of the 1998 Sydney-Hobart Race, with additional comment from MARK RUDIGER and MARK TURNER, both competing in the event.

Isabelle Autissier's crazy Christmas, Hydroptere to go for Atlantic record, Mini-Transat, Trophy Clairefontaine, Auguin for Volvo Ocean Race, new floats for Cammas, US CMAC news, Acura SORC preview, lD48s go to Bakimore and a new boat for Team Dennis Conner. IVOR WILKINS, PETER BENTLEY, PATRICE CARPENTIER and DOBBS DAVIS.

42

By

numbers

Pani navarri

Steve Fossett's new 105 foot catamaran V"J'** " ,. , , • PlayStation is one of the most significant new I " light of the Hobart disaster, the dominant wm-raceboats to have been launched in the last 50 of the last Whitbread Round the World Race

FRONT COVER: Designer GINO MORELLI describes the takes a hard look in the mirror,

battles its w a y a c r o s s t h e evolutionary, rather than revolutionary design

B a s s Strait on December and bmld process employed.

26

OlympiC

AM

Small bOat nOWS

27, one day into the 1 9 9 8 Is there a conflict between 49ers and 18 footers,

Sydney-Hobart R a c e . , , T|ll'|01'011f|Ml asks ROB BROWN? Plus the Volvo Youth

':Zi^:^^:^^''

ForcompetitorsatthefrontoftheAroundAlone WoHd i S^^^^^^^^^ Hemisphere yachtsmen, in A^et no other word really describes the tumul- ^^"^ and ROY U U N M J l R the wake of the six sailors tuous week that bridged the New Year holidays,

lost during the roughest when first became last, and (nearly) last became 5U I b A r

Sydney-Hobart of recent first. T I M JEFFERY reports from Auckland, and PAUL HENDERSON years. Roger Badham, top talks to former race leader MIKE GOLDING.

race meteorologist but with- 7 7 > • •

out any official role at this 5 3 AmOriCa S GUP tteWS

event, sadly called events ah Ö E ^ y B M B CS T I M JEFFERY talks to JOHN MARSHALL of too precisely when late on Young America, and watches the growing

activi-S E^ l ^ d c l c o : : : ^ :

4

Commodore's letter

ty - and traffic - on the Auckland waterfront.

er turning back in view of -g. „ , ,

the approaching storm. In y PHitnPial

^"

'^^^"OrSe

raCODOat

actual fact, tragic though the * t U I W J I WI h l l i l r l t ü h l o

loss was, many were proba- ANDREW HURST DUim 13010 bly counting their blessings

that the final toll was no

g

y

52

RQRG

HOWS a o d

Raco Dlroctor's

higher. There were some w p u u i u

remarkable escapes and once Glyn Charles remembered. ICttOr again competitors in a major Hobart reflections.

sailboat race owe a huge -jQ pOWS ALAN GREEN

debt of gratitude to the ' ! , , , „> • r

Australian rescue services Frantic activity in Auckland, Black Magic goes tor

56 sailors were lifted off by a sinl<ing, Santa comes for Steve Fossett, ISAE

g5

SeSllOrSe CalOHdar

helicopter, most in appalling worlds success in Melbourne, French America's regatta contact details. conditions, with up to 80 Cup challenge on target - to race Marc Pajot...,

foot swells being recorded by

aircrews. Air-sea rescue on - ^ • •, f

this scale is a remadoble I M M • • f c

accomplishment. There are |^^' I m %^

likely to be as many sweep- ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ing changes to marine safety ,. -j

^I

^

BIi

^^

,

«

standards after this tragedy

as followed the 1979 ' ^ r t t'^ f ' i

Fastnet. To many, some of '^Éfcrsi-XA^^ the safety issues highlighted ' ^ '• • ^ B w ^ '

in this race already look ^ i S B l J ü ^ t t - ^ ita obvious, better liferafts,

.^Ê/t^B^-personal EPIRBS etc.

Ü^^S ^ 'JB^W**

thing in sailing as elsewhere. Humans, unfortunately always need the slap in the

face of a disaster. Look at ••••^^^•^SSP^^^^^^ '' how quiet things have ^^^^^K^"'^ f t f ^

become over improving : all come down to a couple of I^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^SP^^^S^S^

responsible manufacturers " _^]_ji;^S|P^^^^^S^P •""'"'"^ ^ , ^ making the running with

little official support. Plus ga

change... as the French like L^^r.; -; • v to say

Front cover: Richard Bennett

Success across the board atThe ISAF worlds in Melbourne. Ben Ainslie (GBR) above, finally broke his premier event 'duck' against Brazilian Robert Scheldt, beating him to the Laser World title, while (inset) Argentinians Pollitzer and Manrique (on shoulders) dominated the Cadet class event.

(

Contents

April 1999

FRONT COVER:

Vasco Vascotti drives tlie Sydney 40 Merit Cup at Key West 1999

Merit Cup n o w looks certain

to be a part o f Italy's ' o f f i -cial'. Champagne M u m m Admiral's Cup team this year, leaving rival Italian Sydney 40 Seven Things to j o i n the San M a r i n o team, along w i t h Pasquale Landolfi's new Farr I M S 50

Brava Q8, midway through

building at Cooksons, and an unconfirmed Italian M u m m 36. I n general terms - this years Admiral's Cup is

shaping up to be a good step f o r w a r d f r o m the last few editions, w i t h every expecta-tion o f there being ten teams in Cowes this July. N o t as many, perhaps, as the 15 teams talked about when the major revisions were announced last year, but a 25% increase is still surely a good step f o r w a r d in any-ones' books? Interesting, f o r future Admiral's Cups, is the position o f the M u m m 36, confirmed as being up f o r review after this year's event but w i t h as yet few obvious rivals f o r the small boat slot. There is currently at least one developed M u m m 36 I R M conversion proposal on the table (see Update Pg 8) and others w i l l f o l l o w . Bottom line is that the M u m m 36 hull is still a good shape and currently supplies of the boat are plentiful and relatively cheap. I n the cur-rent environment, w i t h most aware that too many one designs do not help the ship stay afloat, i t w i l l be interest-ing to see w h a t alternatives are proposed f o r C M A C 2001. The Sydney 40 experi-ence has shown that i t takes serious money, or a real gap i n the market (ie the 1D35) to see a fleet of any new mid-size C M A C type fleet created i n the 18 months available.

Front cover:

Petev WJeCaowaii

39

Early reflections

SCOTT JIJTSON argues that, following the Sydney-Hobart tragedy, from a technical perspec-tive we should be questioning some of the less obviously contentious areas of naval architecture.

40

Take 2

As the leaders rounded Cape Horn, the Around Alone was beginning to resemble a destruction Derby. T I M JEFFERY reports, with comment from MIKE GARSIDE and JOSH HALL, dis-masted early in Leg Three.

45

A clear cut case?

For Open class designers there are still several unanswered questions with regard to the optimal rig and keel configuration for the different events. ALEX SIMONIS looks to see what can be learnt from the current Around Alone fleet.

R E G U L A R S

4

Commodore's letter

7

Editorial

ANDREW HURST

8

Update

Tragedy for Spain's America's Cup challenge, Atlantic success for Hans Bouscholte and a major revamp for the Rolex Commodores' Cup.

10

World news

Alan Payne's Hobart predictions resurface, early Hobart conclusions, Chris O'Nial tribute, Auck-land - (current) undisputed sailing capital of the world, winding up the PlayStation, Whitbread maxi Atlantic Privateer sold (for $17,000), Primo Cup in Monaco, Raphael Dinelli 'released' by Sodebo, while Thierry Dubois' new boat

approaches readiness, Isabelle Autissier interview, French America's Cup crew named, CMC Yukon/Yachting Key West report, Cayard-Alison take US Rolex Awards and Steve Fossett takes (yet) another record. ROB MUNDLE, TIM

JEF-FERY, IVOR WILKINS, BRIAN THOMPSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER and DOBBS DAVIS.

25

Rod Davis

After some early setbacks the Prada Sailing Direc-tor's SoUng crew have qualified for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Regatta. Now the real works starts - with some other commitments to also consider...

26

America's Gup news

The temperature is increasing in Auckland, with some unpleasant scraps between chase boats among the consequences. Plus Cup legend Jack Sutphen rejoins Team Dennis Conner and a pro-file of Syd Fischer's latest challenge.

29

Olympic and small boat news

Chris Nicholson blazes back into the 18 footers with a Grand Prix win, plus more of ROB-BROWN'S 'skiff tips'. Also Tim Robinson strikes a blow in the skiffs for Europe by taking the JJ Giltinan, plus a Tornado technical update from triple world champion JOHN FORBES.

34

Seahorse Letters

Where Gdansk??? And a call for more interna-tional unification of modern liferaft testing.

37

ORC

An eventful winter - HANS ZUIDERBAAN.

49

Design

'Great white hope'. GREG STEWART discusses the new Nelson-Marek IMS 50 Idler, and con-siders CMAC prospects in the big boat class.

50 Seahorse raceboat

build table

52

RORC news and Race Director's

letter

A L A N GREEN

65 Seahorse calendar

And event contact details.

Jim Dolan's new Bill LaTigafi design Ig^unched by New EngUind B o a ® ^ " owner of a number of the FO)Df¥^"

lt!»1iW:!i^l:l May 1999

FRONT C O V E R : I s a b e l l e A u t i s s i e r ' s Groupe Finot Open 6 0

PRB, at t h e last

sighting...

The loss of PRB, and the manner o f the loss has h i t the long distance sailing f r a -ternity hard. There is n o w no escaping the fact that these boats are fimdamental-ly flawed. Certainfimdamental-ly PRB is of the generation of boats considered most at risk by the designers - Yves Parlier's

Aquitainne Innovations is

now the sole survivor of this group - but no-one is under any illusions as to the gener-al implications of the loss of Autissier's boat in 20 odd knots of w i n d and a relative-ly flat sea. Indeed it was the f l a t sea that virtually elimi-nated any chance f o r Isabelle's boat to self-right, not providing anything like the amount of wave energy required to help PRB to flip back upright. However the reality is, that having seen the Chilean Airforce photos of the late Gerry Roufs'

Groupe LG2, still inverted

many months after first going missing, everyone involved knew that Autissier's boat was going to stay capsized and was beyond self-rescue. The sil-ver lining t o this latest Open class drama is that the race organisers - who at the end of the day drive the bus -have finally been forced to take a stand, and f r o m n o w on i t is likely that boats com-peting i n long distance events w i l l be forced to meet more stringent stabihty crite-ria, fundamental to any attempts to make this other-wise exciting fleet more self-sufficient. These astonishing-ly fast boats w i l l onastonishing-ly go marginally slower i f they are made significantly safer, w i t h heavier bulbs and high-er m i n i m u m Limits o f Positive Stabihty. Thus good w i l l come o f Isabelle's acci-dent. That she herself sur-vived i t intact was an immeasurable bonus.

Front cover:

Giovanni S o l d i n i / K O S

35

At the coal-face

In the first part of a two part interview TIM JEFFERY talks to SIR PETER BLAKE, who is determined to not only host a good America's Cup in 2000 in Auckland, but also to win it.

38

Giao...

The Around Alone has not only been a remark-able race, but with the capsize of Isabelle Autissier's PRB, in little more than 20 knots of wind, and the controversy over Marc

Thiercelin's part in her rescue, it is now set to be an arbiter of some major changes in the manage-ment of long distance events.

42

No more denial

PRB's capsize has made many race organisers face up to the liability they could be exposed tp if they continue to allow potentially unsafe boats to compete. PASCAL CONQ of Groupe Finot and BERNARD NWELT explain what has brought us to the current situation, and how things must and will -now change for the better.

47

Stiffer-faster

A stiffer carbon mast was one of the keys to the success of Team New Zealand at the last America's Cup. SCOTT VOGEL of Omohundro describes his own firm's development in search of a winning spar for Auckland 2000.

R E G U L A R S

4

Commodore's letter

7

Editorial

ANDREW HURST

8

New boats for The Race 2000, IRM rating system leaps forward, Gavin Brady profiled and the Tour de France goes international at last.

- Werlil lews

Coutts scrapes Road to America's Cup regatta. Idler stars at Acura SORC, Philippe Jeantot on changes for the next Vendée Globe, Isabelle Autissier's capsize story, plus Desjoyeaux to skipper new PRB as Autissier retires from solo racing, Wavre gets new Open 60, Fischer finds some (big) ahies in Cup dispute, Aussie enters Mini Transat, USA Admiral's Cup team news. IVOR WILIONS, ROB MUNDLE, PATRICE

CARPENTIER and DOBBS DAVIS.

y Fai eapsil

AmericaOne and settling into Auckland.

1

26

America's Cup news

TV trauma dominates proceedings as Coutts looks for some playmates.

28

ISAF news

310\ymm and small boat news

A persona view of the Bacardi Cup from IAN WALKER plus ROB BROWN talks to 49er and skiff supremo CHRIS NICHOLSON.

50 Seahorse n

build table

lib

52

RORG news and Racf

letter

ALAN GREEN

60

Sea

/porsê

calendar

International recruitment group Adecco have put up a 1 million Swiss Franc purse for this year's MaxI One Design World Championship. All eight MaxI OD's are now complete and ready for charter, the fleet being underwritten by Ernesto Bertarelli, head of pharmaceutical group Ares-Serono. Bertarelli has already committed to racing this year's circuit, having topped last year's inaugural regatta in Sardinia sailing with countryman Dominique Wavre, who In turn has just ordered a new Finot Open 60.

(

Contents

iHiiaisaisis^sM

FRONT COVER: S t e v e F o s s e t t ' s

PlayStation, north of

New Zealand during its s u c c e s s f u l attempt on t h e 24-hour sailing record. Although i t w o u l d be easy to say 'so what', given the size of boat involved, this was a very impressive achievement w h i c h took i n PlayStation's first-ever night at sea. As w a t c h leader Brian Thompson explains, on page 10, equivalent conditions w i t h a top 6 0 f t trimaran could have been expected to produce a r u n of 450 miles at best. PlayStation managed 580 miles, a surplus of some 30 per cent. The same proportion added to Bourgnon's (remarkable) previous record of 540 miles suggests a figure of 700 miles, meaning that the assertion of Pete Goss's super-cat designer A d r i a n Thompson - that 'all these boats w i l l be capable of 650-mUe days' - looks entirely plausible. The big enemy on the t r i p , w h i c h slightly surprised even Fossett's experienced team, was the level o f crew 'wear and tear' and fatigue. Watch leader Ben W r i g h t missed the record t r i p , having lost part of a finger i n a seemingly ' m i n o r ' incident, while the effort required of even the simplest task at such a big scale was exhausting. For The Race, the message is that anyone still considering racing w i t h a small crew, t o save weight, must think again: people wear out too quickly. For Fossett's o w n team, they n o w have a different problem, f o l l o w i n g the disastrous fire as they were about to ship then: boat. Several months w i l l be needed to repair PlayStation, and its builders, Cooksons, have just started the first o f two new l A C C boats f o r Team N e w Zealand. But don't expect Fossett's group to be d o w n f o r long.

Front cover: Christian Fevrier

irij-r^i^y^^^^:'^-^^-

10

WoNd

Hews

^, ,. PlayStation hits the jackpot at its first attempt,

36

(SOm.e

of)

t h e

anSWerSare

Cayard takes Stelnlager Lme

7

series - under

blowing

IU

tlie

WllMlJ Auckland's nose, French one-design sailors hit the

DOBBS DAVIS visits the University of Maryland front at Spi Ouest, Coville gets his Open 60 - but wind-tunnel facility where Bruce Farr, John Charlie Capelle loses his classic trimaran, Aus-Marshall and the Young America/PACT 2000 tralian team for CMAC 99, Hobart consequences, design team are undertaking much of the research IMS 'world championship' fails to light up for their two new lACC boats for the New York Austraha, Block Island Race Week preview, and YC's America's Cup challenge. new IMS 40 association forms. IVOR WILiaNS,

BRIAN THOMPSON, ROB MUNDLE, lito

vacation

PATRICE CARPENTIER and DOBBS DAVIS. During the last BOC/Around Alone race, Alan nc n ^1 H

Nebauer described the final leg to Charleston as 2 u KOd PaWIS

'a vacation'. This time it was anything but. Of Admiral's Cups, owner-drivers, and those T I M JEFFERY reports from Punta del Este. America's Cup predictions...

• •

Stai/iiig

Oil

top

26

Ameriea's Oiip news

Lewmar Marine's PHIL ATFIELD describes the Syd keeps 'em guessing, Team N Z starts build-research and development that went ing and the latest big row... over a buoy? into producing the winches that _^^ÊUÊ\

helped Paul Cayard and Team

j g l

|J||J]

l^ij^SM

w ^ u ' ° j ' ' ' ^ ' ' The IMS is not so bad... NICOLA SIRONI. Whitbread race win. I.;, •

46

Swansonfi» !

^0

Olympic and small boat news

HDOWdliaUllg. _ PAUL BIEKER and PETER BENTLEY take a

No more serious racing \ detailed look at development in the

campaigns after this International 14 class since the worldwide rules

^êK^L^È'S^l.. p l e

. , v

^ * ^ ^

" - ' • ^ • " • > » ° ' ve-.. a.o.

of o , h „ .l„„gs planned » keep h i „ fc„» g . » » *

3^

^^^^^^

Storm sails, stability and Sydney 40 ratings.

R E G U L A R S 48

Design

Sportsboat with attitude - the magnificent, and • OOmmOOOre S l e t t e r insane, 7.50 open from Groupe Finot.

7

Editorial

50

Seahorse raceboat build table

ANDREW HURST

: iOiG

n e w s a i d

8

Update lirector's letter

Match-racing finds a new level of mtensity m ALAN GREEN Dubai, Bob Rice's Weather Windows - very much

alive and kicking, plus Volvo Ocean Race and „j. « - „ ! , _ _ „ - nolonrlon Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup news. DO OBanOrSB CaienOdr

• jr- a^Ii^ai! ''^f'^'' *helr maiden

tl

^Ijj

^Bg

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success with a

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F E A T U R E S

FRONT COVER:

Giovanni Soldini t a k e s h i s bows a t the end of t h e Around Alone

In many ways i t was remaric-able this event toolc place at all, w i t h no main sponsor coming f o r w a r d to replace the B O C Group. However, in spite of the near farcical attrition rate mid-race, the event ended up a success and now looks well positioned for the future, w i t h fresh offers o f title sponsorship on the table. After w i n n i n g the overall prize, as well as three of the race's f o u r legs, Soldini surprised many by pouring cold water on the fires fanning the present stampede to the V e n d é e Globe, cautioning those rushing lorward about the very different nature of that competition. Soldini feels strongly that an event such as the V e n d é e should be held less often, to be more of a 'champion of champions' affair, f o r a generation o f experienced solo competi-tors. Certainly the regularity of that event has threatened to perhaps make the sailing public shghtly blasé, while the nature of the V e n d é e course makes i t more of a pure human test, less inter-esting, perhaps, to students of sailing technology than a multiple 'sprint' such as the A r o u n d Alone. Soldini can claim additional objectivity in that he is Italian, rather than French, and so is able to look dispassionately upon something like the V e n d é e , that to French shorthanders is simply there at the t o p of the pile, the automatic u l t i -mate goal. Meanwhile, as all about them i n the A r o u n d Alone Class 1 fleet were falhng apart, the best boats of Class 2 came through fast and relatively unscathed. And f o r much less money. One day 50 f o o t may yet be considered enough?

Front cover:

JAQUES V A P I L L O N / P P L

34

A long time coming

Giovanni Soldini had certainly paid his dues by the time he began the last leg of the Around Alone. To win three

of the four legs, as well as the overall prize was just reward. TIM JEF-FERY reports while race director MARK SCHRADER has encouraging news of the next event

41

Young

grown-ups...

Corum Sailing Team chief LUC GELLUSEAU is bringing a realistic, pragmatic but optimistic approach to his new role heading up France's latest America's Cup challenge

43

Moment of truth

It's very nearly here, as we enter the launch month for the RORC's new International Rule Measured (IRM), HUGH WELBOURN walks us through the new handicapping system and MARIC MILLS and CHRISTWiN STIMSON have examples of new IRM designs

R E G U L A R S

4

Commodore's letter

'99 Admiral's Cup challengers start to line up

7

Editorial

ANDREW HURST

Yazykov's triumph and those wood keels again...

8

Update

The Zegna Trophy fills Portofino, Adecco Maxi chcuit kicks off, ISAF reasserts itself on media rights and Kingfisher launches Ellen MacArthur's Vendée Globe programme

10

World news

Coutts and Team N Z show form to spare at i 1D48 Grand Prix in Baltimore, John Dibley's new ' package for round-the-world-racing, Peyron stays ! in front at start of offshore multihuU season, entry 1 limit to be enforced for Vendée Globe... and Mini Transat, Figaro Solo report, France makes CMAC line up, Melbourne-Osaka drama, Sydney cele-brates Volvo Ocean Race nomination and Aussie Olympic hopes rise. IVOR WILKINS, ROB MUNDLE, PATRICE CARPENTIER and DOBBS DAVIS

23

ISAF column

And all is not settled for the 2004 Olympics

25

America's Cup news

Prada and America True launch, Syd lowers Cup ambitions for Australian i challenge, wing masts hit Wm Auckland Cup scene, ice

cream saves Swiss challenge and the New York YC decides it's time for change. ROB MUNDLE TIM JEFFERY and GEORGE ISDALE Jr

31

Olympic and small boat news

A D A M BEASHEL tells ROB BROWN that 'Nicho' can be beaten. Plus PETER BENTLEY considers some of the implications of recent ISAF decisions... and non-decisions

48 Seahorse raceboat build table

51

RORC news and Race

Director's letter

ALAN GREEN

65 Seahorse cdAenAdjr

This year's Hyeres Regatta started off with two days of the full Mistral for which the French venue Is famous. There was plenty of carnage for spectators, Including, remarkably, the loss of sever-al Soling masts - an sever-almost unheard of phenomenon. In the case of Roy Helner's Dutch Soling, the bolts hold-ing down the shroud tracks simply ripped through the sidedecks

FRONT C O V E R :

Ken R e a d drives Helmut J a h n ' s Farr 5 0 Flash

Cordon upwind at the

1997 Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup

M o s t of the Flash Gordon team have returned f o r this year's event on George David's Nelson-Marelc IMS 50, Idler, to help to defend the trophy the ÜSA team won i n the f i n a l yards o f the last event. A similarly close finish is expected f o r this year's series, w h i c h probably has as many potential w i n -ners as has ever been seen i n the event's history - even i n the days of 16-18 teams. Both o f the long races are scheduled to finish at Cowes this year, weather permit-ting, w h i c h could weU make Plymouth Sound i n 1997 seem stress-free by compari-son! However, on balance, the changes made this year have been well received; i n particular the simpUfication of the administration and the reduction i n the total time required have made the series more widely attractive. I f things go w e l l this year, and any changes i n the types of boat used are handled carefully, there looks t o be a good chance of a revival of interest i n the series long term. W i t h o u t the distraction of the America's Cup there w o u l d have been at least t w o more teams this year, and several teams that are racing at Cowes (such as France) w o u l d have f o u n d raising a team at all that much easier. The fundamental question w i l l be whether to move back towards more handicap racing once again - probably the right solution but w h a t r a ü n g system to use? Resistance to I R M does n o w seem to be softening, but that doesn't mean that any switch, however gradual, w i l l be an easy sell to coun-tries where I M S still has a reasonable foUowing.

Front cover: DANIEL FORSTER

m 1999 Champagne Mumm

K

Admiral's Cup Programme

13

A step forward

The changes made to the Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup have taken the event in the right direction and it looks like the downward trend in entries has finally been reversed. This year promises a closely fought contest afloat together with lively debate ashore about the future. We have full details of the regatta, comment from DEE SMITH, FIETJE JUDEL, MARIC CHIS-NELL, BOUWE BEKKING and ANDREW HURST, and a welcome from JEAN MARIE BARILLERE of Champagne Mumm

22

Tough!

A look at the teams for this year's regatta. ANDREW HURST

34

Party party

The Champagne Mumm AdmiraPs Cup shore and social guide

37

Overview

who better to take a look at state of the offshore racing game than BRUCE FARR?

67

Nature of the beast

Inevitably the subject of heated discussion at Cowes this year, HUGH WELBOURN talks us through the IRM design process

71

Progress indeed

Boats fell apart, or fell over, but sails scored pret-ty well in the last Around Alone. PETER I<AY looks at the detail planning and research that goes into designing sails for this toughest of tests

75

Racing in paradise

A look ahead to the 2000 Kenwood Cup series in Hawaii

4

Commodore's letter

ANDREW HURST

And it's all been done before...

Brit/Australian duo score in Mini Fastnet, Friese takes a third Mumm 36 worlds, Volvo Ocean Race news and Warren Jones offers some pearls for Team New Zealand

40

World news

CYCA Hobart Report (and 'Clouds' Badham) takes a poor view of Australian weather forecast-ing, Loick Peyron hangs on at Grand Prix de Mar-seille... while Gautier has trouble just arriving, Vatine holds off the sailboarders, Jourdain goes for Vendée Globe, bumper entry for Figaro, Auck-land throws the spies off the wing mast scent, con-crete footpath to Fiji, and Dawn Riley takes Santa Maria Cup. ROB MUNDLE, PATRICE CAR-PENTIER, rVOR WILKINS and DOBBS DAVIS

55

Rod Davis

Still a long way to go...

57

Olympic and small boat news

PETER BENTLEY reports on SPA 99

61

ORC Column

Cards on the table... DAVID LYONS

63

America's Cup news

Spithill's big break, new lACC launchings and the Arbitration Panel clears its desk for action. ROB MUNDLE, TIM JEFFERY and PATRICE CARPENTIER

78

Design

The new SuperMaxi 100. RON HOLLAND and JULIAN SMITH

80 Seahorse raceboat build table

82

RORC news and Race

Director's letter

ALAN GREEN

9 /

S e a t e e calendar

1 ^ <^SSB (ÖC»

Severe conditions at this year's Round Texel race for catamarans ultimately led to the course being prematurely closed to over 200 of the 700 entrants; this huge event oper-ates in a narrow tidal window, so a delayed start forced organisers to bring forward the time limit. First to finish in just on three hours was the Dutch pair of Deventer/Krijthe on a Formula 20. Whitbread crew, transatlantic Hobie sailor and Vendée Globe aspirant Hans Bouscholte finished 6th

jti^*i;Wji^M S e p t e m b e r 1999

F E A T U R E S

FRONT C O V E R Hans E e k h o f ' s Judel-Vrolijk IMS 4 9 Innovision

7 drives a w a y from t h e

s t a r t of t h e deciding long offshore a t CMAC 9 9 The order f o r Eekhof's new boat, placed last summer at the Copa D e l Rey, where he was competing w i t h Russell Coutts aboard his w o r l d champion Swan 60

Innovision 6, was the

cata-lyst f o r this year's C M A C w i n n i n g team. Coordinated by Team Manager, Rob Weiland, w h o also project managed Eelchof's successful Swan, the D u t c h C M A C programme rolled into action almost immediately. Eekhof's new boat was built by Neville H u t t o n i n the U K under the auspices of M e a n M a r i n e , the company r u n by Weiland, H u t t o n and Peter de Ridder. M a n y of the crew of Innovision 6 went on to sail on the new I M S boat. Meanwhile Peter de Ridder himself elected to campaign i n the M u m m 36 class rather than take the mid-sized slot, first chartering, and then buying back his original Cookson built M u m m , w h i c h was then extensively re-fitted. D u r i n g the winter, Jochem Visser also secured sponsorship, w i t h further finance f r o m Eekhof and De Ridder, f r o m Trust Computers f o r a chartered Sydney 40, the company then going on to successfully sponsor the team itself. The m a j o r i t y of those involved in the Dutch team, including many of the overseas crew, trained together through last winter, sailing alternate weekends i n H o l l a n d o n a variety of boats. From start to finish there were very few personnel changes; appropri-ate testimony t o Weiland's good management and vast experience.

Front cover: O c e a n I m a g e s

Inset: Carlo Bolenghi-KOS

r i l

1999 Champagne Mumm

Admiral's Gup

32

Out of the fire

Initially overshadowed by the row over the IMS rating of the French team's innovative new 50 footer Faster K Yote 2, the 1999 Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup rose above the squabbling to re-establish its premier event status. Six of the nine teams started the final long race with a chance of overall success; that the end result was a popular maiden victory for the Netherlands was the final icing on a very competitive cake. ANDREW HURST tries to stay impartial...

38

Paradox

BRIAN DOYLE argues that it makes little sense tp currently allow PBO sailcloth in IMS, and other offshore classes, while banning carbon yarns, which properly handled are proving to be at least as durable

43

Decisions decisions

Software expert and sail designer PETER HEP-PEL has only recently appeared on the fast grow-ing Mini 6.5m circuit yet has moved dhectly to the top of the rankings. But a lot of preparation has gone into his campaign, especially in the area of foils and downwind sails

46

Key stage one

Project Director MARK TURNER describes the decision making route followed by the designers of the new Kingfisher sponsored Open 60 for English skipper Ellen MacArthur, now building in New Zealand for the 2000 Vendée Globe

R E G U L A R S

4

Commodore's letter

7

Editorial

8

Update

French win on home ground in Adecco Grand Prix series , Doug Peterson on lACC design, Cam Lewis has still got the gift and DCs new Kiwi built 'America's Cup' catamaran...

12

World news

Luc Dewulf's Belgian team takes last gasp victory in Tour de France, as Mumm 30's prove a successful boat choice. Round Europe Race overshadowed by tragedy, French America's Cup programme on track. Marc Pajot inter-viewed, Bénéteau launches its new IMS bandit, Australian offshore racing coming under legal pressure, 'Brownie' appointed coach to Syd's Cup challenge, I R M reaction from the USA and Disney wins his own trophy at the 1999 Transpac. PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE, FVOR WILKINS and DOBBS DAVIS

25

Paul Cayard

AmericaOne is ready to win. But there are some tough battles ahead...

27

Olympic and small boat news

France takes the top prize (again) at the Volvo ISAF Youth Worlds and the 18 foot skiffs revisit Nomex. PETER BENTLEY and INGRID ABERY

31

America's Cup news

A discreet launch for an impressive looking Nippon Challenge, Prada feeds the spies and Dennis back at the helm? T I M JEFFERY

48 Seahorse raceboat build table

50

RORG news and Race

Director's letter

We do still go offshore! A L A N GREEN

65 Seahorse calendar

oneAustralia revisited for Bruce Owen's Six Metre, Scoundrel, at the 1999 class world champi-onships in Finland. Scoundrel sank in less than a minute after being holed by fel-low UK entry Battlecry. The boat was recovered five days latef, from 35 metres down and is expected to be fully repairable

(

Contents

O c t o b e r 1 9 9 9

FRONT COVER

The 49er f l e e t g e t s away - at s p e e d

It is several years since Frank Bethwaite's last illuminating

Seahorse series (Reach f o r

the Sky)j written as we were first moving into the era o f 'humpless' m o n o h u l l design and semi-automatic rigs. I n that interval Frank and his son Julian have given the w o r l d the 49er, and now the 29er, as well as many less-known contributions to naval architecture. I t is fascinating t o look back at the Bethwaites' writings, and reflect just h o w significant were many o f the pointers for subsequent trends i n keelboat development. One of the very best-known offshore yacht designers predicted as much to me at the time, after he had read the Bethwaites' various pieces - real success rarely arrives by accident. The t i m i n g of Frank's current evaluation into the 'humpless' planing hull and the most modern trends i n small boat rigs is poignant, w i t h so much of the focus i n the forthcoming America's Cup likely to be on radical rig design (admittedly w i t h i n the tight confines o f the l A C C rule). But this trend is there to see; i n recent months we have had 'the Krazy K', the development of unstayed Open 60 monohulls, and i n a few months we w i l l have the launch of Pete Goss' new Thompsondesigned ' t w i n -unstayed-maxi-cat'. We w i l l also, i n the next 12 months, be enjoying the first Olympic regatta w i t h a modern skiff-type boat - just watch to see where the general media pays closest attention. Great times... Paul Elvstrom must be p r o u d of his sport

Front cover: O c e a n Images Inset: Carlo Borlenghi, KOS

F E A T U R E S

• Is plistie feBilailieF

Southern Spars managing director and former -Whitbread racer STEVE WILSON looks at the implications of the recent changes to the spar regulations for the 2001 Volvo Ocean Race

40

Harder than necessary, perhaps?

ROB WEILAND, team captain and one of the driving forces behind this year's successful Netherland's Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup challenge, looks back at some of the controversy that coloured the successfully reformatted 1999 event

44

Onwards

TIM JEFFERY talks to the number-one man at the Volvo Ocean Race, HELGE ALTEN, about the changes in corporate ownership that immedi-ately followed his company's purchase of the world's top crewed ocean racing event, and about some of his recent fireside chats with the ISAF

R E G U L A R S

Oommocnlw^e's letter

7

Editorial

Upfiate

Catherine Chabaud scores a well-deserved Fastnet Race success. Dee Smith continues a 'rather good year'. Bank takes Match Race Worlds, Ludde Ing-vall, 'Scotty' and the team take the first Adecco Maxi title and Patrizio Bertelli talks about the realistic chances for getting 'that' cup to Europe

12

World news

Copa del Rey success for Botin and Caureek's Zurich breathes new life into IMS design market, Jean Le Cam scores his third Figaro success - for Pleury Michon, Bryan Willis takes on a questionable Admiral's Cup jury chalice, Austrahan IMS series prove a further bonanza for Bénéteau 40.7s, Burns-Dovell confident of

weaving the magic for the Abracadabra, and an American learns all about it in Cowes. With DOBBS DAVIS, BOUWE BEKKING, PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE and IVOR WILKINS

23

Rod Davis

Fair... 'Please don't trouble me with idealism,' says the Prada saihng director

25

Olympic and small

'A new world is truly upon us'... Long overdue, FRANK BETHWAITE writes the first in his new series of articles that analyse the revolution that's taken place in small boat design over the past eight years

28

ORG

NICOLA SIRONI sets out the 'Krazy-K' story of CMAC 99, from the perspective of ocean racing's world governing body

31 Seahorse

The case for carbon in IMS sails grows and Mike Kalaugher explains just how small those Hobart trysails needed to be...

34

America's Gup news

TIM JEFFERY asks whether we are really going to see the Russians in Auckland, as well as a second French syndicate, and YOICHE YABE talks to PETER GILMOUR about a quiet but undoubtedly serious Nippon Challenge 2000

48 Seahorse raceboat build table

46

Design - New kids on the block

The Botin and Carkeek-designed IMS 46 Zurich

50

RORG news and Race

Director's letter

Lessons learnt - ALAN GREEN

65

^da^or^d calendar

LeU: one of the

least-publicised facts of the Around Alone was that, while the Open 60 records tumbled, the Open 50 benchmark set by the Scott Jutson-designed True Blue In 1994 remained very much intact. The Malaysian skipper, Azhar Mansor, Is now midway on his own lonely round-the-world solo record-breaking attempt aboard this new Jutson-designed 50-footer, Jalur

November 1999

FRONT COVER

The first of Paul C a y a r d ' s two Bruce Nelson l A C C d e s i g n s in early trials There is no more damming indictment of the commercial wealcness of the America's Cup, n o w only sailing's premier inshore series, than the struggle Cayard has faced i n his quest to raise a challenge out o f financially buoyant San Francisco. Despite finishing second i n the past t w o America's Cups, w i t h I I M o r o i n 92 and Team Dennis Conner i n 95, and then going on to dominate the Whitbread Race at his first attempt, Cayard's funding remains marginal at best. O r at least marginal in the context o f a challenger who is interested only in actually winning -not just taking part. Once Cayard's initial support f r o m .Netscape boss Jim Clark had

evaporated, AmericaOne was left h i g h and nearly dry, and i t is only through f o u r hard years of knocking on boardroom doors that Cayard's team, considered by many to be at least joint-favourites among the challengers, is i n Auckland at all. Given the costs of challenging effectively, i t is hard to imagine the Cup can survive another sojourn i n New Zealand under the current commercially difficult conditions - or rather it can, just that no one half-decent w i l l be able to find the f u n d i n g to threaten a supremely competent, respected and well-organised home side. Thus the Cup must somehow either change its venue (not up f o r 'negoti-ation') or its image. However, the expected fine event that w i l l be put on i n Auckland could go a long way towards mending crucial bridges.

Front cover: Bob Grieser

I n s e t s : Paul Todd and Christian Fevrier

34

Big autumn

Hans Eekhof's Judel-Vrolijk 49, Innovision^ followed up her Admiral's Cup triumph with an outright win at the inaugural Rolex IMS worlds in Sardinia, while Larry Ellison's Farr maxi, Sayonara, continued her winning ways at the Rolex ILC maxi series held at the same venue. Porto Cervo was a busy place in September. BOUWE BEia<ING reports

36

Onwards

MARK TURNER describes the choice of systems and foU configuration for Ellen MacArthur's new Open 60, Kingfisher, now in-build at Marten Marine in Auckland

America's Gup 2000 preview

38

Timed to leave?

After more than four years of waiting, the first races in the preliminaries to the 30th America's Cup match will begin shortly, with the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup. TIM JEFFERY assesses the candidates, and considers some of the less obvious factors that could influence the outcome

44

The challenger's view

CRAIG DAVIS asks PAUL CAYARD about the realistic chances of defeating a pinnacle sailing team laying on their own pitch...

R E G U L A R S

24 Seahorse letters

Just how fast are the new Open 50s? Plus the case for PBO in sails

26

ISAF Golumn

Of certification and Olympic class selection

2§

Olympic and small

boat news

FRANK BETHWAITE looks closely at optimum wingspan, and at 'turns per mile', and

IAN WALKER reports on a record-breaking 1999 Starboat worlds in Punta Ala

40

Design - A better alternative

With Catherine Chabaud's Fastnet-winning Open 60, Whirlpool-Europe 2, designer MARC LOMBARD has gone a considerable way to proving his argument that a safer boat can also be a^ competitive boat

48

S ^ a / r o r s g

raceboat build table

50

RORG news and Race

Director's letter

A wake-up call from the Australian authorities. ALAN GREEN

65 Seahorse calendar

International regatta dates and contact details

4

Gommodore's letter

Not so fast please ,Mr Weiland... TERRY ROBINSON

7

Editorial

Wood, swept-back spreaders and 'that' rule

8

Update

Krazy K's One Ton Cup revenge, Ortwin Kandler interviewed, Andy Green upsets the form book at Bermuda Gold Cup, plus news of the Volvo Ocean Race and Pete Goss' Race 2000 challenge

14

World news

Auckland goes mental - as Team New Zealand go dull black, Australian Olympic venue spat mars the happy ending, record Mini Transat fleet sets off, Peyron and Fuji toppled by Gautier at Fécamp, Transat Jaques Vabre preview, French marine industry busting records, Kilroy takes Farr 40 OD worlds - and Big Boat Series, and Formula 28 title settled among the fishing nets. IVOR WILKINS, PATRICE CARPENTIER, GLAUS PLAASS, ROB MUNDLE and DOBBS DAVIS

23

Paul Gayard

'This one could come down to sailing...'

Seahorse's 'crash box' makes

a reappearance; this time it's the Croatian entry, Karuba, at the recent IMS worlds in Sardinia, which unfortunately ended its regatta on the rocks after broaching out In a wild squall at the start of the other-wise light-air 125-mile race. Hans Eekhof's Innovision added to her already impres-sive 1999 roll with outright vic-tory at the event, the Judel-Vrolijk design In new guise with a runner-less, non-over-lapping rig. Despite some con-troversy over the concept of a handicap-based 'world championship', most judged the inaugural event a success, the crew of Karuba aside

[Itmnna

December 1999

FRONT COVER Lionel Lemonchois p o w e r s away at tlie rough start of t h i s y e a r ' s Mini Transat c l a s s i c

Fast to start, Lionel, one of the pre-race favourites was sadly dismasted w i t h i n a couple of days of leaving Concarneau aboard his beautifully-detailed, home built M a r c Lombard design (see Pge. 39). After an impressive voyage back under jury r i g there was a further delay of several days before Lemonchois was able to locate a replacement r i g and rejoin the race. However he eventually arrived i n Lanzarote i n good time to make the start of the race's longer second leg, and at the time of w r i t i n g was lying sec-ond. After several years out of the headlines it is clear' that M a r c Lombard and his La Roebelle office are very much back at the f o r e f r o n t of 'Open-style' raceboat design. Jean-Marie Finot and Pascal C o n q have done a w o n d e r f u l , and also a responsible j o b in dragging Open design f o r w a r d so f a r • i n recent years, but i t is

nev-ertheless welcome to see them n o w facing some real competition once again. While Lemonchois' little 6.5m design was showing great pace i n the M i n i Transat fleet, so Catherine Chabaud and her L o m b a r d designed Whirlpool Europe was leading the monohull contingent i n the Transat Jacques Vabre. Catherine's bright yellow Open 60, fea-tured i n our Design Review last m o n t h , also w o n this year's Fastnet Race overall, and was leading the mono-h u l l division i n last year's Route du R h u m before suf-fering a spar failure. A l l this while M a r c Lombard claims Catherine's boat is also sig-nificantly safer than most of its peers. N o t bad.

Front cover: J a q u e s Vapillon-DPPI Inset: Tati

F E A T U R E S

America's Gup 2000

32

True to form

For the favourites there were probably few sur-prises in the opening round of the Louis Vuitton Cup. But for some of those less sure of their place in the pecking order it is already looking like a long few months ahead. TIM JEFFERY reports on the first round of the challenger series

34

Quivers of spars?

IVOR WILKINS finds that among possible rig developments, at least one syndicate is assessing the cost of a skiff-style, multiple spar approach

34

Loo[(in' aliead

Last minute America True signing DEE SMITH offers a personal view of where the various teams will be in a few months time

38

Howtlieylool(

"An overly ambitious approach, probably with-out the funds to make it pay off", is the French Challenge's co-designer, JUAN KOUYOUMD-JLAN'S verdict of his own team's approach. But Juan also offers his first impressions on the efforts of the technical teams of his Cup rivals

38

Tidying up tlie act

PATRICE CARPENTIER takes a close look at this year's Mini Transat fleet and finds refinement and preparation are the names of the game

41

One point of view

CHRISTIAN STIMSON wants to see IRM suc-ceed. He offers his evidence as to why he believes he is backing the right rating system for the future

45

New breed

JUDD SMITH has a pretty good record in the new non-overlap classes, and he just helped Ed Collins clean up at the 99 Mumm 30 Worlds...

R E G U L A R S

Editorial

Panic, what panic? ANDREW HURST

8

Update

The late Ricus van der Stadt, Alain Gautier need-ing bigger floats and Chris Law, sort of retirneed-ing...

14

World news

Tragedy strikes transat Jacques Vabre, Mini Transat restarts with depleted fleet, Isabelle's Volvo quest, Jean-Luc off again, Peyron (B) to 'race The Race?', Hobart official enquiry begins, IMS lives on in the US of A, and Vasco Vascotto • keeping busy. PATRICE CARPENTIER, IVOR WILIONS, TIM JEFFERY and DOBBS DAVIS

floli Bmm

"A hell of a week in Oz"

4

Gommodore's letter

Signing off... TERRY ROBINSON

2A

Seahorse kiiers

The need for an affordable modern training dinghy, and "a rise to humps"

26

ORG Golumn

To sweep or not to sweep? DAVID LYONS

29

Olympic and small boat news

PETER BENTLEY offers little hope for a fluke result at Sydney 2000 and FRANIC BETH-WAITE addresses the steady-state fundamentals

of modern small boat rigs

46

Design - Here we go again

It's that man again... as JUAN KOUYOUMD-JIAN makes the case for a Millennial wooden ship

48 Seahorse rmhodt build table

50

RORG news and Race

Director's letter

ALAN GREEN

65

^eaAorsd calendar

Regatta dates and contact information

Left: Pascal Herold's new 85 foot Open design from Simonls-Voogd approaches completion In South Africa, where the build of Herold's solo round-the-world challenger is being project managed by Mike Birch. Right: Catherine Chabaud's elegant Marc Lombard designed Open 60, Whirlpool Europe 2, was comfortably leading the Transat Jacques Vabre monohull fleet as we closed for press