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SO: Initially removing the bow rudder and adding daggerboards, then introducing some sort of horizontal foil. The original thoughts of Ricko, myself, Iain Murray and Steve Quigley were to locate the retractable horizontal foil in the bow area, to generate lift from there in offwind conditions; but as we studied images of the boat sailing in various conditions we realised there was really only one position for it, further back in the middle of the boat.
Interestingly, after we had engineered and installed this foil, we found out that Hugh Welbourn has a patent on his DSS system, which we didn’t know about. So we spoke to Hugh, told him what we were doing and came to an arrangement that we would share some performance data as our system evolved. When talking to Hugh I said I didn’t want to write a contract over this, and he said he didn’t like a contract either – so, as he was in London and I was in Sydney, I said hold your mobile phone in your right hand and I did the same, and so we shook our phone hands together in mid-air as a sign of trust… SH: Does that story perhaps illustrate the philosophy behind your programme? SO: Well, that’s the sort of people we are, Blue. I have never met Hugh but he is a gentleman and loves making boats go faster and we stumbled across the same idea. And in the world of yacht design these things happen. SH: What visual changes will be apparent with this latest rebuild? SO: There will be few obvious differences, just the relationship of the mast to the stem and transom. We have involved Reichel-Pugh and John [Reichel] has confirmed this is a good idea, which gave us confidence.
With his knowledge and what we have learnt about the boat, he has come up with the shape for the new bow section, including some quite subtle changes. We certainly respect what Reichel- Pugh have done in the past, but we’ve also done many modifications that they weren’t aware of because we like to do our own thing! SH: What sort of improvement in performance is predicted… SO: We have some predictions. There are certainly subtle benefits, but until we get back on the water and see them we won’t really know. Any predictions we do give will be low-key, we don’t want to over-promise and under-deliver. So, yes, we are going forwards quietly, but as Ricko says, ‘My gut tells me it’s going to be better.’ SH: Changes to the bulb? SO: Still being debated. With today’s construction technology, as opposed to when she was built 10 years ago, the new bow section will be lighter. And then there is all the surrounding structure from the bow rudder and other components we have tested over the years. So, yes, there will be a weight reduction in the boat – and with 2m off the transom the aft water ballast is also being reduced. We will see where we end up with bulb weight. SH: Changes to the rig? SO: No. Sail plan is the same. Detail changes such as new halyard locks, but the rig stays the same. SH: When would you like to be back in the water? SO: Yesterday… Realistically early December. But we have to be careful we don’t overlook anything and then have to wind the clock back to sort it out. SH: Wild Oats XI has recently completed the Transpac… are any other overseas events planned? SO: No, I don’t think so. Dad and Mark Richards always expressed an interest in trying to break the Transpac record, which was held by Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo, but the weather wasn’t favourable. SH: And so a fascinating project continues to evolve. SO: It is fascinating. People often say to me, ‘You have one of the fastest supermaxis in the world, why do you want to change it?’ Well, we have always changed it. We always look for improvements and always will. The second question they always ask is ‘God forbid that something happened to the boat, but if it did what would you build to replace it?’ And my answer is something almost identical. We think she is a great all-round boat; these newer boats in some conditions are definitely faster, but the averages on the day, with weather systems moving through creating transition zones out on the racetrack, we think we have a great mix.’ Blue Robinson
SEAHORSE 19
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