March 2017

FEATURES

Personnel critical
A crew may not be a deciding factor in winning the America’s Cup but they can certainly lose it. KEN READ introduces his new Cup column…

Tick tock
IAN WALKER debates just how late a team can risk leaving it to start a Volvo Ocean Race campaign for the 2017-2018 edition

When heads need banging together
ROB WEILAND says that some well advised government intervention would not go amiss in offshore racing

The first gold – Part I
TIM JEFFERY remembers an extraordinary life with friends and family of the Great Dane

Let the audience in
BLUE ROBINSON talks to LEON SEFTON about some big changes for the already complex role of the Volvo Ocean Race onboard report

Practical steps
How BEN AINSLIE’s America’s Cup campaign is leading the field in taking care of the pitch…

Comeback
PATRICE CARPENTIER and MICHEL DESJOYEAUX revisit the ‘scene’ of one of the great singlehanded ocean racing performances

Be afraid!
The Dynamic Stability System has moved in from the lunatic fringe… GORDON KAY reviews the progress and acceptability that have been achieved

Unclipping the wings
JAMES BOYD clambers inside some of today’s new AC Class wings… metaphorically speaking

TECH STREET

The (furling) revolution continues
Just in time for the next Volvo Ocean Race, Future Fibres have completed final testing of their new TorqueLite 2.0 furling cables, which should make the writhing foredeck python a little easier to bring under control when you are bouncing around and holding on tight down in the Southern Ocean (as will now be the case once again in 2017/18)

Same features smaller package
Between them Morrelli & Melvin and Hudson Yachts have created another fine-looking big cat, this one with the emphasis on a fast but safe boat that is manageable without the need for professional crew. Yet somehow ‘pound for pound’ it has come out relatively faster than the big sister that preceded it

REGULARS

Commodore’s letter
MICHAEL BOYD

Editorial
ANDREW HURST

Update
The incredible MONSIEUR JOYON, time-out in Bermuda, a new TP52 threatens and those Banque Populaire amenities in full. JACK GRIFFIN, ARMEL LE CLEAC’H,TERRY HUTCHINSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER

World news
THOMAS COVILLE redefines the solo game, JO ALEH looks offshore, the gentlest of (fast) Hobarts, Key West shines on and ARMEL battles metal fatigue (as well as ALEX THOMSON). IVOR WILKINS, BLUE ROBINSON, PATRICE CARPENTIER, DOBBS DAVIS

Paul Cayard – Great for the sport
Something really good has been going on down in Nassau…

World Sailing – A rigorous partnership
Tokyo 2020 qualification! ALASTAIR FOX

IRC column – In good shape
It was 20 years ago today… JAMES DADD

Design – Flying oldies
‘Cabinet GSEA’ in Brittany are to date the only engineers to have converted a 2012-generation Imoca 60 to foiling. DAMIEN DOYOTTE

Seahorse build table – Little beauty
PETE MELVIN introduces Morrelli & Melvin’s (very cool) new TF10 folding foiler trimaran

RORC news
EDDIE WARDEN-OWEN

Sailor of the Month
Kindred spirits underneath