FEATURES

Silent heroes – Part II
The story of BMW Oracle's wing rig was surely also the story of the 33rd America's Cup itself. The team's build directors TIM SMYTH and MARK TURNER pick up a remarkable story

Obsession
No other way to describe it... as JOCELYN BLERIOT talks trimarans with CHARLIE CAPELLE!

Turn of the tide?
The best CFD tools are in no way cheap but they are fast. Fast enough to be an affordable solution for smaller design firms? KAI GRAF believes it is the tank and the wind tunnel that are now looking expensive

Ten years! – Part II
PETER JOHNSTONE describes development of Gunboat's rapid-looking new NIGEL IRENS 60-footer and also offers an early taster of a mouthwatering trimaran that he has on his desk

REGULARS

Commodore's letter
ANDREW MCIRVINE

Editorial
ANDREW HURST

Update
Independence Day with the HUTCHINSONS, NIGEL IRENS finds new uses for those Orma 60 moulds, BLUE ROBINSON finds goodness among the crush, DON STREET and a 53-year partnership. Plus DOBBS DAVIS on rating chat!

World news
Sending out an SOS, a new boat for Le Président, the unbeatable Safran, Elliott 7s launched in Auckland, HAROLD BENNETT is still smiling, McConaghy widens the net (further), MCINTYRE gets his yacht back and the ever more complicated Newport-Bermuda. PATRICE CARPENTIER, IVOR WILKINS, CARLOS PICH, ROB MUNDLE and DOBBS DAVIS

Paul Cayard
AC34 – still a lot to decide and it certainly ain't going to be cheap... but definitely so far so good

IRC column
JAMES DADD explains the logic behind the rule...

Olympic and small boat news – New look
The CLARKE and BJORN team are doing a good job of selling the new PStar. Plus LYNN FITZPATRICK catches up with Australia's... VICTOR KOVALENKO

Design
– Gaining (serious) credibility
HUGH WELBOURN's Dynamic Stability System has just moved up a notch as LOUAY HABIB discovers

Seahorse build table
– Style and substance?
GIULIANO LUZZATO talks to leading Italian designer MAURIZIO COSSUTTI

RORC news
– More sailing less sitting
EDDIE WARDEN OWEN on the rapid growth of interest in two-handed offshore racing

Seahorse regatta calendar

Sailor of the Month
Same racing team... but very different skill sets

Below: Taking no prisoners here is French solo skipper Fred Rivet, flat out downwind on his Marc Lombard designed Figaro 2 during the recent Quiberon Solo (formerly the Course des Falaises). During a lighter moment (inset) but under no less pressure was former Mini 6.50 star Isabelle Joschke, here trying to untie herself having attacked this rounding mark just a little too aggressively...