Left: flatter sails, better sails. For their 2012 Vendée programme Hugo Boss elected not to build new again but to optimise an already proven Farr design. With preparation now focused primarily on reliability rather than ultimate pace, Thomson took a solid third place which gave team and sponsor confidence to press the button on a more radical new build, a slimmed-down version (above) of the VPLP-Verdier foilers that dominated the latest round-the-world race – in which Thomson finished as runner-up (with even flatter sails)
than them being radical all-new designs. SH: And the change to a one-design rig? MS: To be honest any time in these devel- opment classes that you have something fixed it actually makes it easier. In the past rig weight, height and so on were all on the table, but this time it was just a choice between a conventional stayed rig or the wing mast. So with the sheeting advantages of the outriggers and the windage gain of the wing, even though I wasn’t involved in that decision I would have assumed it was one of the easier ones to make. SH: This race saw less extreme conditions than some VGs with less sail damage generally across the fleet… MS: Apart from the unavoidable beating this race has often had to face at the start, once they are out in the ocean the speed of these boats now enables them to stay in generally more favourable conditions. Fast boats like the Imocas, Volvo 65/70s and multihulls are able to position themselves in the weather systems to get the amount of wind they want (to a point). So like the multis the Imoca guys are sailing around the world looking for 18-25kt reaching and running. They now have the pace to be able to stay out of the way of a 50kt system – this was best highlighted by JP Dick and Virbac Paprec coming up through Bass Strait pass- ing Australia to avoid heavy weather and stay sailing fast in favourable conditions.
SH: And fixing sail problems on your own with the latest constructions… MS:Well, the good thing about the lighter laminated sails is that you can glue them back together should you have an issue. The plan was always not to have any sail damage of course, but things happen and other bits of the boat can break and cause sail chafe and damage. Nothing is ever easy solo, but for sure it’s got a whole lot easier than it was. I honestly couldn’t tell you exactly what materials and repair tools Alex carried; I do know that we did laminate him up some special Stratis repair material, but from our post-race checks it looks like he didn’t need very much of it. SH:What about sail trim after the foil tip broke away… MS: Alex is a world-class sailor and very clever in these boats – pretty much all his mid-range crossovers would have changed when on port tack. But he adapted OK! SH:Did HB take the right sails? MS:Well, for sure she took the right brand of sails! As to the right ones she had in the quiver, talking to Alex he was very happy and I think the world all saw her pace when she had two working foils. SH: And the right designs… MS: Nothing is ever perfect – the day you think you have worked it all out it’s probably time to retire. So for sure we are looking forward to having another go but,
yes, the team were happy with the designs of all the sails and how they performed. Alex gave us some amazing praise
during and after the race. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of their impressive programme. SH: And the boats themselves… MS: Interesting times… one big question has to be with a T on the rudder will we see the boats fully out of the water? But perhaps an even bigger question is what happens to the existing boats if a new gen- eration of narrower hulls like HB turns up? Personally, I believe the current boats will be OK – things will probably swing back again to wider hulls. They always do. Maybe some of them just need a bunch of Doyle sails… (laughing) SH:Wind the clock back nine months and, apart from adding a bit of carbon to Alex’s foils, what would you have done differently with Hugo Boss? MS: I’m not a big believer in looking back and wondering… I know all the decisions were made with good reason at the time and with plenty of smart people thinking about the problems. We are really looking forward to going on from here, though. Alex has proved that he can win this race and so for sure he deserves another shot at that next time. Working with Alex and the Hugo Boss campaign is a very special opportunity for us.
q SEAHORSE 47
JM LIOT/DPPI
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