January 2006

FEATURES mmm THE 2005/6 VOLVO OCEAN RACE A tempting new global event from 'TURNER &c MACARTHUR', a fine new-old tale from the 30 A race of extremes world of 6-Metres, SHAUN CARKEEK on the A frenzied week in Sanxenxo and then a new GP42 Class, SPITHILL finally unseats the dramatic opening 24 hours - no one can accuse 'King of Bermuda', CHRIS LITTLE explains the Volvo Ocean Race of missing out on the major changes at the RORC, ERNESTO goes headlines. TIM JEFFERY fundraising and cool tales from SKIP ALLAN

31 Round the world - or round 15 World news the bend Corentin's Mini, IMOCA changes, DC (and ROB MUNDLE catches up with Sunergy skipper others) in Auckland, a lively Hobart in prospect, ABNl - and nobody could GRANT WHARINGTON BMW go trucking and a look at Tom Stark's possibly call this race dull new TP52. PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB So what had they learnt after MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS and DOBBS DAVIS 48 hours or so of finallyracin g 32 Creating the beast each other in decent breeze? Well, the Volvo fleet was soon -Partll 24 Paul Cayard a whole lot bietter acquainted Lightest shell equals largest bulb, the prize this A lot of improving to do... but there's time with each other and with each year almost certainly went to ABN's clear-coated of their own boats. We could Boat 1, the 'Black Beauty'. Builder KILLIAN already see, for example, that BUSHE tells how they did it 26 Seatee letters Bouwe Bekking's {MoviStar) And a blow for crew recognition prior pronouncement that it was wrong to set off without a 35 Be aware conventional spinnaker pole It's not just about VPP, stupid, it's about knowing 27 ORC-Brave new world was correct. As the breeze the VPP you've got and using it - and interpreting Already things are warming up in the ORC's lightened into the third day of it - correctly. CLAUDIO FASSARDI takes us new Grand Prix classes. BRUNO FINZI the race the two conventionally through the design process for the Maxi Alexia poled Farr designs, Ericsson and Brasil 1, were mowing 28 Olympic and small boat news down the sprit-configurations 38 A loss to the family Skiff and International 14 champion ROB of ABN 1 and 2, deeper The 's Cup world has started its angles widi Httle loss of speed. GREENHALGH describes his latest 'office' We could also see that canting- long-awaited winter break in sad fashion keel mechanisms and their 44 RORC news associated structures have a 39 BaGl( 'home' Rolex Middle Sea Race, plus stacking in IRC long way to go before they are as resilient as their fixed-keel TERRY HUTCHINSON looks forward to a predecessors. Nobody was busy 'winter' in Auckland... and to a new boat! 45 Design - Good rule, good boats going to back off in the first JOHN CORBY takes us through the evolution few hours of this race, what with photographers and the 40 Luna Rossa Special of his successful IRC design philosophy TV still in proximity. Whether We look into the changes wrought in the camp of or not the pace contributed, the 2000 Cup Challenger following a poor show­ 48 Seahorse raceboat build table MoviStar suffered a total ing in in 2003. With PATRIZIO failure of one of its two ram BERTELLI and FRANCESCO DE ANGELIS - Like flies mountings, Paul Cayard's The only way to describe the spread of interest Black Pearl found that at in the Class 40. This time a new OWEN- steady speeds around 30kt the lid of the 'fish tank' (the REGULARS CLARKE design for JONATHAN CRINION plate over the keel wet-box) 4 Commodore's letter was simply blowing off and 65 SeahorserAGQ calendar allowing the boat to fill with CHRIS LITTLE water. In fact, water was a big problem, with widespread 7 Editorial 66 Sailor ofthe Month reports of bailing - in training Another battle of the sexes for you... and with less pressure crews ANDREW HURST perhaps understandably backed off a litde sooner. Swiss brothers Then, not unexpectedly, Grant Yvan {left) and Wharington's Simergy had all Steve Ravussin are manner of troubles and on lifted off tiieir ABN 1 Ivlike Sanderson found destroyed that if you connect the batteries ; i^jAjl Orange after a to the carbon hull via a beam failure in tfie dropped bolt, then surange g Transat Jacques things happen. Meanwhile, ,J Vabre. Also out on Brasil 1 and •"^ were the Orma tris 'the kids' on ABN 2 continued g Fonc/a (capsize), their steady progress... Sobebo (beam fail­ ure), Groupama 2 and T//W Progetto COVER: (both capsized). Jon Nash/KOS Is Orma now too INSET: P Caban/ nshore-oriented? Marine Nationale/DPPI You bet it is... rttj.liWcj^tiM February 2006

FEATURES HEPPEL looks at the bigger picture surrounding the engineering of the latest canting-keel raceboats 30 Extraordinary! They wanted action for the sponsors and they 15 World news certainly got it. In spades. TIM JEFFERY reports A quiver of records in the TJV, fresh doubts from Cape Town after the first offshore stage of about Orma, catching up with rising Spanish the 2005/6 Volvo Ocean Race ALEX PELLA, RAY HASLAR gains public recognition in Auckland, Alfa Romeo goes 32 Strategy tungsten and a look at Key West '06. PATRICE Navigator and offshore 'routier' WOUTER CARPENHER, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR VERBRAAK reviews the teams' scores on Leg 1 WILKINS, CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS

A wild race - well, sort of 34 Where next? 24 Actually the 2005 Transat NIGEL IRENS thinks that we may finally have A hard look at the reality of professional sailing Jacques Vabre, which saw a to come to terms with calling time on the repeat of the devastation to the stiffest carbon raceboat shells , Orma 60 fleet last seen in the 26 Olympic and small boat news 2002 , was not Kevlar-built, rotating wingmast, all that rough. Certainly not for 36 Smart - and fast enough \ , lightweight and offering sparkling the North Adantic during PASCAL BIDEGORRY talks to ^ and aerodynamically advanced November. Oidy one PATRICE CARPENTIER after performance. And it was retirement, that of Fonda, was giving loyal Orma Class sponsor designed back in the mid-1970s. direcdy caused by the severity Banque Poptilaire their first big win FRANK BETHWAITE of the conditions; Foncia was effectively and unusually blown over when sailing 38 The cats to beat '44 RORC news upwind after a particularly big In the first of a two-part look at America's Teething problems... they're to be expected! gust got under the trampoline. Cup holders we talk to newly appointed Most retirements were caused either by structural failure or race skipper BRAD BUTTERWORTH 45 Design-Pay attention through boats 'getting away' CLAUDIO FASSARDI and KARSTEN from their crews. One has to treat the latter explanation REGULARS HOCHKIRCH look at a new approach to with some circumspection, 'cutting' the design corner however. As Nigel Irens {pg34) 4 Gommodore's letter explains, to go into an oceanic CHRIS LITTLE event with the attitude of 'win 48 Seahorse raceboat build table or capsize' suggests something, 7 Editorial - All black somewhere is not right. In SIMON ROGERS feels it's time to look at particular, the advent of ANDREW HURST well-developed hfting-foils has all-carbon construcdon in mid-sized IRC builds had the dramatic effect of 8 Update raising the Orma éOs' 65 Seahorse race calendar downwind 'cruising speed' TERRY HUTCHINSON reports on a good event from around 23kt to over but a less-good result at the new Monsoon Cup in 28kt. At 28kt you crash rather Malaysia, PAUL CAYARD describes a very scary 66 Sailor ofthe Month than capsize, especially if you start to the Volvo Race for the Pirates and PETER Brains versus beauty... you decide! crash down nose-first off the foils when they lose lift. At the same time these boats Not quite as are (again) being pushed pretty as she harder than ever, by experi­ looks on this enced crews who are almost on month's cover, top of their vessels. Almost. Frank Cammas's Interesting to hear on this from once flawless , who on generation-4 his own VPLP design Géant VPLP design was ahead of Groupama 2 Groupama 2 \s a when Cammas's champion 60 sad sight as she restarted following her stop for is hauled ashore repairs in the Canary Islands. after being There is no doubt that recovered from Cammas was determined not her TJV capsize. to let this event slip through his Given Nigel fingers. Even so, when Irens' comments Groupama sped past Géant a (page 34) on the few hours later a stunned brittleness ofthe Desjoyeaux estimated that materials now Cammas was sailing at least used to build 2kt faster. That is pushing at these boats, it is least 2kt harder. A few more relevant to hours and Géant was in front observe the once again.... broken-eggshell type damage to i the skins of G2 £ COVER: Bluegreen caused by her o INSET: ABN/Voivo flailing wingspar a Lt»f»1iW:1i\M March 2006

FEATURES lu World news Oats dominates the latest Sydney-Hobart (as 28 Fingers crossed Crichton fumes), Macquarie Innovation HERVE DEVAUX is closely associated with the explodes, le Professeur moves on (and up), return engineering of the canting systems on ABN of the G-Class... Rod Davis digs into Kiwi AMRO 1, but he is better known for his work on Olympic preparations, USA looks to GP42s and and racing rigs. PATRICE Spithill's successful busman's holiday. PATRfCE CARPENTIER talked to him in CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS, CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS 32 Remember the Wright brothers? TIM JEFFERY looks beyond the Volvo headlines 25 Paul Gayard and finds some remarkable sailing performances And it's good to see that the guys at the sharp end A strange world are keeping a cool head about recent developments While the wide, flat Volvo 70s 34 No sharper end pounded out of Cape Town, A lot has been said about the problems of first- 26 Olympic and small boat news upwind into the Southern generation Volvo 70-footers. Farr Yacht Design ANDY RICE looks at development in the Ocean, so the two long, slender president RUSSELL BOWLER tries to find International 14 fleet as the class prepares for and relatively round new some perspective amidst a great deal of froth Reichel-Pugh supermaxis {Wild a big return to California for the 2006 worlds Onts is pictured) were sliding downwind in record time to 38 No more excuses 43 ORG column Tasmania. Shiu-ely shum New boats are going afloat, the skirts are up and The man in the middle - UMBERTO FELCI - mishtake.... (plenty will say it's time for the talking to stop. TIM JEFFERY that the only mistake is coming talks us through more of the philosophy and out of Sydney Harbour in detail of the ORC's new GP box rule classes December and turning right 39 The cats to beat instead of left). No one yet knows how the latest super­ -Part 2 44 RORG news maxis would fare in similar In the second part of our Alinghi Time for some Sydney-Hobart reflections. conditions to those that have special we talk to designers GEOFF ROSS caused so much trouble to the ROLF VROLIJK, DIRK Volvo fleet, but it does seem KRAMERS and MANOLO probable that the canting-keel 45 Design - To the greater good RUIZ DE ELVIRA mechanisms are more robust TORBJORN LINDERSON (posing, left\] on the big IRC designs than describes a 'pleasant' first encounter with they are proving to be on the REGULARS PETER (J-Boat) JOHNSTONE's new VO70s. The reason for this MORRELLI & MELVIN-designed Gunboat seems primarily that, as RusseU 4 Gommodore's letter Bowler emphasises (pg34), in a top-level competition where DAVID AISHER 48 Seahorse raceboat build table giant budgets are forthcoming, there is immense pressure in 7 Editorial - Rock and roll every available area to increase ANDREW HURST Harken's CHUCK LOB explains why performance almost regardless everything is starting to swing at Cup world of cost. The canting mechan­ ism is a big proportion of the 8 Update mass of die VO70 and so it MIKE SANDERSON discusses not just 'problems', 65 Seahorserace calendar wiU be squeezed. This means systems are pushed out of the but also how his team are playing the 2005/6 Volvo realms of proven industrial Ocean Race. Plus a look at what happens when all 66 Sailor ofthe Month technology into the realms of those coefficients below your flying Moth fall out No cheese-eating surrender monkeys these experimentation. Steel pistons are switched to ceramic-coated titanium and steel cylinders are Gavin Brady and switched to carbon. Then the the crew on whole lot is immersed in the Konica Minolta ultra-hostile marine environ­ take a broadside ment. The result: piles of data, on their way acquired over years of across Bass hydraulics use in industty are Strait in the now wortfiless. Proven Hobart Race. technology is replaced by the New Zealander opposite. As Bowler says, the Stewart composite shells have proven Thwaites' 30m far more resilient than the Bakewell-White hinge beneath them. In design finished hindsight a minimum weight fourth this year, for the canting mechanisms behind the new would have saved time and a supermaxis and lot of money; but it is not too Grant Wharing­ late to introduce such a rule to ton's Skandia. the Open 60 and IRC classes It's a scary time before they suffer the same fate in the maxi world as each new, boat steadily COVER: outclasses its Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex predecessor... FEATURES 8 Update 26 Gathering Steam GLENN BOURKE points out that safety and reliability are not always the same, TERRY Out of all the drama and excitement is it so surprising that the 2005/6 Volvo Ocean Race HUTCHINSON is pleased with his new boat, is turning out to be mighty good entertainment? GIOVANNI CECCARELLI is more than a little bullish and some fancy footwork at Key West 29 Painful lessons NEAL MCDONALD talks to TIM JEFFERY 12 World news about the pain of working ahead of the curve And at the CYCA it is going to get very personal, canting by rope (again), big changes for Orma, but without young Armel, TP52s strut the floor 30 From the top in (before the sailing has even begun), stonking! One man seems to have gone . Barker back on form and a blustery... with his instincts more than his After several lighter editions or is that a 'frothy'... Key West 2006. research in this Volvo Race... Key West 2006 brought the , PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB sponger breezes which most we catch up with 'today's' MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS, CARLOS agree make for a more top-dog VO70 designer .'.- PICH and D OBBS DAVIS memorable week's racing. JUAN KOUYOUMDJIAN There were tears inevitably, but when the water temperature is 22 Rod Davis in the 80s tears tend not to last 33 One for the young Now you see me now you don't too long. This was the first Key prince West to feature an IRC class, - Part I which was favourably received; 24 Olympic and small boat news certairdy the battle at the ftont DAVE HOLLOM has put together an objective between the once-dominant study of how history informs the degree to which - A trial of many parts IRC big boat, Aera, and the we can currently lean on CFD in raceboat design As ISAF's new Olympic scoring system gets a Swan 601 Moneypenny was as work out in Melbourne close as they come. It is now heating up at the ftont of IRC 36 Attention to detail in the USA just as it has in The Gunboat 48 cat (see last month) is the result 44 RORG news Europe. Sailors like Dee Smith of blending a lot of the best of race US-IRC: and it's 550 boats and counting [Moneypenny) and Jez engineering practice into a racer-cruiser package. Fanstone (Aera) lead polished TORBJORN LINDERSON and PETE MELVIN campaigns and ftom here on analyse the Gunboat's forward beam system 45 Design - Powered by demand there will be no more easy BOB PERRY tells what can happen if you picking in the IRC fleet. 'accidentally' post pictures on the interwebthingy For now that is of course great 38 Where did three years go? news, as many who have, often unwillingly, migrated to one- Down in quite a few of the Cup Family 48 Seahorse m%\sedX build table designs for the better racing on are asking this very question. Plus TIM JEFFERY offer begin to see opportunities completes our look at Team Alinghi with help - Slippery... very slippery to again make a more personal from technical director GRANT SIMMER MICHAEL AEPPLI has helped create a lovely choice in boat type. In the new dayracer 'over there' that could do very USA, especially, there are REGULARS well over... well, almost anywhere actually numerous competitive sailors keen to get stuck into top-level 4 Gommodore's letter offshore again and DAVID AISHER 65 56a^or56 race calendar what is now on offer in IRC may be enough to tempt many back. At the time of writing 7 Editorial 66 Sailor ofthe Month over 550 IRC certificates have ANDREW HURST That old trans-Tasman rivalry... been issued to US yachts, remarkable given the time in which this has been achieved. In the immortal As numbers and competitive­ image of ness grow, there will inevitably Crocodile come a time when the in-built Dundee, 'now 'looseness' of IRC - as the that is a tiller'. premier mid-level system - is The latest Mean exposed. But it is too early to Machine,-\Q\h in worry unduly; in Europe die line, goes afloat rule is many years ahead in the Don't worrjr- Your at Cooksons in cycle and the racing remains deposits ljs Auckland. Peter excellent and for a very large are in good liands... V de Ridder's new number of sailors. But in time a Judel-Vrolijk higher-grade system will still be TP52 wiii be needed. It would be much shipped straight better to accept this now and to Europe forthe begin a serious debate early, Breitling Cup. rather than bury all our heads Inset: Flying until the crunch comes Tiger designer Bob Perry takes advantage of a COVER: Ricliard strong cashflow Langdon-Ocean images with his builds IIMSET: The Pirates team in Xiamen FEATURES 8 Update 26 Relentless Moose-Team lead into Rio - but the fight is ABN One is still winning but as the Volvo Race intensifying, TERRY HUTCHINSON looks at fleet hit Rio two things had become clear: this is ETNZ's 2006 Cup schedule, first reports on indeed now a boar race, and most of the gremlins Moquini and MAGNUS WHEATLEY spends appear to have been resolved... TIM JEFFERY time 'at home' with Shosholoza

28 Strategic analysis 12 World news Land-Pirate WOUTER VERBRAAK looks at A word with Team.... Class 40 rolls how the fleet split worked out on Leg 4 onward, the Spring IRC Collection debuts in Brittany, Spain looks favourably atthe new GP42 Class, the draw of the Zephyr, Ben Lexcen is Busy busy 30 Holding it together wasted on 'that' Hall, plus love and cuddles break As the Australian skiff season MoviStar fltness manager SAM BROVENDER out at match race/ISAF world. PATRICE draws to a close 2006 promises looks at the considerations when putting together CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR a vintage racing season in both a health programme for such a testing event WILKINS, CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS Europe and North America. Within a few weeks the Volvo 32 A (still) gentle rumbling Race fleet will hit Europe in a 23 Paul Gayard much higlier state of competi­ As the big boys unwrap their new Cup toys in And it's good to be living at the cutting edge tiveness than that in which it Spain - will the small teams now be left for dust? left Spain last November. Most seasoned observers felt that it 24 ORG Column would take until at least 33 Third time 'lucky'? Here come the GP42s - STEN EDHOLM Baltimore for this new fleet to TIM JEFFERY catches up with the quiet man at resolve its teething problems the centre of the new Luna Rossa sailing team, and hit full race-readiness. Olympic gold medallist JONATHAN MCKEE 25 Olympic and small boat news This now seems to have been unduly cautious as die tight - Faster Finns finish at the end of Leg 4 35 It's all on SEBASTIEN SCHMIDT and proved, with only MoviStar CHRIS LAW drops into the new , CHRISTOPH WILKE celebrate outside the ftame. Interesting America's Cup Village their success in the Finn Class that Paul Cayard's Pirates project confirms that they feel they have hit the ftont one leg 37 Bigger and better 45 Design-La nouvelle ahead of initial expectations; DOBBS DAVIS takes a close look the accelerated development by entente at rotary sail moulding 'Mark 2', these teams is indicative of HUNT STOOKEY is getting pretty as 3Dr sails become a reality both pressure ftom the sailors excited about starting production of the and the resources available to new VPLP-designed Lightspeed 32 (left) throw at the problems that compromised early race 41 To CFD or not to CFD that is performance. Through it all, of the question? - Part II 48 Seahorse raceboat build table course, Mike Sanderson, Seb DAVE HOLLOM explains where various users Josse and the ABN team - Turn back time set the limits with today's CFD design tools appear to have glided relatively ALBY PRATT explains how he came to fit a untroubled. However, by the new breed of sail-hanks to the latest supermaxis time the fleet reach the more mixed sailing conditions of REGULARS Europe ABN know to expect a 50 RORG news close fight. The Dutch have 4 Commodore's letter almost certainly accumulated DAVID AISHER enough points to feel relatively 65 Seahorse race calendar safe, but do not expect race wins in the second half of the 7 Editorial most dramatic Volvo Ocean ANDREW HURST 66 Sailor ofthe Month Race ever to come nearly as That 'new' Volvo Ocean Race in fuU! And they're probably all related anyway... readily as they have to date. Meanwhile, in Valencia the first real 'new" season of the 32nd Cup cycle kicks off this month, new because untU the latest boats arrive perfor­ mances are relatively meaning­ less in terms of the big picture. Teams may be very careful about giving away too much ioformation, but we predict diat before the 2006 ACC season is over there will be Left: the former Wild Thinghas some solid insight into the now been transformed into an future for the Cup in 2007 automated shorthander with self-tacking jib, hydraulic COVER: winches and a ram system to drive the runners. Also down Thierry IVIartinez under, Rob Mundie (above) has INSET: Gilles been busy enjoying Volvo's' Martin-Raget B ioKart fleet at race stopovers I I.

FEATURES 10 Update 28 Stealthy but deadly JAMES SPITHILL continues to stamp his authority on the Match Race Tour in Brasil, Quietly working away in San Diego, the design office of Reichel-Pugh have become synonymous TERRY HUTCHINSON will be glad to start the with the largest maxi and canting-keel designs. racing in Valencia, PETER DE RIDDER'S roll ANDREW HURST catches up with JIM PUGH continues and ROB MUNDLE catches up with Volvo Race chief measurer JAMES DADD 32 A race for second... TIM JEFFERY was in Baltimore as ABN One 14 World news shrugged off a light air finish to take yet another Areva returns to the Cup, record (new) fleet big bunch of points in the Volvo Ocean Race beckons for the next Vendée, Marc Guillemot gets his new ride, TP52 development, Moose's Intimidating times glorious new 'company wagon', the motor trade Reality beckons for some of the 34 Underwater hero invasion continues and Acura Miami Race Week. smaller America's Cup teams CHRIS NICHOLSON is becoming more famous MARCELINO BOTIN, PATRICE in Valencia as tlie big four start for his courage and grit in helping save a sinking CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE, FVOR to produce their weaponry. MoviStar than for his multiple 49er world tides! Particularly daunting will be if WILKINS, CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS BMW Oracle's latest design USA 87 (pictured here) turns 36 The game's a-changin' 24 Rod Davis out to be both radical and fast. Even experienced race-navigator MARCEL One of the straws to which a And there are plenty of brittle nerves in Valencia VAN TRIEST has found himself surprised by smaller team can cling is the idea ofthe big breakthrough the performance of the latest Volvo Race fleet wliich, if it works, can certainly 26 5eatee letters offset a deficiency in funding. 38 Qf Volvo and beyond... A taste of the 'current' Volvo Ocean Race debate... Alan Bond's Australia II JUAN KOUYOUMDJIAN can reflect on a campaign is a beacon for such teams, not the best-funded Volvo 70 design job well done - so now 27 Olympic and small boat it's obviously time to look at Open 60s team in Newport in 1983, it news nevertheless pulled off the big (inset) and the Vendée Globe... result. Similarly, ideas lilce the ^ - Black magic bendy 12-Metre topmast in JOHN CLINTON develops the Newport, in 1980, which with 40 All on! ^ [reasoning behind the explosion better packaging might have As the big boys start working up their created more of an upset than new designs in Valencia what are the in composite dinghy spars it eventually did. Therein lies realistic prospects for the 'junior' the rub, however - even the America's Cup teams? TIM JEFFERY '46 Design reasonably funded twin-rudder 12-MetteUSAofTom -Here come the big guns... Blackaller in 1986/7 never 42 Launch special It was only a matter of time before Farr Yacht reached her full potential in BMW Oracle have got the jungle drums going Design pointed their resources at the IRC. time. To be successful even a again with an allegedly 'relatively' novel DOBBS DAVIS and JIM SCHMICKERS major breakthrough needs time underwater configuration on the new USA 87 and money to exploit properly, otherwise the resources of the 48 Seahorse raceboat build table bigger teams will usually prove 45 Ghillin' overwhehning. Now, with Team CEO and race skipper - Nothing's ever simple BMW Oracle, it appears we has discovered a new calm... in spite of the huge BEN HALL and TP52 spar development may have the rare situation of a mega-team that is also pressure of expectations on his large ACC team banging new comers of the 50 RORC news design space, knowing that REGULARS their resources will allow them - IAN WALKER on life after GBR Challenge to either exploit any new gains 4 Commodore's letter that are identified or scrabble DAVID AISHER back to 'base-camp' in time to 65 Seahorse race calendar ward off disaster if the big idea fails, ffth e big teams are taking 7 Editorial the big risks, there is litde fertile ANDREW HURST 66 Sailor ofthe Month ground on which the smaller Classy 'veterans' in their fields... teams can hope to gain a footing. However, painful Poorly named: this though it may be for their classic 18-Foot Skiff rivals, for students of sailing labours underthe technology the sight of big moniker of The teams testing big ideas is Mistalfe. The revival exciting indeed. It certainly in classic skiffs stimulates what was threaten­ continues in Sydney; ing to be a rather dry event details to note technicaUy speaking... include the stretchy wave screens and a heavily cutaway foil. COVER: Something about Guilain Grenier/GMR Aussies-this just INSET: Osl

FEATURES 10 Update 29 Bowels ofthe beast TP52s and GP42s and the implications for 'new' BLUE ROBINSON hooks up with GUY OLIVER team events, ROLF VROLIJK on 'those' new and MICHAEL DUNN - the duo responsible for classes - and on Alinghi's resolute ACC pace, the increasingly complex control systems needed CLAUDIO FASSARDI reports from the latest onboard the latest canting-keel and CBTF designs High Performance Design symposium in Auckland. Plus testing times for billionaires... •An Unusually testing Not the greatest Volvo Race for Farr Yacht 14 World news Design - but there is much to be digested. ROB A 'record' new trimaran market, Route du Rhum MUNDLE sits down with the man at the top over-subscribed, tense finish to the 2006 AG2R, Bernard Nivelt moves on the IRC fleet, TP52 Overwhelmed development with MANI FRERS, 'Dalts' is back, Although the performance of 34 Flaps down and in a very worthy cause, ABN off to Oz and Seb Josse's ABN Amro Two There is nowhere to hide now that the racing in Volvo's successful American party. PATRICE (seen here) slipped after the Valencia has started in earnest. TIM JEFFERY enforced retirement of some CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR key crew due to injury, the WILKINS, CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS performance of the AI5N team 35 Letter from Valencia in the Volvo Race cannot be CHRIS LAW takes a stroll around the new bases faulted. One way to gauge the 25 Paul Gayard depth of the Dutch team's And today it's the bigger game that does it for superiority is to compare the 38 Building... the chief Pirate after 40 years in rhe sport performance of dieir second No doubt about it, the momentum is boat to that of previous 'junior' growing for custom IRC designs. teams in this race. Amer Sports Designer MARK MILLS looks at IRC 26 Olympic and small boat Two, Heineken (née Yamaha 2006 and describes his own latest 1) and EF Education never news - In style enjoyed more than the briefest new custom IRC 39 Mariners' Cove lANDY RICE talks to 49er of moments in the sun. fsuperheroes IKER MARTINEZ Granted these second-string 42 Irresistible ^and XABIER FERNANDEZ entries were primarily crewed by women, but so what? As the Volvo fleet kicked out into the The publicity of a female entry stronger breezes of the North Atlantic on 8 ORG Golumn was a factor in these Leg 7 it did not take long for Mike Sanderson Those GP42s are launched - BRUNO FINZI decisions - but so too was the and ABN Amro One to jump back to the front acceptance that diese B-boats would have less funds, less 47 Design 43 Whither Volvo? priority and results would only -Detailed effort ever be weak. ABN Amro, on TIM JEFFERY had an encouraging result when he the other hand, had no qualms looked at the pros and cons of a third edition... LIEVEN THEYS and JAVIER JAUDENES ahout the ability to support are two of the latest designers to have joined two serious entries, and that in the still-expanding TP52 street-party confidence has been home out. 44 No laughing matter fiideed it is unlikely that JOHN KOSTECKI could do litde to turn around Seb Josse would have agreed to Ericsson's fortunes in such a short time 50 5ea/r0r5e raceboat build table skipper ABN Ttvo were he not - Beauty! sure of the resources to ruffle some feathers with his yoimg 45 Strategic analysis Looks pretty nice ^ Latini's new Farr-designed crew. Top to bottom this has 'Shore-Pirate' WOUTER VERBRAAK looks GP42 offers a taster of what to look forward to been an outstanding campaign back over some unusual challenges on Leg 5 which, while superior in having 52 RORG news an early start togedier with REGULARS plentiful funding from the outset, has nevertheless been 4 Gommodore's letter EDDIE WARDEN OWEN is a happy hombre confident enough to make DAVID AISHER radical calls. None of these was more radical - or so it seemed 65 Seahorse me calendar at the time - than opting for 7 Editorial Juan Kouyoumdjian for not ANDREW HURST one but both thefr new VO70s. 66 Sailor ofthe Month The success of that move is And it's a well-deserved MoviStar beneftt now history, and Juan K is Down in Oz current world akeady benefiting with new champion Rohan Veal has designs on order in several been testing hard as he gets categories. But back in 2004 ready to introduce his latest how easy would it have been to foiling Moth package in time say 'with time and money, let's for the 2006 Moth Worlds in play it safe and win this thing Denmark, developed once the old-fashioned way'. again in conjunction with John Ilett of Fastacraft. Veal is also working wilh designer COVER: Andy Dovell and racecar Lucas Brun/ABN builder John Biddlecombe INSET: on a new 29ft foiler with Richard Langdon/ which to have a go at the Ocean Images speed record. (Much) more next month (Contents

FEATURES of Volvo Extreme 40s... the TP52 - this year's must-have fashion accessory in the Med, Yvan 30 A firm Step forward Griboval launches a one -design round -the -world JASON KER'S performance as lead-designer at race for global-apprentices, one loyal reader is still has been impressive. Now he is not quite confused enough, and Steve 'Cogito' again turning his mind to the offshore classes Clark does it again, this rime with a dramatic revamp in the world of International Canoes 34 Perfecte! Paul Cayard leads the Black Pearl crew to a last 14 World news leg win - just ahead of Sebastien Josse's boys on Upside down for Pascal Bidegorry, a new boat ABN Ai7vo Two. And Moose cleans up overall for 'Thoma', as globetrotting becomes the fashion, Cammas {inset) launches the G3, We could have a boat race 36 inside insiglit more Kiwi Minis... and a dhow, ETNZ Although rival teams are In terms of the Volvo Ocean Race topping the TP52s, GP42s gather paiuhilly aware that Alinghi New Zealand watch-leader MARK jft momentum, 'Nicho' starts his next have yet to race their new 'CRUSTY' CHRISTENSEN is now ^ Volvo Ocean Race campaign and SUI 91, there was an air of nothing short of a phenomenon 'IJt IRC continues to gather steam in the optimism in Valencia after the _ USA. PATRICE CARPENTIER, first of i ROB MUNDLE, FVOR WILKINS, 2006. Many teams from the 38 Awards and bricl(bats CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS 'lower orders' were winning After 30 years of reporting on round- races they were expected to the-world races (and the 'odd' month sail¬ ^ - - ^ lose and it seems the perfor­ ing in them) our reporter has his own list of 24 Rod Davis mance level of the bulk of tlie ACC fleet is indeed levelling prizewinners in the 2005/6 Volvo Ocean Race Of better food and housing and the Green Party's out as has been hoped for. battle over narcotics... Nevertheless, as Jason Ker 41 Rebel with a cause makes clear (pg30), appear­ JUAN KOUYOUMDJIAN is way too cool to 27 Olympic and small boat news ances can be deceptive and the big teams are still well ahead in ever claim 'I told you so', but his success in - Form an orderly queue the Volvo Ocean Race must feel well overdue terms of rigs and probably foils The latest foiler Moth design is now in where the differences are more production - and in a big way subde; in the final analysis next 44 En guard! year it is these subdeties that At last Alinghi have 'apparently' got a race on will almost certainly make the 48 Design killer difference rather than their hands as the 2007 teams put their new boats novel hull configurations. in the water. But will it last? TIM JEFEERY -Taken for granted However, event organisers His quest for a better multihull mainsheet ACM have good reason to 46 Rock and roll system took TORBJORN LINDERSON to celebrate: not only have they Harken's test facilities in Pewaukee, Wisconsin lifted the spectacle of 'the Emirates are relieved to be show' onto a higher plain, but back in the Cup game - TERRY HUTCHINSON it seems that the combination 50 Seahorse raceboat build table of a now mature ACC rule and some modest tweaking two REGULARS - Pragmatic option? years ago has produced a boat ERIK LEROUGE has this tidy and fast-looking format that ensures no one will 4 Gommodore's letter new 50ft racer-cruiser cat off and ready to go have it too easy. Tfie goal of DAVID AISHER ACM widi the 2007 event was to make the first European 52 RORG news America's Cup the greatest 7 Editorial Cup ever and they are on ANDREW HURST course to succeed in almost 65 Seahorse race calendar every respect (bar Valencia's 8 Update disappointingly soft breezes). 66 Sailor ofthe Month As well as producing an event 2008 is when we reconvene for the next Volvo that is peerless as a business-to- Ocean Race, as will an even more spectacular fleet Two new sailing legends... now it's over to you! business opportunity, the maturity of the ACC rule means that every team sponsor, Another box rule success whether it is +39 or Emirates story {sorry - Ed), Dubai's Team New Zealand, has a shot dhow racing fleet is at a spell of glory. Even the tliriving at present with current perennial underdog, numerous new boats , are now in the including a maiden design win-win situation of being from New Zealander Brett apparently stuck so firmly at Bakeweil White. With a the bottom of the pecking total sail area of around order that the merest glimpse 2,000ft2ona44fthull, of a race win and they will be and under 4ft from keel to golden. Now for SUI 91... gunwhale, the boats are challengmg when the breeze perks up. Unbal­ COVER: lasted, hulls tend to be Luca Viliata changed more thian ngs INSET: - hopefully no indicator Oskar Kihiborg/Volvo for the future oftheTP52s Lt»^^!^Uj^^•^^September 2006

FEATURES Commodores' Cup and bravo... to , ROGER NILSON and crew for taking 32 Eyes right Orange II to not one but two major new sailing It was straight back under cover of the skirts and records. Plus RORC commodore DAVID awnings at the end of the official racing of the AISHER sets out an organiser's point of view 2006 ACC season, but not before Emirates Team New Zealand had scored an impressive run of results and offered a taster of what to expect in 17 World news 2007. TIM JEFFERY reports from Valencia A first sail on the mighty Groupama 3, is it true that God is French, Bruno's Atlantic Express, a 36 Nice vintage successful debut for Deauville International Week, Crusty gets his prize (and goes all 'tech' on TERRY HUTCHINSON got a five-day break as us), Juan K's dim views on dumbing down, the part of Grant Dalton's legendary 'generous Brunei team will try anything... the Ben Lexcen Darwin would be proud rewards package' at Emirates TNZ - and he used You couldn't make it up: after legend lives on and the (rather slow) Centennial some of it to pen his Seahorse Valencia diary... all the hype of 'professional' Newport-Bermuda Race. PATRICE CARPEN­ teams bringing super-cool (and TIER, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS, they are) custom IRC boats to 39 The way forward CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS the Commodores' Cup, the GLENN BOURKE could not have been more winners sailed home to in some comfort on their well- prompt or forthright with his announcement 27 Paul Gayard about the next Volvo Ocean Race. Here he prepared production designs. Reflects upon an important goal achieved and on explains the logic behind his planned changes When this result coincided the pleasures of 'hanging out'... (or trying to) with a run of top IRC places for production designs in the Newport-Bermuda Race (aside 41V070 Technology review ^28 ORG Golumn from some mosdy size-related - Part I •\ And the TP52's unofficial little sis' gets blips), UNCL and die RORC, BATTENS - \ itself off to a cracking start owners of IRC, must have breathed a litde more easily Sail-batten technology has made (adnally they were not breath­ huge strides in recent years but 30 Olympic and small boat ing all that easily because of an nowhere have advances been tested onslaught on their race-man­ more severely than in the latest #news-70 years young agement by some sore losers). Volvo Ocean Race. RUSSELL rMy, how those National 12s {inset) These results take some heat out BELBEN investigates JI^Eave changed over the years... GRAHAM of the IRC racer/racer-cruiser CAMM, BIM DASER, PHIL MORRISON debate, but also add focus to HALYARD LOCKS and GAVIN WILLIS the way that big-boat sailing is quietly sorting itself out Slowly trickling down from the largest raceboats, without excessive intervention. halyard locks are becoming increasingly familiar 47 Design At the very top there now sit on offshore yachts. PAUL SNAPE explains some the America's Cup and the of the development driven by the VO70 fleet - Worth a second look, Part 1 Volvo Ocean Race, two epic Looks mad... but give it a little more time: NEAL sailing contests reconfigured as PAWSON has put a great deal into researching 'major sporting events', 44 TAKEN FOR GRANTED his outwardly radical OUT95 design, and there perhaps with less day-to-day - PART II is some smart thinking to be found in the mix relevance to the mainstream enthusiast, but with huge and TORBJORN LINDERSON concludes his search growing importance to the for a better fast-action mainsheet system in 50 Seahorse racehont build table corporate entertainment and conjunction with Harken's engineering team B2B market. And from that - More to come market flows money, sailing ADRIAN KONYNENDYK and JORT VAN jobs and technology; and from REGULARS SISSEREN describe their new ORC GP42, for that flow benefits to everyone which a fast-growing class appears to await in the sport. At the other 4 Gommodore's letter extreme, just above club racing DAVID AISHER and local racing systenis, sits 52 RORG news IRC, and on an increasingly international scale. People can 7 Editorial once again take their cruiser- ANDREW HURST 65 Seahorse race calendar racers around the world and enjoy decent racing against similar boats and sailors. In 10 Update 66 Sailor ofthe Month between we have the open Bonjour... to the winners of the 2006 Rolex And a brainy line-up for you this month... classes and an epidemic of giant record-chasing multihulls, The Orma 60 may with tiny budgets compared to be going through the AC and Volvo but at least one of its perennial as exciting for the enthusiast crises but when the 5 and dripping with innovations boats are this good for all. Outstanding result! you just know that somehow they will COVER: pull through. Marc Turner However, a turnout INSET: of just four boats for Gilles Martin-Raget a recent IVlultiCup event did set a few people thinking... October 2006

FEATURES east with Hong Kong-based FRANK PONG 30 And the show goes on 17 World news The burgers of Kiel were treated to an America's Another good week for the Bourgnon family, Cup all of their own recently. TIM JEFFERY bridesmaids again for Défi , a thriving new 50-foot circuit in Auckland, and not a bad 31 Time to pacic one in the Med... Langman slows it down to Emirates Team New Zealand is on the move Hobart, the kids get some sunshine and Disney once again - after a quietly encouraging makes a movie... PATRICE CARPENHER, European season. TERRY HUTCHINSON CARLOS PICH, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS and DOBBS DAVIS 32 Sunny side up Wouldn't you be smiling? Or how LUC GELLUSSEAU stays cheerful! 26 Rod Davis Perhaps the most interesting These days it seems that everyone wants to be a revelation dm-ing the first trials 34 New world - new rules sailing coach... if only it were that simple of 's new giant Groupama 3 is that in light air Groupama 3 is not just 'another' big tri, it is the she was barely any slower than first of a new breed. We talk to designers VAN 28 Olympic and small boat news her super-developed Orma 60 PETEGHEM and LAURIOT PREVOST about - Somewhere in a darkened stablemate Groupama 2 - the the boat and to FRANCK CAMMAS about easy pick of the current Orma Orma versus the G-Class laboratory crop... especially in light air! The C-Class is not dead, it is simply rest­ Even G3's designers were ing. But in 2007 NORMAN WIJKER slighdy surprised at how 38 Virtual reality will once again lead the technically efficient their new creation was Back on two hulls and Orange II - after all, there have been powerful Invictus Syndicate (inset) were fortunate to make it to the ihack into the lion's den with some plenty of quite public conclusion of their recent Adantic reminders of how relatively new toys inefficient a typically sticky record run. ROGER NILSON G Class can be against smaller 46 Design-Worth a second and more efficient rivals until 43 V070 Technology review they hit full power in 10-12kt ;^ook-Part2 of wind. The performance of -Part2 Having dreamed up an interesting new keelboat G3 in higher winds is taken as Seventy per cenr lighter, less fatigue and easier to concept NEAL PAWSON knew that to obtain read - the VPPs continue up to maintain, PHIL ANNISS looks behind the success a flatwater maximum speed of any worthwhile data the boat itself had to be of PBO rigging in the 2005/6 Volvo Ocean Race over 47kt, but it is in light to immaculately executed. And on a 'budget' medimn conditions, traversing between weather systems, that REGULARS this new boat is likely to prove 50 Seahorse raceboat build table most spectacular and where 4 Commodore's letter - Rollin' she will doubdess make the Fresh on the back of a successful Cowes Week biggest impact on existing DAVID AISHER sailing records. Although very with his custom IRC 39 Mariners Cove MARK much a scaled-up Orma 60, 7 Editorial MILLS is launching the first of his Turkish-built Groupama 3 does not share MAT 12 production IRC cruiser-racers ANDREW HURST the same square-planform as this was not judged necessary for sail-carrying power nor 10 Update 52 RORC news particularly efficient in terms of ROHAN VEAL did not win the 2006 'Flying' Moth build-weight versus acceptable rigidity. Nevertheless, with a world championship... but he came pretty close 65 Seahorse regatta calendar beam of some 75ft on an over­ having led into the final day. He has a full report on all length of 105ft this is still a not just the racing but also the technical and pohtical 66 Sailor ofthe Month huge boat and yet unloaded developments in the class. Plus the view from the G3 weighs in at just 16 tonnes East and west, beauty and the beast... you decide compared to nearly 30 tonnes dry weight for Orange II. In What's the saying spite of the lower displacement about the three the loads on G3 will still of most useless course be enormous - things to take wilh particidarly as there is facility you lo sea? The to add two tonnes of water Copa dei Rey was ballast aft in the main hull for line selling forlhis pushing hard downwind; in impromptu flying good conditions an 850-mile display by no less a day looks very possible for persona than a full Cammas's new boat... And Admiral of the there are three new G-Classes (at Spanish Navy who (5 least two of them tris) akeady nevertheless on the way. Fantastique! forgot the age-old dictum to 'never COVER: stand inside the load angle'. The Yvan Zedda/Groupama filling TP52 chute INSET: Nico plus sheet between o Martinez/Breitiing the legs did the rest ^ November 2006

ONORATO goes head-to-head with Mr de Ridder for the 'global' owner-driver award, the first T-foil 28 Last orders please 18 foot skiff gets airborne... in , ISAF's There is still just about enough time left for some DAVE KELLETT thinks Qingdao is doing just fine major changes in Cup World. TIM JEFFERY (thank you) and the GP42 Class gains momentum

29 Home again 15 World news Emirates' afterguard coach ROD DAVIS is back The 2008 Vendée Globe goes (frankly) loopy with with a New Zealand - or 'home' - America's Cup yet more new boat announcements (including Kito team for the first time in more than 12 years de Pavant, inset), the Figaro finds itself a new superstar. New Zealand looks to the future, 32 Reviewing the state of the art DE RIDDER keeps rollin' on, more surgery for Here they come In the first part of our latest look at canting Wharo's pride... a vintage Hamilton Island, '28-days and I'm about done,' keel technology SP Technologies' senior STP 65 class launches and a windy Big says ABN Amro slapper Mike engineer TOM COWAN Boat Series. PATRICE CARPENTIER, Sanderson of marathons like establishes some ground rules CARLOS PICH, ROB the Vendée Globe. While MUNDLE, WOR WILKINS Sanderson, who has ordered a and DOBBS DAVIS new Open 60 to be built at 36 Nothing new under the Cooksons to a Juan Kouyoumdjian design, has sun (maybe) - Part 1 26 Olympic and small boat ruled himself out of the 2008 Tandem keels may remain simply a Vendée it is not impossible that good rumour for this America's Cup cycle, news-lots to think about his sponsor, Pindar, may enter but we feel that it is time to look in more TIM JEFFERY and ANDY RICE report their boat with another depth at the fundamentals of the concept itself. back from Qingdao where the next Olympic skipper. And while Sanderson DAVE HOLLOM Regatta promises a worthy mix of conditions... win not race the Vendée, there is a queue of those keen to do so, plenty of whom are now 39 Offshore dinghy sailing... why not? 46 Design-Speed sells finding the money to pay for PAUL LARSEN and PETE GOSS looked stellar The Storm Trysail Club's original 65-foot box the dream. Just as we thought in this year's Two-handed Round Britain Race rule has come on some recently and the final w^e had an idea of the line-up until a spot of carbon bother interrupted product now looks both faster and much more for the next Vendée, so there is appealing. DOBBS DAVIS catches up with a burst of new boat announce­ progress. But in the grand scheme of things they ments from top Figaro racers feel that they have still made an important point Farr Yacht Design's JIM SCHMICKER such as Kito de Pavant and Armel Le Cléac'h. The last 48 Seahorse raceboat build table Vendée Globe in 2004/5 was a 43 V070 Technology review close race among the leading -Part 3 - Gleaner than clean three Open 60s - the previous ROBERT HILL of McMurdo Safety Systems By reverting to a continuous rig configuration event a fight to the finish looks at some recent technological advances in - albeit in modern guise - SCOTT VOGEL thinks between the leading two; next time around there is the locating - and recovering - a crew lost overboard carbon now offers an excellent rigging solution prospect of at least 12 and possibly as many as 15 boats 50 RORG news going into the event with the potential to win. Such an entry REGULARS And the Artemis campaign is off to a solid start of serious competitors has in turn upped interest from 4 Gommodore's letter potential sponsors, with DAVID AISHER 51 Seahorse letters commercial interest spreading beyond regional promotions 7 Editorial Is it now time to re-write those Special Regs? and into national and perhaps soon international brands. For ANDREW HURST sailing, the implication of this 65 Seahorseregiitu calendar rush of support and therefore 8 Update boat development is likely to With his first world title VINCENZO be a wholesale step-up in 66 Sailor ofthe Month Open 60 performance - even as There'll be no cheese and no surrender... it looked like the boats were approaching their limits back in 2004. At the top, offshore sailing is now all about line honours, speed and spectacle, while for the Corinthian there is one design and IRC - the international expansion of which continues apace. In time a Grand Prix Rule will clearly be needed to bridge the gap - but perhaps not just yet

COVER: Sh*t happens, and sometimes it liappens big. Santa Ana helmsman Stuart Robinson was originally called Benoit across Bribon by his tactician and once the true situation became clear... well how often does your crew Stichelbaut/DPPI practice a panic bear-away? Actually, considering how close the racing has been and the size of the TP52 INSET: Philippe Schiller fleet it is perhaps a relief (though not to HRH's leeward trimmer) that such incidents have been so rare... (Contents December 2006

FEATURES 24 Rod Davis 36 Worthy of mention A good year for the chief coach to Emirates TNZ and New Zealand Olympic yachting, but there's Tfie victory of Peter de Ridder's Mean Machine always time to make a litde study of the past... team in the Breitling MedCup was impressive enough, but there was plenty else of note on this year's TP52 circuit, as DEE SMITH explains 26 Olympic and small boat news - To Weymouth... and beyond 39 Nothing new under the sun The case for considering a new one-design (maybe) - Part 2 foiler for future Olympic status is compelling, suggests Moth champion ROHAN VEAL So if it wasn't a twin keel or canard that BMW Oracle were testing this summer, then what was New Zealanders Hamlsh it... DAVE HOLLOM pulls together the evidence 28 America's Gup Pepper and Carl Williams and offers some suggestions Roll up for your slice of Cup history - plus round the ieewaid mark in Emirates Team New Zealand designer San Fk'ancisco enroute to 42 Much (of value) to digest - Part I MARCELINO BOTIN talks to TIM their first Star world tiUe JEFEERY about the challenges of designing a For New Zealand Olympic Ear from reaching a plateau, 70 years on and the fast ACC boat... while still staying in business manager Rod Davis dus has International 14 class continues to probe new been a pretty good few weeks avenues of development. ANDY RICE talks to with New Zealand sailors TREVOR BAYLIS about this year's 33 The 2008 Volvo Ocean Race scoring well at recent Olympic winning set-ups o class events, capped off with -closing down the box m O Pepper and Williams' success in The Volvo Open 70 Rule has just O the most prestigious of all small D received its first major makeover boat world championships. REGULARS i Meanwhile, wearing his other -JAMES DADD explains o hat as afterguard coach of 4 Gommodore's letter D. Emirates Team New Zealand, DAVID AISHER < 44 Design-A different kind > it has also been a good month CO UJ for Davis, the first public of rhythm r) O sighting of Emirates' new ACC 7 Editorial PAUL BIEKER and DAVID WOODLEY o < design, NZL 92, confirming ANDREW HURST ^ke us through the development and that the team is sufficiendy construction of Bieker's innovative new pleased with its design Ian Franklin-built 50ft 'serious modern philosophy, after a good 10 Update European ACC season in 2006, TERRY HUTCHINSON attends an important performance yacht', the Riptide 50 to have stayed faithful to it boat launch, CHRIS DICKSON talks to HEIKE with their second new boat. SCHWAB about the task ahead and PATRICE 48 Seahorse raceboat build table Taking the longer view, the results of Davis's small boat CARPENTIER reflects on the first 18 months for -Where will it end? squad are perhaps the more the fast-growing Class 40. Plus, play spot the human VINCENT LAURIOT-PREVOST offers a sneak significant for national sailing preview of some of the technology planned for morale in the land of the long (lucky) Pascal Bidégorry's new Banque Populaire white cloud. While Kiwi sailors 15 World news have dominated big boat racing Banque Pop Vis going to blow your mind... Route for 20 years, coincidentally. du Rhum sets new records (again), Breitling Med­ 50 RORG news New Zealand has been steadily Cup wrap-up, Rolf Vrolijk on TP52 design, Pepper slipping down the rankings in and Williams give Kiwis something to smile about, the Olympic classes. There have will he, won't he... Crichton might be moving on, 65 Seahorse regatta calendar been medals, certainly, but and the first New York 42 arrives in the USA. usually won by the maverick PATRICE CARPENTIER, CARLOS PICH, ROB geniuses, radier than through 66 Sailor ofthe Month MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS and DOBBS DAVIS the efforts of any structured At the top of their game... not yet, we suspect squad system (similar, in fact, to the situation in British sailing prior to the birth in 1997 of a ..I lottery-funded national sailing team). Many of the best-known Kiwi sailors are now looking at the second, 'quieter' stage of their careers, so it is essential to the future of New Zealand's second most important sport that a new generation of Coutts, Dicksons and Blakes starts to emerge. Hopefully a strong New Zealand Olympic presence and a revitalised Team New Zealand will now begin to feed off each other. Sailing will be the better for it.

How smart (lucky) was Graham Dalton to damage his magt ashore,^lelayir^ his startJn the Vélux 5 - COVER: Jan Pehrson Oceans? This is Alex Thomson leaving Bilbao inlo*lB teeth of a full AtlaritTc gale, resultin^^st like the o INSET: Volvo start from Vigo 12 months earlier - in several boats including Thomson's Hugo Soss being forced Andrew IVIcDougall back for repair within the first 36 hours. Race-promoter and entrant Sir Robin Knox-JohnstonT/nsef with Thomson) won the original Sunday Times Golden Globe in 1967 when all around hifnlilfapart...