[tiji1iWJi^/.4
J a n u a r y 2 0 0 9
All hands on the pumps a s Ken Read s t e e r s II Mostro out of Cape Town, having creamed the start of Leg 2 The entry of Read's Puma Racing Team into the latest Volvo race bears comparison with the appearance of Paul Cayard when he took over
EF Language late in the day
ahead of the 1997/8 race (which the American skipper went on to win easily). No one is suggesting that Read and his Botm and Carkeek VO70 could ever dominate the latest event in anything like the way that Paul Cayard did, but this experienced sailmaker and America's Cup campaigner brings similar thoroughness to the game, especially where it concerns sail development. Of course, skippers of the cahbre of five-time Olympic medallist Torben Grael are not going to be intimidated in the way that some of Cayard's older school Volvo rivals were 10 years ago, but Puma's entry adds a fascinating dimension; even on their first crossing of the Doldrums on Leg 1
Jl Mostra's afterguard were
already talking about playing the long game, for the race rather than the leg. Ian Walker's Green Dragons will be planning their strategies in a similar vein, albeit with a campaign that went to the line behind Puma in terms of resources. However, "Walker's Reichel-Pugh design has itself already vindicated the early impressions of those who took one look at this Chinese-built VO70 before declaring it 'sweet'. The 2008/9 fleet boasts the strongest personnel line-up ever seen in the race and some fascinating design variations, plus an extremely testing new course; it will be one heck of a boat race
COVER: Sally C o U i s o n / V O R / P u m a INSET: Gilles Martin-Raget
F E A T U R E S
24
Hill 33
It's a big ask, but as T O M S C H N A C K E N B E R G reports on a planned new Cup class rule BRAD B U T T E R W O R T H is making progress w i t h most o f t h e challengers toward an event in 2010
27
Official training base...
Perfect winds, big waves and a l o t closer than Ha wan (for most!)
32
War on a grand scale
The 2008/9 Volvo Ocean Race looks set to be the most gruelling and hardest fought yet.
T I M J E F F E R Y
35
Media slave
A N D Y RICE talks to a 'surprised' M A R K C O V E L L about his o w n unexpected Volvo role
36
View from the ground
- p a r t i
BLUE R O B I N S O N presents a 'human' view of mastering the foiling International M o t h
38
More variables... more solutions
S A N D Y W R I G H T and M A R T Y N PRINCE explain how the Wolfson Unit is developing its tank techniques to keep pace w i t h the challenges of multiple appendages and water ballast
42
Covering the spectrum
S A M DAVIES and B R I A N T H O M P S O N are racing the Vendée aboard t w o very different craft, as they explain to T I M JEFFERY
43
The toughest of challenges
Spar builder D O M I N I Q U E M A R S A U D O N of Lorima talks to PATRICE CARPENTIER about meeting the conflicting demands of the latest generation of Vendée Globe customers
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
D A V I D AISHER
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
T E R R Y H U T C H I N S O N scoops the Melges 24s, K I T O D E P A V A N T ' s Vendée pain, ISAF misses an open goal, MARIC RICHARDS goes f o r the (Hobart) record, a hiccup f o r Reichel-Pugh and remembering the great H A R R Y W A L K E R
16
World news
Tough start for the sixth Vendée Globe, new Farr 55 shows promise i n Auckland, as does
the 'senior' Rags, no trip to Tas for Neville Crichton and another key step for IRC in the USA. DOBBS DAVIS, PATRICE CARPENTIER, CARLOS PICH, R O B M U N D L E and f V O R W I L K I N S
23
Paul Cayard
A n America's Cup on the move... time w i l l tell
28
Olympic and small boat news
- Next!
The 2 9 e r X X failed to make i t past the 'cones' but J U L I A N BETHWAITE's 49er did get its upgrade, as he tells fellow skiff enthusiast A N D Y RICE
30
ORC column
- Old rivals... and new partners
TP52s and GP42s to team up - it's looking likely
31
America's Cup
Easing those wheels... T I M JEFFERY
46
Design - Consequences
PETE M E L V I N , K E N CHILDRESS and B M W Oracle's M I K E D R U M M O N D talk to L Y N N FITZPATRICK about some o f the implications of the latest advances i n wing masted technology
48
5ea/ror56raceboat bu ild table
- Nervous call
Fortunately ISAF went our way (this time at least)
50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N - O W E N
66
56a/ror56 regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
A positive initiative and immense determination
J e a n - B a p t i s t e Dejeanty, at 30 the y o u n g e s t skipper In this Vendée Globe, headed back to L e s S a b l e s when this alarming c r a c k opened up down the side of his L a v r a n o s - d e s i g n e d Imoca 60. Fair e n o u g h ; what w a s surprising, Impressive, c h o o s e carefully here, is that after a few d a y s of 'glueing' he felt s e c u r e enough to restart (left), nearly a week behind the rest of the fleet
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^iRl
F e b r u a r y :
No contest... a s Michel Desjoyeaux hits the front of the Vendée fleet after starting two days behind his rivals Such is the nature of the Vendée Globe that any celebration of Desjoyeaux's early performance must be deferred for a while yet, but he has already taken a significant moral victory, whether or not he and Foiicia make it back to Les Sables without further mishap. Surprise at the speed of
Fonda's comeback is
tempered; photographer Gilles Martin-Raget won a handy bet as a result of Desjoyeaux taking the lead before Cape Horn... Others were similarly expectant of something special from the king of the singlehanders. They have not been disappointed. Given the speed with which Fonda made up a maximum deficit to the leaders of 670nm
{65ma more than a complete
Fastnet course...), there must have been a dreadful feeling of inevitability among rivals once DesjoyeaiLx was in among the leading boats. Good news also for Farr Yacht Design, who after dominating the leading group saw their hopes dwindle as several of their other skippers struck problems. Good news, too, for the fundamentals of performance sailboat design. Le Professeur eschewed fashion accessories hke trim tabs and bow strakes, preferring to strip his boat to the barest minimum, focusing on weight, low drag, good trim and good sailing; compared even to its barely commodious rivals, the inside of Desjoyeaux's boat looks hke a cave. Perhaps Fonda can help to hold back this looming tide of complexity a while longer!
COVER: Gilles Martin-Raget INSET: Oskar Kihiborg/Ericsson
F E A T U R E S
24
One detail to go...
A l l but one of the teams interested i n the 33rd America's Cup now seem to be ready to go (OK, Mascalzone still seem confused as to which side to be on, butheh). G R A N T S I M M E R and BRAD B U T T E R W O R T H keep us up to speed
32
All left to play for
T O R B E N GRAEL left Cochin i n India w i t h a small lead i n the 2008/9 V o l v o Ocean Race but knowing that his closest points rival
Telefonica Blue has some real light air pace
35
Boom-free sailing
I A N W A L K E R says it's not great, but nor is i t as bad as he expected
36
Consensus:
there was none
JAMES B O Y D talks to Southern Spars' D A V E B A R N A B Y and P A T R I C K SHAUGHNESSY of Farr Yacht Design
about the remarkable lack of agreement over the best way to r i g an Imoca 60
40
Fast - and smart - fellow
S T A N H O N E Y is having an extraordinary career, f r o m winning i n 505s to masterminding many of the most significant developments i n tracking technology to navigating some of the world's fastest sailing boats... and now he is technical director of an America's Cup team
42
Emerging star
DOBBS DAVIS takes a careful look at South Korea's rapid and relentless emergence as a major player on the international sailing stage
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E7
Editorial
A N D R E W H U R S T10
Update
Stop Press: T E R R Y H U T C H I N S O N does not
scoop the Melges 32s (this time - ed), T I M JEFFERY has high praise f o r the first W o r l d Yacht Racing Forum i n Monaco, I A N W I L L I A M S is now a two-time W o r l d M a t c h Racing champion, though he succumbs to the power of another ' G i l l y ' . Plus LARS G R A E L on the wider motives behind the Argo Challenge
16
World news
DESJOYEAUX'S incredible journey, reality starts to dawn i n Spanish sailing... but offshore stays strong, R O D DAVIS allows his pupils a little starlight, as TROUBLE and D A L T O N go for gold. Key West beckons and tales of spying and light
fingers in Oz. DOBBS DAVIS, PATRICE CARPENTIER, CARLOS PICH, ROB
M U N D L E and I V O R W I L K I N S
27
Rod Davis
A recession can be a chance f o r some housekeeping...
28
America's Cup
The reahty is that just t w o clauses are 'apparently' all that seem to stand between a 33rd America's Cup and B M W Oracle... H m m
30
Olympic and small boat news
- View from the ground Part 2
Flying lessons f o r learners. BLUE R O B I N S O N
44
Design - Instructive
International One Metre W o r l d Champion G R A H A M B A N T O C K takes DOBBS DAVIS through the intricacies of I O M design and D A V I D H O L L O M explains the beauty of foils
48
56dA0r56 raceboat build table
- Downsizing
Reichel-Pugh and Baltic Yachts have combined forces f o r this stylish and fast-looking shorthander
50
RORC news
E D D I E W A R D E N - O W E N
66
SeahorsevBgdiWA calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
[tiji!^W:j^^JL'l March 2009
S h e e r horsepower Bob Oatley's much-travelled Reichel-Pugh CBTF maxi
Wild Oats XI makes an
impressive sight as she roars down Sydney Harbour at the start of the 2008 Rolex Sydney-Hobart. Fortunately for racing fans, Grant Wharington's much lower-tech rival Skandia put up a good hght this year until
Oats finally got moving
approaching Tasmania {however, just how much longer Wharington's increasingly elderly and endlessly modified maxi can possibly keep going remains a popular topic in the bars of the Cruismg Yacht Club of Australia). Meanwhile, in the Vendée Globe there were groans as the first pictures appeared showing Jean Le Cam's capsized Imoca 60
VM Matériaux; but they
were premature. Le Cam is certain that the loss of his keel bulb was not an eerie repeat of the incident that cost the hfe of American singlehander Mike Plant on his way to the start of the 1992 Vendée Globe, but rather was due to a severe impact which the French skipper claims to have felt immediately prior to losing control of his Marc Lombard design. As is inevitably the case in these instances, the truth will never be known because the boat is lost; however, it will be possible to minutely examine the keel of VM Matériaux's hull-sister
Veolia inunediately she
reaches Les Sables at the end of the race and this should provide some useful clues. In spite of the attrition rate in the Vendée, so far both keels and ram systems have actually performed a great deal better in the current editions of the Vendée Globe and the Volvo Ocean Race than previously. We must be learning something. Honest!
COVER: Carlo Borlenghl/DPPI INSET: JM Liot/DPPI
F E A T U R E S
22
A balance of opinions
A lap of views f r o m some of the entered
challengers keen to begin the 33rd America's Cup
32
Again
T O R B E N GRAEL's Ericsson 4 crew started Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race w i t h an 'acceptable' points-lead over Telefonica Blue. But the Singapore stopover had been far f r o m troublefree
34
Faster (Volvo) spars
STEVE W I L S O N of Southern Spars was a busy boy as his engineers worked to get a range of new V O 7 0 spar options ready ahead of the current race
36
Heartbreak homecoming
Once again M I K E G O L D I N G finds himself out of a round-the-world race w i t h a technical failure. Surely there comes a p o i n t . . . T I M J E F F E R Y visits the mind of the singlehanded racer
38
What seems to be the trouble?
As rudders break and spars tumble i n the Vendée Globe one man w h o is looking f o r w a r d to a busy rime after the race is composite analyst JACQUES LE BERRE. He talks to PATRICE CARPENTIER about the evolurion of his w o r k
40
Act Two
- P a r t i
The last Volvo Race saw Farr Yacht Design's previous hegemony on the event broken at last. Predictably, that is not a situarion that the Annapolis designers intend to allow to conrinue. B R I T T W A R D and RUSSELL B O W L E R describe h o w the company is fighting back
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST8
Update
Hydroptèrepasses 61kt (sic!), T E R R YH U T C H I N S O N intends to enjoy 2009... and
takes a US Rolex award (at last - ed), BLUE R O B I N S O N feels that he has finally made i t into the big time... DOBBS DAVIS previews a robust-looking 2009 W o r l d M a t c h Racing Tour and A N D Y RICE talks to ED R E Y N O L D S as the Quantum Racing team begins its second season on the TPS2 MedCup circuit
14
World news
Vendée retirements, rescues... and coincidences.
Ragtime takes an unexpected lead role i n the
Hobart, as Oats is put to the test (at last), R O Y D I C K S O N (inset) puts i n the hours to ease young CHRIS up the ladder... and some of those (bloody
- ed) coach boats finally meet their maker.
DOBBS DAVIS, PATRICE CARPENTIER, CARLOS PICH, ROB M U N D L E
a n d r V O R W I L K I N S
26
ORC column
27
Olympic and small boat
news-Another takeaway
X I N M I N Y A N investigates the state of sailing's gently awakening superpower w i t h China Watersports director Q U A N H A I L I
31
America's Gup - Claws at dawn
As the t w o parties move towards the next act (that's act, not Act...) T I M JEFFERY measures up the rivals' claims, posidons and support cast
46
Design - A friend returns
The Ker 11.3m has been around f o r a while n o w and continues to succeed under a rule - IRC - f o r which it was never intended. N o w its designer feels that his baby merits something of an update. JASON KER talks to DOBBS DAVIS
48
Seahorse rsLGehodX build table
- Into orbit
DEREK J O H N S tells the story behind Ronstan's award-winning new range of small boat blocks
50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N - O W E N
66
5 e a t e e regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Master of the oceans versus master of the cats
One minute you're flying through the Southern O c e a n the next you're heading for land with your friend J e a n L e C a m after pulling him o u l of the drlnl<. in truth, Vincent R i o u ' s dream of a s e c o n d Vendée win finished when he injured h i s foot in the Atlantic, but when pictured {left, with L e Cam) he had no idea that h i s race i w a s aiso at an e n d
Good while it lasted
Telefonica Black leads Leg 4
of the Volvo Race towards Qingdao, beating into 50kt of wind - blowing against the north-going current - off the Philippines. Sadly, not long after this picture was taken a loud crack signified the end of the leg for the Spanish team and also the end of any chance of a top result in the Volvo Race itself; Telefonica
Blacii first stopped on Luzon
Island for a temporary repair to the split that was opening up in her hull, after which she was sailed cautiously back to Singapore to be put onto a ship for Rio, where a new section of hull will be grafted in prior to the Rio in-port race and the start of Leg 6. No doubt we can look forward to lots of talk among sailing's chattering classes for 'action' to be taken and 'lessons' to be learnt, following the attrition of the Volvo and the Vendée Globe. Our message is simple: only listen to those who know what they are talking about! As Mich Desjoyeaux says, a 'lot of idiots' will write a lot of 'bullshit' about all these setbacks. There certainly are important lessons. We have not yet identified how to make a 45kt VO70 strong enough to survive pounding into breaking seas; a lot still depends on good seamanship to keep the boats intact - but is that a bad thing? Open 60s still have issues with keel-heads and rigs. However, these are grand prix events requiring innovative boats. Where the Vendée scores and the VOR is losing out is not about the boats, it is about the fact that the Vendée has sufficient entries to sustain a high attrition rate. That is the challenge for the organisers of the next Volvo Race to address. Everything else is for the designers and engineers
COVER: Mikel Pasabant/Telefónica B l a c k / V C R INSET: Thierry Martinez
F E A T U R E S
24
Hot seat
T O M S C H N A C K E N B E R G has the inside story on creating the new AC33 Cup rule... and judges the result. Plus R O L F V R O L I J K explains h o w the home team did not get it all their o w n way
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
8
Update
28
No soft option
Just as everyone expected - or feared - Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race f r o m Singapore up to Qingdao was a boat-wrecker, which had changed the whole look of the fleet by the time that i t set o f f south once again. T I M JEFFERY
Tears f o r M A R C G U I L L E M O T , T E R R Y H U T C H I N S O N finds himself back on a road trip, CARLOS P I C H follows the political dramas of 'sailing' i n Spain and L Y N N F I T Z P A T R I C K talks to some of the many friends and supporters of late gold medallist N I C K S C A N D O N E
32
Right spotlight-wrong
reason
I n spite of having t w o of the fastest boats, designer M A R C L O M B A R D did not have a great Vendée Globe. Again. L Y N HINES talked to L O M B A R D after the finish and to his design associate ERIC LEVET about the technical highlights of the latest race
35
It came, it conquered... then it
disappeared
DOBBS DAVIS visited Cuben Fiber creators H E I N E R M E L D N E R and RJ D O W N S to find out what happened to the 'miracle of '92'. Plus STEVE CALDER looks at current applications
38
Courtroom chronicles
They've all n o w had their day i n court so i t just remains to w a i t and see w h a t their honours decide... Plus an angry SIR K E I T H M I L L S and the frustrations of an AC33 Cup Challenger
14
World news
PATRICE CARPENTIER goes onboard Foz/cw to get the story of M I C H E L DESJOYEAUX's
second Vendée Globe victory, and talks to BILOU about keel-less sailing, Auckland
celebrates as the not-quite-the-Cup comes to town, more record hopes in Oz and another refined and successful Acura Key West. DOBBS DAVIS,
WOR W I L K I N S , ROB M U N D L E
23
Rod Davis
Events like the Louis V u i t t o n Series don't just happen by themselves. Props to the shore crews!
26
Olympic and small boat news
- Fast and smooth
A N D Y RICE catches up w i t h moderately successful... catamaran sailor G L E N N ASHBY on the occasion of 'another' w o r l d tide
41
Ciao, bello!
Sgn BertelU, Prada, Luna Rossa are back i n Cup T o w n . Or are they? G I U L I A N O L U Z Z A T T O
42
Act Two
- P a r t 2
B R I T T W A R D widens his look at developments in this year's Volvo 70 fleet w i t h an examination of some of Farr Yacht Design's opposition
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E
46
Design-Voila!
T A N G U Y DE L A M O T T E and J U A N
K O U Y O U M D J I A N describe the thought process and development behind their impressively sexy, ultra-modern new sportsboat offering, the K650
48
Seahorse rsiCBM build table
- A class is born
Nacira Design founder A X E L DE BEAUFORT is more than a little excited about the launch of the company's n e w N O D 3 4 offshore one-design
50
RORC news
E D D I E W A R D E N - O W E N
66
Seahorse regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
T w o quiet but important stars of the big game
Something to smile about at last for sailing's most perennially worried face. Dean Barker could take great satisfaction from coming back from 0-1 down against Alinghi in the final to win the next three r a c e s a n d the L o u i s Vuitton
Pacific S e r i e s 3-1, ably backed up by Emirates
TNZ tactician 'IHooray' Davies. Barker is one
of the great g u y s of the sport, painfully s h y but s o dedicated
G l a s s half-full
Rod Davis says he's focusing on making the most of what lies closer to home and taking advantage of the things you can do rather than dwelling on the downside of what may be going on elsewhere. Smart fellow. There is plenty to look forward to in the next 12 months on the racing scene, and where there are casualties, it may be that a bit of pruning was necessary to build a more sustainable and better sport in the longer term. Dinghy sailing appears to be enjoying a boost as people put aside some of their little-used larger yachts, the America's Cup is benefiting from a well overdue dose of cost cutting which - assuming that the AC33 Class is, as we hope, the boat used for the next Cup - will make for a more flexible and potentially much stronger Cup in the years to come. The hugely expensive AC90 was, in retrospect, the last throw of the early naughties' dice, and A C M and the challengers are to be applauded for dropping the class so quickly when it fell out of step. Also, there is the new Velux 5 Oceans, offering a chance for many of the best and most ihustrious shorthanded ocean-racing designs to enjoy a new lease of life, and in doing so to help launch some new ancl fledgling careers in solo sailing. At the Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad is head-down looking hard at ways to give his next race a more affordable structure and at how to attract more of the biggest names in the sport who are still absent from the event. The Class 40 continues to thrive and there are new IRC racers being launched every month. And then there is the new Melges 32 which is growing like topsy. Onwards
COVER: Christophe Favreau INSET: Gilles Martin-Raget
F E A T U R E S
24
Street-fighting man
ED BAIRD seems to have found a spiritual home at Alinghi, where an emphasis on delivery rather than PR lies at the heart of a great sailing team
27
A (big) step in the right direction
R O B I N K N O X - J O H N S T O N is setting the next Velux 5 Oceans onto a new and significant path
28
It's (now) a small world
The reality of the America's Cup saga d o w n at ground level remains less than encouraging
29
Auckland wrap
But when the family does get itself together - out on the water - the results are still cause for celebration
34
Reasons to be cheerful
BOUWE B E K K I N G continues to attract a lion's share of the adversities handed out i n yet another Volvo Ocean Race
36
Virtual phenomenon
Router and software developer D A V I D B R A Y S H A W tries his hand at the very much bigger Volvo Race that is taking place online
38
Just a big fan, right?
A visit to Auckland University just became even more relevant f o r grand p r i x programmes w i t h the latest improvements to its unique Twisted Flow W i n d Tunnel. D A V I D LE PELLEY
42
Beyond Sinbad
M A R K T U R N E R examines the reality behind the emergence of the M i d d l e East as a major player i n the market f o r international regattas
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E7
Editorial
A N D R E W H U R S T8
Update
G R A N T D A L T O N is having to w o r k hard tokeep his America's Cup show on the road, T E R R Y H U T C H I N S O N reminds B M W Oracle of thei r promises, M I N O P R I O opens his account in perfect style, the Cup Arbitration Panel gets its extra names and M U N D L E wants his prizes!
14
World news
We take a close look at Emirates' innovative new TP52, why the legal troubles at US Sailing could spell disruption for everyone, in Spain the keys are passed into a safe and well-respected set of hands and a look at the idiosyncrasies and consequences of the Italian way of sailing. DOBBS DAVIS, I V O R W I L K I N S , ROB M U N D L E , G I U L L ^ N O
L U Z Z A T T O and PATRICE CARPENTIER
23
Paul Cayard
Surely, t w o boats f o r the Alinghi defence is the real answer?
26
ORC news
The beginnings of some long overdue ider international co-operation...
30
Olympic and small boat news
- Steady development, escalating
competition
Skiff champion ROB B R O W N reviews the latest JJ Giltinan w o r l d series and talks development w i t h new 18-foot champion E U A N M C N I C O L
46
Design-A fine pair
DOBBS DAVIS talks to M A R K M I L L S and B A R R Y C A R R O L L about the new Summit 35 and M A L C O L M R U N N A L S reports f r o m Australia on a focused new I R C 39 one-off
48
Seahorse ruceliOdX build table
-Aquantum leap?
I f it does everything that it is cracked up to do, then H a l l Spars' new carbon-titanium standing rigging system could be just that. ERIC H A L L
50
RORC news
A fine first 600, says EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorse regatidi calendar
67
Sailor Ofthe Month
Accomplishment... these two have it i n spades
One turn a n d out, Fonc/a-style. With everything being done on the new design to minimise aero-drag, and the client being an A m e r i c a ' s C u p sailing team it made obvious s e n s e to run all the control lines and halyards up and out through the Interior and centre all the pit functions at this single lowered winch pod (inset) on the new B & C TP52 for Emirates T e a m New Zealand
[iiffrnranajune 2009
Pedants form a queue 69-year-old Nico Budel's Portimao Global racer Hayai (Speedy in Japanese) started life as Russian legend (for that he is) Vilctor Yazykov's self-designed - with American Steve Baker
-Winds of Cloange. The boat
is now on her third circumnavigation, not bad for an innovative and light 40-footer that was a pioneer of today's canting-keel configuration: bulb-keel well aft combined with twin daggerboards, with the rig also set well back in the boat. The boat has always proved exceptionally sea-kindly and remarkably easy to sail in the big seas of the Southem Ocean; when Yazykov himself lost his autopilot in a previous Around Alone race he was able to make good speed in strong winds with rhe helm tied off. By now many readers will have worked out that Hayai is still in Open 40 configuration, rather than being a true Class 40 according to the regulations as they came into being three years ago. However, Hayai went afloat in 1998... and she is still competitive. No wonder, perhaps, that the staff here at
Sealjorse continue to hold
Viktor Yazykov in such high regard. As Winds of Change the boat was inspirational in the original gestation of the Class 40, the key differences being that Hayai's canting keel and twin forward foils are not allowed under today's Class 40 rules. No matter, the boat has done more than perhaps any other to reassure about the abihty of such smaU boats - when properly prepared - to transit the world's toughest oceans in safety. As for current skipper Nico Budel, well, we think that solo in a 40-footer at that age in the Southern Ocean deserves a front cover... at the very least
COVER: Ingrid Abery INSET: Oskar Kihiborg/Ericsson
F E A T U R E S
27
New baby
Experienced round-the-world solo racer and n o w Velux 5 Oceans race director D A V I D A D A M S has more of the details of the new Eco 60 class
/
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
28
A Step taken
Following the verdict of the new Y o r k Court of Appeal we look at the options going f o r w a r d and at the winners and losers i n the tortuous and ongoing game of the 33rd America's Cup
32
A bravura performance
T I M JEFFERY made absolutely certain that he w o u l d be in Rio to greet M A G N U S OLSSON as sailing's supreme ambassador made one of his most spectacular landfaUs... to date
8
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N is 'pleased' there is a verdict... ALESSANDRA PANDARESE setries o n today's 'winning' side and K N U T FROSTAD believes that to move ahead first we need to reconnect w i t h the history of the Volvo Race
14
World news
Who pays is a key question following the Vendée Globe, Alex Pella moves up the ladder, Cowie and Davies do some bailing, Agustin Zulueta stays wary and Neville Crichton has a score to settle. DOBBS DAVIS, I V O R W I L K I N S , ROB M U N D L E and PATRICE CARPENTIER
34
Speaking from
experience
R I C H A R D BRISIUS and his business partner J O H A N SALEN have been responsible f o r a large share of recent Volvo and before that Whitbread round-the-world entries. W h o better to ask how to move ahead w i t h a big race i n a tightening economy...
37
Fireside tales
- P a r t i
PETER H A R K E N talks to L O U A Y H A B I B about the extraordinary journey that has been the story of Harken performance equipment
40
The next (big) step?
DOBBS DAVIS talks to batten guru R O M E O R O B I C H A U D about the coming revolution...
42
Kite-smokin'
G I N O M O R R E L L I is already looking way, way beyond the next generation of high-performance multihuUs, as he explains to ROB M U N D L E
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E
24
Rod Davis
A return to Long Beach prompts a review of changes... good and bad
30
Olympic and small boat |
news - Pretenders required |
A t the Princess Sofia pre-Olympic regatta | i n Palma Ben Ainslie's would-be usurpers g took to the stage... while Britain's relentless
medal machine keeps rolling on
45
Design - Chariots of fire
The free hand of an America's Cup D o G match is not such a simple problem. D A V E H O L L O M
48
Seahorse rdicebodt build table
- R e a l world solutions
Normally bristling w i t h unidirectional high-modulus carbon, we take a look f o r a change at a thoroughly modern but more accessible technical solution w i t h rigging specialist J O H N F R A N T A
50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorse regaildi calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
T w o new and brightly shining stars!
It took time, but s p e e d records do not Just appear ( u n l e s s you're a kiteboarder!). Richard J e n k i n s
(inset) celebrates
after his dogged persistence finally brought a new world land speed sailing record of 126.4mph on Ivanpah Lake In Nevada. J e n k i n s will now rebuild h i s elegant Greenbird a s an iceboat in an attempt to establish a significantly higher new mark...
st*PTnrninjuiy2öö9
P u m a ' s II Mostro s h o w s why Volvo 7 0 s boast t h e c l e a n e s t d e c k s on the planet The Boston stopover was another success in terms of both public access - 178,500 through the turnstiles with 31,000 watching the In Port racing - and business-to-business promotions. Boston is, of cotirse, a major US city well served by airports and close to a large sailing community; therefore, if there is going to be a US success stor)' Boston has as good a chance as any other potential race stop. The key word is city, and that is the focus aroimd which VOR CEO Knut Frostad is trying to unlock the potential of this great sporting event. Having host cities rather than host ports means a bigger and commercially 'better' potential audience - but also a greater risk of the race being losr to rival attractions. Frostad is keenly aware of this, hence his objective of increasing pohtical support at stopovers. Meanwhile, on the water the 2008/9 race is doing all that was asked of it: brutal fast racing, good video and stills footage and very close competition - just 17 minutes covered the first three finishers at the end of Leg 6. Such powerful boats are, however, desperately expensive and so, having made the decision to stay with the current class, Frostad knows campaign budgets can never again be modest. Many wonder whether we would have today been in a better place with crewed Open 60s, or a second class to boost the fleet's 'presence' in port? Whatever the pros and cons of these choices, it is a sign of confidence to be aiming high with the pinnacle VO70 class and then setting about justifying a big budget. This great race is moving forwards
COVER: Rick D e p p e / P u m a INSET: Matias Capizzano
F E A T U R E S
22
(Almost) time to play
BRAD B U T T E R W O R T H is 'excited'. He may not have wanted an America's Cup D o G match, but giant multihulls... what's not to like?
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
25
Changing the mould
EF Education Whitbread veteran and n o w Velux
5 Oceans race manager K I N Y PARADE has lots to smile about f o l l o w i n g the launch of the Eco 60
8
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N has a battle on his hands at the MedCup, DALTS gets the hose out, C A M M A S gets back in action, ROB M U N D L E strikes gold i n Thailand and GERARD M O R R I S puts thermoplastics into a wider perspective...
26
The clock starts here
A t last... one Oracle boat or t w o . . . Valencia or Puerto Calero... or T a r i f a . . . and are we really out o f t h e woods? T I M JEFFERY looks at the 10-month timetable f o r the 33rd America's Cup
14
World news
Has the Imoca class done enough, a new 'boat' for Thébault, Class 40 goes global... skiff revival i n K i w i , CLOUDS the petrol head and Sweden lends a new twist to the America's Cup saga. DOBBS DAVIS, I V O R W I L K I N S , CARLOS PICH, ROB M U N D L E and PATRICE CARPENTIER
32
Big town-big times
Boston was a successful stop f o r the Volvo Race i n more ways than one
34
Putting back the mojo
- P a r t 2
K N U T FROSTAD continues his explanation of the so far relatively discrete but potentially far-reaching changes that he is implementing for the subsequent editions of the Volvo Ocean Race
36
Fireside tales
- P a r t 2
PETER H A R K E N moves onto a discussion of some of the materials and load-bearing systems his company has looked at over the past 40 years
40
To infinity and (perhaps) beyond
A D R I A N G I L L I T T describes the development and execution of the build for the Judel-Vrolijk 72 Ran, which took I R C raceboat building to America's Cup levels of refinement and detail
44
Old school
Another person who has played a big part i n the evolution of some pretty fine composite beasts is M I C K C O O K S O N , but he is taking a littie time out right n o w . . . as he explains to T I M JEFFERY
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E
21
Paul Cayard
PAUL pays tribute to the fighting billionaires and all that they have done
for the next Volvo Ocean Race...
24
ORC column
28
Olympic and small boat news
"Upping the stakes
As boatbuilders M A R C PICKEL and J O N V A N D E R M O L E N prepare to start series production, we can look a little deeper into the development of their much discussed new P Star
46
Design - Remaking the Bella
H o u n d to princess i n several not so easy stages. DEE S M I T H was entrusted w i t h the resurrection of HAP FAUTH's initially disappointing - but n o w extremely winning - M i n i M a x i Bella Mente
48
Seahorse
raGBhoat
build table
- One for all reasons... (sort of)
A N D R E A V A L L I C E L L I ' s new Comet 54s design looks likely to be hauling i n the silverware soon under both the O R C and I R C handicap systems
50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorse regatldi calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
It's a generation thing...
The reason w h y S T P 6 5 s a i l o r s feel at a disadvantage against their 'open' IRC rivals. T h e 49er-style aft hull flare on the latest I R C 72 Ran offers demonstrably more mechanical righting moment than the - : slab s i d e s of Luna
flossa - dictated by H the constraints of
Groupe Bel decide to try something different by w a y of a skipper Behind the novel relaunch of the dairy group's Guillaume Verdier Imoca 60 hes a more serious story, highlighting the difficulty Imoca sponsors are having in finding ways to justify their investment in the vacumn following the last Vendée Globe. There are a few Imoca events scheduled for this season, including a revived version of the once popular aroimd-Europe race, but for most there is little to offer their paymasters. As the Imoca 60 class developed in terms of sophistication, and in particular cost, so the focus only increased upon the Vendée and to a lesser extent the Route du Rhum. No longer is this a class in which you can be competitive for the interim events alone; if a Vendée team drops into the Jacques Vabre then any smaller-budget entrant will be sidelined. This problem is famihar to students of the Volvo Ocean Race and the America's Cup: elitism brings a whole - very large - set of problems of its own. The Orma 60 multihull class tried to keep going on the basis of the Rhum; it worked for a few years as teams packed their schedules with inshore grand prrx and Atlantic triangles, but in the end it was never enough. The costs exceeded the returns and that was that. The Imoca class has a fair way to go yet, but as costs rise so many teams must expect to be put into 'storage' between big events, until their current boats are no longer competitive, and then... A rebalancing is overdue and the Veltrx 5 Oceans with its clever Eco 60 Class is one important step towards preventing the Open 60s disappearing out of the top of the pyramid like so many promising fleets before them
COVER:
Gilles Martin-Raget INSET:
Pierre-Alain Folliet
F E A T U R E S
22
The little and the (very) large
C-Cat whizz and currently an Alinghi consultant, D U N C A N M A C L A N E looks at the key design parameters for the forthcoming America's Cup. Plus M U R R A Y JONES goes back to school...
27
Old friend
ISABELLE AUTISSIER returns to Seahorse to unravel the new course for the Velux 5 Oceans
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
28
Things that (only) move in the night
There is something very big nearing completion d o w n at the eastern end of Lake Geneva... and something - or somethings - else of similar size about to block the traffic i n Washington State
30
A little light jousting
Read between the lines i n T I M JEFFREY'S interview w i t h RUSSELL COUTTS and you w i l l be left w i t h a pretty good idea of B M W Oracle's game plan...
34
A consummate
performance
The combination of T O R B E N G R A E L skippering another wickedly fast J U A N K O U Y O U M D J I A N V o l v o Open 70 has proven irresistible
38
(IRC) Case Study
As plans start to emerge f o r a possible revival o f the Admiral's Cup T O M H U M P H R E Y S gives a positive designer's opinion as to why a mid-sized I R C boat can also n o w be a very fast IRC boat
40
Unfriendly territory
- Part 1
Fastest sailor ever on land and now R I C H A R D JENKINS turns his attention to two other major records. But first a look at the journey so f a r . . .
44
Keep it sweet
GREG E L L I O T T has had a hand i n many w o r l d famous high-performance boats, but the reality is his influence on yacht racing runs much wider
R E G U L A R S
4 Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E
8
Update
TERRY H U T C H I N S O N looks for ways to p u l l the playing field away f r o m Botin and Carkeek's latest effort for his old Cup team, skiff champion ROB B R O W N catches up w i t h M a x i champion N E V I L L E C R I C H T O N and DOBBS DAVIS is left impressed by his first GP42 experience...
14
World news
The Volvo Race temperature rises in France, BIDEGORRY looks to go transatlantic i n under four days, G U I L L E R M O PARADA and M A R C E L I N O B O T I N talk TP52 development, (yet) another gem f r o m LAURIE D A V I D S O N and J U L I A N B E T H W A I T E . . . that man is just never ever satisfied (thank goodness). I V O R W I L K I N S , PATRICE CARPENHER, DOBBS
DAVIS, CARLOS PICH and ROB M U N D L E
llod Bmm
There is hedging your bets... and then there's hedgingyour bets!
32
Olympic and small boat
news-Fun for fatties
A N D Y RICE looks at t w o alluring and thoroughly modern singlehanders f o r today's most competitive but not so little people
46
Design-Striking out
Y O I C H I Y A B E meets young Japanese designer A K I H I R O K A N A I and examines his well-executed and powerfully rigged debut GP33
48
Seahorse
VBLCQhOiit
build table
-Widening the choice
N o r t h Sails and fellow-company Southern Spars has been taking a serious look at the foiler M o t h s
50
RORC news
Skandia and the RORC start to look towards a possible return of the much-missed Admiral's Cup. E D D I E W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorse regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
A n d a great deal o f talent to vote on this month
Maybe it's good... If these things arrive in threes then the l o s s of Movistar and two big groundings for Telefonica Blue may mean better fortunes ahead for skipper Bouwe Bekking. T h e latest disaster at the Marstrand restart also destroyed any c h a n c e of a top Volvo R a c e finish... once again. Not nice
barcelona
world race cltAO
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Editorial.
By Andor Serra, Director General of the Fundació Navegació Oceanica Barcelona,
Opinion.
By Dominque Wavre, IMOCA President,
Interview v\/ith Mark Turner,
OC Events Director General looks back at his past experience and forward to a new/ challenge,
Ocean World.
New/s from the world of ocean sailing.
The human factor. Single and double-handed,
two similar -but not identical- forms of sailing.
Ocean sailors talk about their preferences and analyse the pros and cons of these different forms of ploughing the sea. By Kiku Cusi.
Interview v^ith Jean-Pierre Dicl<,
winner of the Barcelona World Race.
" I didn't win a race o f t h e past, but one o f t h e future," stated the French sailor. By Kiku Cusi.
The art of...
Thierry Martinez shares an elegant and colourful vision ofthe regatta, with some reflections on the photographic process which are as creative as his images,
Technology. (Masts, keels, rudders,
beyond design limits?
The IMOCA fleet has been shaken in the last few races by an unusual number of technical failures, which prompts us to examine the questions facing designers and sailors. BySantiSerrat.
- = ^11^
i
31 December, 2010;
The Barcelona World Race has beguii its journey towards next year's dep arture. The aJijcess of the first edition Inas raised the bar higm and hard work is needed fo meet the next c\w eni By PereiAlcober, Presld 5nt of the F| Navelhabló Oceiinica Ba celona.
enge. iÓ
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Volume I I . Issue one. SonieniLier 2009
Ports of the World. Wellington: wind,
adventures and magic.
The capital of New Zealand welcomed three Barcelona World Race boats that stopped by the city port for repairs during the first edition of the race. By Leo Corral.
History of ocean sailing. Joshua Slocum,
the first single-handed circumnavigator.
I t was 115 years ago when Slocum achieved his great ocean feat By Barry Picl<thall.
Medicine. Injuries, sickness and well
looked after sailors.
Jean-Yves Chauve explains and analyses his experiences of the assistance system in the last Vendée Globe, By Jean-Yves Chauve.
Meteorology. Analysis ofthe Barcelona
World Race.
The Mediterranean section, By Santi Serrat Technical survey: GRIB Files. By Marcel Van Triest.
Manoeuvres. The coffee grinder, may
the force be with us.
I n barely a decade the coffee grinder has become an essential fixture on the IMOCA Open 60. By Albert Puerto.
Sponsors. Jaume Alemany Damm
(Marketing Director.
"The Barcelona World Race is an extraordinary event for Estrella Damm." By Leo CorraL
Youth Zone. The Barcelona World Race
in schools,
Thousands of students followed the ocean adventure thanks to the education programme.
Agenda. Events over the next four
months.
i
, t i j i l i W : 1 i t / j
S e p t e m b e r
2 0 0 9
Made in Switzerland And doesn't it show - the quality of finish and engineering detail onboard Alinghi's giant cat is quite simply breathtaking. Incredible to say again, but on the first day of sailing the Alinghi team regularly flew a hull on their complex new cat as well as successfully flying a big masthead gennaker. Bear in mind the many days of gently increasing loadings that preceded BMW Oracle even raising their first smaller mainsail to full hoist on the
BOR90 and you can see that
the Swiss team are making a clear statement of intent: that they have no intention of allowing their American challenger to get even the scent of any feeling of superiority. Meanwhile, Larry Ellison's own build team are seemingly hard at work on something that is not the
BOR90 back in Anacortes,
so there is a lot more to come yet from both sides in the technical race that will prequel the Cup match. The launch rig on Ahnghi, though gigantic when seen ashore, looked quite sane once it could be judged on the water in the context ofits powerful wide platform; this rig is clearly the conservative precursor for something much more special - our money is on at least one of these teams trialhng a solid rig before the summer is out... which will be hard to keep a secret. The whole framework within which the sailing world considers big multihulls is being redrawn by the 33rd America's Cup. Life will never be quite the same again! Those G-Class tris no longer look anything other than what you would now expect to use to sail fast around the world... What would Captain Charlie Barr have given to live to see this?
COVER: Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi INSET: Oskar Kihiborg/Ericsson
F E A T U R E S
20
A time to smile
D I R K K R A M E R S , G R A N T S I M M E R and R O L F V R O L I J K seem to be relishing the prospect of their latest round of full-scale testing25
A unique global event
T I M K E L L Y highlights the distinctions that w i l l make the next Velux 5 Oceans in 2011 such • a spectator and competitor-friendly competition
26
Thanks, fellows!
The laws of unintended consequences have given us a mouthwatering A C contest... defying odds and contrary to most pundit predictions. Again
32
Over before it began
T I M JEFFREY sits down w i t h Ericsson £ skipper and watchleader T O R B E N GRAEL and STU B A N N A T Y N E to learn h o w you set about ensuring such a 'watertight' racing success
36
Can't stop the future
Very topical right now, the subject of powered and PC-managed onboard sailing systems. BLUE R O B I N S O N gets the inside view f r o m specialists M I C K D U N N and G R A N T GOSSCHALK
40
Unfriendly territory
- P a r t 2
As R I C H A R D JENKINS goes for the w o r l d record at last...
44
Coming to a screen near you
Y O I C H I YABE visits M A S A N O B U K A T O R I to learn more about one of the latest systems f o r small boat performance monitoring and analysis
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURSTSJpdais
H U T C H I N S O N pulls i t o f f (with help!), DEE S M I T H looks at M i n i M a x i development, BLUE R O B I N S O N wishes the Finn a happy birthday, A D A M M A Y has foiling tips f o r frugalists and A R N I E D U C K W O R T H has news oi Happy Feet
14
World news
A new PRE hits the stocks. Solitaire experience, Canaries on a r o l l . . . Team N e w Zealand's secret (little) weapon, a superbatde i n Oz, Block Island tales.,. plus the loneliness of supermaxi world. r V O R W I L K I N S , PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB M U N D L E , DOBBS DAVIS and CARLOS P I C H
22
Paul Cayard
Some family planning... and strategies for success
28
ORC column
ALESSANDRO N A Z A R E T H and M A U R I Z I O COSSUTTI analyse the ORC Worlds i n Italy
30
Olympic and small boat news
- A very good year
Three-time Star W o r l d Champion and 1984 Olympic gold medallist BILL B U C H A N
discusses one of the finest products o f t h e l 9 1 1 one-design vintage...
46
Design-Smaller, Stiffer, >
clutter-free |
^ 'SCOTT FERGUSON describes the results 9 of his spar design programme for Telefonica g
48
Seahorse
rdLGBboat
build table
- J u s t the ticket
GEOFF V A N G O R K O M has a fascinating and modern solution for the perennial crew problem
50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorse regstlii calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
A second try f o r one... a second title f o r the other
Shiny happy people: J o h n Kilroy's s t a c k e d , modified T P 5 2 Samba Pa Ti s m o k e s a c r o s s the Pacific on the way to a clean sweep In this y e a r ' s T r a n s p a c race to Honolulu, including the Barn Door trophy for the best elapsed time by a 'traditional and human-powered' craft. Quaint. While over in Europe Ernesto Bertarelli
{inset) gets the
all-clear to sheet on and go with his fabbo new big cat
(
C o n t e n t s
O c t o b e r 2 0 0 9
Great s p e c t a c l e , great sailor
Turkish-born American racer Bora Gulari has long been an icon of the foiling Moth fleet. Always enthusiastic and entertaining, afloat and ashore, Gulari has until now been overshadowed by the on-the-surface more disciplined approach of rivals including formidable multiple world champion Rohan Veal. But with the world title to be fought over at home, Gulari put in maximum effort and on the day he had the speed to get himself out of difficult tactical situations
-particularly downwind where his low and fast sailing style several times saw him overhaul 49er champ Nathan Outteridge, whose own upwind course management and boat handling very nearly gave the brilhant young Australian the means to achieve a further prize within weeks of taking his second 49er world title on Lake Garda in Italy. To cah this year's Moth worlds fleet jammed with talent is an understatement; what the foiler has done is create a class that sucks in many of the greatest all-round - albeit lighter - sailors in exactly the same way that the Star has for years attracted back the world's greatest yachtsmen. Many 'return' to the foilers for the high speed and excitement and then realise that the racing is now pretty good too... then they are hooked. Among those beaten by Gulari in Cascade Locks, Oregon were America's Cup sailors Kevin Hall, Morgan Larson, Jonathan and Charlie McKee, plus Moth stars such as Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI) and, of course. Veal himself, who finished down in an uncharacteristic sixth place - testimony to the intense work put in this summer on site by team USA and others
COVER: Thierry Martinez INSET: Benoit Stichelbaut
F E A T U R E S
20
Makin' it work
R O D N E Y A R D E R N returned f r o m a year of multihull induction to help complete Alinghi 5. A n d even he was surprised w i t h what he found25
A pure spirit
Veteran circumnavigators SIR R O B I N K N O X -J O H N S T O N and DEE CAFFARI discuss some of the motivators for long-distance solo racing
26
Sanity at last
Well, to some extent - there have been some signs of humour at recent launches by the AC33 teams
31
A fascinating (offshore) life
- P a r t i
Veteran boatbuilder and sailing team member JASON C A R R I N G T O N did not race the most recent Volvo Ocean Race but he has not been idle
34
A (more cautious)
new world
PASCAL C O N Q has been intimately involved w i t h the rule changes recently adopted by the Imoca Open 60 class. Long overdue, he says...
39
Uber really?
DOBBS DAVIS investigates the latest progress made i n the field of Dyneema-based sail fabrics
42
Backroom boys
T I M JEFFERY pays a visit to the Auckland headquarters of H i g h Modulus Engineering
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E
7
Editorial
A N D R E W HURST
H U T C H I N S O N has his hands f u l l , M A R C V A N P E T E G H E M says that the 1,000-mile day is w i t h i n reach, RUSSELL COUTTS continues to make progress w i t h his elegant 'baby' and new w o r l d champion J I M R I C H A R D S O N discusses life at the Farr 40 sharp end w i t h A N D Y RICE
14
World news
'That' record (in full), Cookson (back) on a roll, taking it to the wire in Oz and a monster burst of (Cup) indifference in the US of A . FVOR W I L K I N S , PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB M U N D L E , DOBBS DAVIS and CARLOS P I C H
22
Rod Davis
Do not let your children read this... unless they really, really want to succeed. Priceless stuff [ed)
28
Olympic and small boat news
- A very good year - Part 2
This month it's the turn of Olympians Stuart and ig^jjj^ A d o Jardine to look at another thriving
one-design keelboat born of that very fine 1911 vintage
45
Design - Clash of the Titans
A n d D A V I D H O L L O M is relieved that B M W Oracle are planning wholesale revisions to their original but increasingly bastardised trimaran
48
Seahorse
rAGehoai
build table
- A new way to play
K I M B A L L L I V I N G S T O N has been monitoring St Francis YC's successful trials on San Francisco Bay o f its new AIS regatta management system
50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorse regatta calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
Record busters and great champions...
They even get the greatest colour s c h e m e s . . . another spectacular start at the 29er Worlds in G a r d a this summer. Steven T h o m a s (AUS) s u c c e s s f u l l y defended his title, now crewed by 49er sailor Blair Tuke - Interchange between these two skiff c l a s s e s is rampant and the top 'youth prize' in the 29ers w a s taken by R i c h a r d s o n and G r o v e s ( G B R ) who finished 4th overall. The 29erXX also had a great Gold C u p . 2012... if only
0_
, \
N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 9
Phew!
Having told you for so long that Hydroptère would be the first sailboat through 5 Okt we were relieved when Alain Thébault's team finally puUed it off. The real cause for celebration - kite surfers aside - is that when it fell the 50kt mark succumbed to a proper sailboat capable not only of going upwind and down, but also of traversing waters out of sight of land! Not to take anything away from the asymmetric record challengers in action around the world, they all provide valuable leaming as the technology to enable ever higher speeds evolves; but Hydroptère's result was very important nonetheless. Diuring her record run the wind mostly blew at a steady 25kt and never exceeded 28. Nevertheless, a top speed of 55.8kt was recorded (64mph); though if you take the time - recommended - to watch the team's film of the rim it is hard to identify just when this burst occurred, so smooth is the boat's progress. Following her 500m record Thébault wound his boat up again to set a new nautical mile mark, which duly came in at 48.8kt. A good day's work indeed. While they are continuing to develop their ageing 15-year-old plarform, in Brittany Thébault's team have already started building the first of two new craft - a half-scale foUing cat - before work begins next year on an all-new 60ft Hydroptère foUer. Above all, the new
Hydroptère will be a great
deal lighter than the present craft, which has been endlessly mochfied since the project started rn earnest back in the early 1990s. Even today, however, it is hard to understate the longterm implications for sailing of what Thébault and his team have already achieved
COVER:
Gilles Martin-Raget INSET:
Rick Tomlinson
F E A T U R E S
20
A sailboat race (like any other)
A t the end of the day, says Alinghi skipper BRAD B U T T E R W O R T H , the race committee w i l l set a course and lay a stardine, fire some guns and we'll go racing. Amen to that
26
(Costly) hair splitting
Recently shanghaied by B M W Oracle, T I M JEFFERY looks at the vexed question of when is a rudder not a rudder but a piece of the hull?
31
A fascinating (offshore) life
- P a r t II
JASON C A R R I N G T O N looks at changes either proposed or desirable f o r the next version o f t h e V O 7 0 rule... plus (quite) a few more horsepower
35
Out of step
M u k i h u l l builder extraordinaire G Ö R A N M A R S T R Ö M is not at all surprised w i t h Darren Bundock's recent decision to withdraw f r o m Olympic sailing
36
Black magic
Volvo navigator STEVE HAYLES is exploring the new generation of performance management
40
New wave?
W i t h i n a month no fewer than three sophisticated 50ft racing trimarans have gone afloat in France including one f o r previous M i n i Transat winner YVES L E BLEVEC {inset). PATRICE CARPENTIER looks at the seeds of a new fleet
R E G U L A R S
4
Commodore's letter
A N D R E W M C I R V I N E
7
Editorial
A N D R E W H U R S T
T E R R Y H U T C H I N S O N keeps his head held high, DEE S M I T H is keen to protect the ethos of the I R C M i n i M a x i fleet, GP42s make a splash in Spain, L Y N N F I T Z P A T R I C K gets a lesson i n 505 technology f r o m the current masters and DOBBS DAVIS quizzes SCOTT M A C L E O D about plans f o r the W o r l d M a t c h Racing T o u r
14
World news
New Tour racer, tightest of Figaro finishes, Fastnet Francais, Orma 'giants', tight fight on the Bay, but more angst over those winches... the Lion roars again i n Auckland, Jessica Watson tests the laws of physics and a(nother) splendid week in Hamo! I V O R W I L K I N S , PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB M U N D L E , DOBBS DAVIS and CARLOS P I C H
24
Paul Cayard
Some excellent teenage kicks and remembering a former king of San Francisco Bay, T o m Blackaller
28
Olympic and small boat news
- A champion champion!
A N D Y RICE catches up w i t h 2009 M o t h w o r l d champion BORA G U L A R I
45
Design - One-way traffic
FREDERIC L O U A R N describes the t w o -pronged approach taken to the engineering
oi Banque Populaire V
48
SeahorsehuM table - At last!
Only when he was entirely ready was multihull innovator (and design genius - ed) I A N FARRIER going to turn his hand to a full-blown racing craft50
RORC news
EDDIE W A R D E N O W E N
66
Seahorse regdXin calendar
67
Sailor ofthe Month
T w o extremely fast sailors... (as hteral as it gets) Amid controversy
surrounding record attempts by teenage skippers, E n g l i s h sailor Mike Perham put down a marker for due preparation and training when he completed his
own lap of the E
planet on this Finot & O p e n 50. Perham, g who turned 17 3 during the voyage, « w a s saluted by the ^ crew of HMS l\ilersey < a s he p a s s e d the ^ Lizard and received g congratulations ^ a l s o from the First g S e a Lord, Admiral g Stanhope. Perham g c o m e s from a long z line of professional ^ naval officers i
