Above: the writing is on the wall though not yet completely legible. David Raison points his original Magnum scow prototype upwind against a conventional ‘skiff’ Mini 6.50 for one of the first times back in 2010. Raison had worked on the Magnum design since 2006 before building the prototype himself – he then skippered the first example to an easy win in the 2011 Mini Transat. It was only after the success of the first ‘big nose’ that Raison decided to switch career from ship and offshore platform engineering to yacht design. Left: after his Mini Transat success Raison joined the SEAir foiling programme in Lorient, where his Magnum became one of the first flying prototypes. The ‘be-foiled’ Magnum was a complex beast with eight separate sensor systems, a sophisticated control system and at times as many as seven different moveable appendages. A complex and inevitably weighty beast, it often flew surprisingly well
pos sible to produce this kind of boat and still be close to the minimum.’ In the same yard another Lift40 V2 lift is beginning soon but using conventional construction.
Only! ‘Only’ 55 Class40s will be accepted for the Route du Rhum this winter. The creation of a selection structure was made essential, in the same way as happened with the Mini 6.50 Class, because the demand for the singlehanded transat is so great – just as for the Mini Transat where not all the applicants are necessarily accepted at the start. So in the interests of sporting fairness each class established a selection procedure. Catherine Pourre – whose latest Class40, the Mach40.3 #143
was winner of the 2019 championship, and who is going soon to order a new model – is on the board of directors of the Class40 and has been appointed spokesman for the selection committee for the Route du Rhum. She explains the selection process: 1. We asked the Rhum organisers for 70 places and we got 55 (there were 53 Class40s in the 2018 edition). 2. We drew up a selection system (not to be confused with ‘qual- ification’ which is the responsibility of the organiser) which was published in mid-2019. It can be found on the class website. This will be applied if, and only if, on 31 March there are more than 55 Class40s on the entry list with a waiting list. In this case the selection committee will be the decision-making body of last resort. 3. As with the Imocas for the Vendée Globe, new boats get a ‘bye’ into the race; all Class40s from #162 onward (Max40 Project Ocean) are included. Boats must also have a Class40 number by 31 March. My estimate is we’re talking about 20 such new boats. 4. The mandatory races for selection and the mileage requirements are on the Class40 website. Be careful, once again, not to confuse
selection (made by the class) and qualification which is the respon- sibility of the organisation. The selection races run from early 2020 until 31 March 2022. The races or qualifying courses that are of primary interest to the new boats launched more recently are decided by the Rhum committee and include the Drheam Cup in July.
Enfin! Luke Berry had a remarkable season on his Mach40.3 #153 Lamotte Creation Module. After a scalpel operation last winter at Charlie Capelle’s shipyard, to modify the bow of the boat facing the arrival of the Scows, this sailor, born in Australia but of British parents and resident in France for a long time, finished on the podium of a highly competitive 2021 Class40 Championship. Actu- ally, he was never beaten by another 40-footer other than a Scow. Despite these gratifying results Luke decided early in 2021, with
the support of his partners, to be the first customer to order from JPS Production a new Mach40.5 designed by Sam Manuard. ‘I didn’t want to be in the same situation I was in at the last Route du Rhum, when I was one of the last buyers of a Mach40.3,’ says Luke. The idea of this new boat –whose mould has just been completed
by Charlie Capelle – is to eliminate the weak points of the Mach40.4 (Manuard’s first Scow design) and to exploit its strengths. ‘We did a lot of pre-design work using CFD and Sam’s VPPs,’ says Luke. ‘I was in the loop at the design office throughout… I am particularly proud to have made them rethink their deck layout!’ (laughing). ‘Launch is scheduled for May and I will do all the races of the season starting with the Normandy Channel Race.’ Luke explains his choice: ‘The Max40 [Raison design] goes well
from 0 to 8kt and in strong downwind conditions. The Mach40.4 is most comfortable in a wind range of 12-20kt. Sam (Manuard) has made sure to expand this range of optimum performance.’
SEAHORSE 21
FRED AUGENDRE/DPPI/ALAMY
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