Editorial Andrew Hurst Whole new world
It seems that in spite of France being in an economic battle for survival, many of the nation’s big institutions are rediscovering their taste for ocean sailing adventure – on a grand scale. Entries for the next Vendée Globe are more than healthy, with six new Imoca 60s in build. But even 18 months before the Vendée starts, in November 2016, momentum is already building for the sequel. Three of France’s best-known shorthanded sponsors have now committed to building new 100-footers for a planned singlehanded race around the world in the winter of either 2018 or 2019. The latest to sign up is oceanic sailing’s biggest single backer, Banque Populaire, with a new giant trimaran for its skipper Armel Le Cléac’h; planning has started for the new boat to be ready weeks after Le Cléac’h completes the Vendée Globe. Rem ember here that a new Imoca 60 is also going afloat for the same sponsor and skipper before the end of April. That’s commitment.
In addition to these 100-footers there is the existing crop of boats to bulk up the fleet, of which at least one, the ex-Groupama 3, also sponsored by Banque Pop, should remain competitive for some time. The older boats like Idec 2and Sodebowill enter the new era aware that their best hopes against the latest designs will lie in really bad weather… note here that today’s biggest solo racers have yet to encounter the kind of storm that destroyed most of the Orma 60 fleet in the 2002 Route du Rhum and many of the previous-generation giant multihulls during the 1986 edition. Sodebo, in any event, will shortly announce a new 100-footer to join François Gabart’s latest Macifand Banque Populaire IX. For multihull designers and builders things have not been this exciting since the demise of the Orma 60 fleet 10 years ago. Alongside the radical developments we will soon see with the latest Imoca 60 foils, similar developments will evolve among the new Ultimes – with leading multihull designers also able to access levels of funding currently limited to a few Cup teams. Similarly for the best builders who, with the many tens of thousands of man-hours required of these big boats, will shortly be on a hiring spree.
Of course, it’s not all good. The new Ultimes may overshadow smaller classes and prove detrimental to young skippers trying to secure sponsorship. On the other hand, the big sponsors are excellent at exploiting their investment, so multihull sailing can expect a boost similar to that seen at the last America’s Cup. (Very) exciting times ahead.
No more secrets could still be turned off between scheds.
Similarly in earlier races, when the maxis ruled the waves, there was meant to be a regular transmission of the fleet positions by race HQ, gathered from Argos transmitters on all the boats. That worked until one boat put a saucepan over its Argos beacon – a move soon copied by rivals.
But, with AIS required to be on at all times, the opportunities for surprise strategies have disappeared. The 2014-15 fleet generally follow each other around within a few miles. So handy for the latecomers but less good for the experienced teams. All is not lost, however. During the last race nearly all the boats turned their AIS off whenever possible. But, whether by design or accident, one VO70 left its transmitter on for the entire race. Yet in spite of waiving any claim to tactical confidentiality, Franck Cammas and Groupama won the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race overall… and at their first attempt.
Brilliant fellow
Best sailing news of the month was confirmation of the imminent launch by foiler Moth godfather Andrew ‘A-Mac’ McDougall of his new Waszp budget foiler. Constructed in GRP, with aluminium for heavily loaded components, McDougall’s new creation will go afloat for around half the cost of his brilliant but expensive carbon Mach 2.
Talking to current Volvo crews it is clear that what has changed the face of the latest race as much as the introduction of a one- design has been the mandatory use of the Automatic Identification System (AIS). In the previous race all boats carried AIS but they
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Dobbs Davis is the MC as the great and the good gather at Seahorse’s popular big boat seminar during Quantum Key West Race Week in January. The general conclusion… too many rules
Many, many more sailors want to have a serious go at foiling but few want to risk the money required to experiment in today’s Moth fleet. The Waszp will open foiling up to a whole new market, especially those aspiring younger sailors to whom a Mach 2 remains just a dream. Brilliant initiative, brilliant concept.
It wasn’t a gamble, I’m amazed the other teams
didn’t go north with us – Andrew Cape, Brunel, Leg 4
We were the bricklayers of the
Southern Ocean – Dave ‘Dingo’ Rolfe recalls tacking 20-plus sails during the Whitbread maxi era
It would have taken a personal appearance by King Neptune for San Francisco to have considered hosting
the Cup again – CW Nevius, columnist, San Francisco Chronicle
It is a very dangerous boat, I will not sail the
Fastnet with her – Hans Fogh leaves the ‘tippy’ IOR 45 Evergreen, Cowes 1979
Good one to miss – editor
MCENROE MOMENT With winds touching 30kt and waves up to
14ft, the [Volvo] race is living up to its
reputation… – press release MEANWHILE
That was a first for me, but stopping racing was the only way to avoid putting ourselves
in a survival situation – Bernard Stamm, Cheminées Poujoulat
There is trash absolutely everywhere… and then there’s the stuff that
we can’t see – Bouwe Bekking, Brunel, Malacca Strait
Deep Blue is only intelligent the way that your alarm clock is intelligent
– Gary Kasparov, chess world champion
Not that losing to a $10 million alarm clock
makes me feel better – Kasparov is defeated by IBM’s supercomputer in 1997
Seahorse magazine and our associate raceboatsonlybrokerage site are both at:
seahorsemagazine.com The editor is contactable by email at:
andrew@seahorse.co.uk
SEAHORSE 7
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INGRID ABERY
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