An astonishing number of new IMOCA 60s are being launched for the next Vendée Globe, with eight splashing last year and more to come, along with an accelerated updating of existing boats. A stark indication of the speed of evolution is that the boat which holds the Vendée Globe course record set in 2018 (ex-Banque Populaire VIII) is now Pip Hare's Medallia. Yet so much has changed she reckons it's currently outclassed in design terms by two dozen others.
That will change for Medallia next season, after UK boatbuilder Jason Carrington fits bigger foils and slices off the front 2m of the hull to create more of a scow bow shape. If the latter sounds drastic, bigger budget teams have been more aggressive. Kevin Escoffier's new PRB, which was originally built for an entry in The Ocean Race, had the front 4.5m chopped off for restyling. PRB's new bow shape reduces wetted surface area, while still providing key scow bow advantages of increased form stability and a softer landing when you plough into the wave in front, or fall off the foils.
Minimising these potentially enormous decelerations should make life easier for skippers - every time the boat slows from 30 knots to 20 the apparent wind shift necessitates re-trimming sails, which takes a huge amount of effort and attention. Maintaining a consistent pace also significantly reduces the risk of damage.
THE BULL IS BACK
Esta historia es de la edición January 2023 de Yachting World.
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Esta historia es de la edición January 2023 de Yachting World.
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TAKING OWNERSHIP
WILL BRUTON ON UPSKILLING ON BOARD
SPECIAL REPORT
DAN HOUSTON ON CHANGES TO THE SHIPPING FORECAST
NAVIGATION BRIEFING
TOM CHENEY ON RACING ACROSS THE CHANNEL
NEW YACHTS
SOME EXCITING, AND VERY DIFFERENT, NEW 40-FOOTERS
21ST CENTURY TWINS
RM'S DISTINCTIVE NEW FLAGSHIP OFFERS AN ENTICING COMBINATION OF GOOD SAILING QUALITIES, SPACIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND TWIN KEELS AS STANDARD
UNLIKELY HERO
A CROSS-EUROPE ADVENTURE IN A 10FT DINGHY SEES SANDY MACKINNON NEARLY COME A CROPPER OFF WHITSTABLE’S MUD FLATS
HER OWN WAY
COLE BRAUER IS THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN TO SAIL SOLO NON-STOP AROUND THE WORLD. HELEN FRETTER FINDS OUT HOW SHE’S SHAKING THINGS UP
THE MIGHTY ESSEQUIBO
JAMES AND JAYNE PEARCE DISCOVER THEIRS IS THE ONLY YACHT IN THE COUNTRY CRUISING REMARKABLE GUYANA
CAPE NORTH
CRUISING BEYOND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, JANNEKE KUYSTERS AND WIETZE VAN DER LAAN ENJOY A SURPRISING SUMMER IN NORWAY
DOWN WINDING
WHICH DOWNWIND SAILS ARE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU? AND HOW DO YOU TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF SAIL HANDLING ON A TRADEWIND PASSAGE? TOBY HODGES QUIZZED MORE THAN 240 SKIPPERS IN LAST YEAR'S ARC TO FIND OUT