Enza crosses the finish line off Ushant in 1994 to win the Jules Verne Trophy, held by Commodore Explorer, dragging anchors, warps, sheets and halyards to slow down in a howling winter storm. The greatest composite yacht ever? (Probably, says the editor). Built by Canadair and Adrian Thompson in 1983 to a Nigel Irens design, she began as Mike Birch’s 80ft Formule Tag. A few years later several people, including our editor, consulted Irens and sought funding to extend the platform to challenge the round-the-world mark. Peter Blake won that race (as usual) and, at his second attempt, the record. There were more names. Today Energy Observer (issue 473) is a hydrogen solar vessel that tools the high latitudes helping us learn stuff… The platform, they say, is solid
