Design - From the hip...

Two months after Ellen MacArthur’s record-breaking finish in the Vendée Globe, Kingfisher co-designer Merfyn Owen analyses the key decisions in a well-rounded project

1. We had the right skipper, with a great attitude, youth, ability and stamina. Her one disadvantage in my mind was lack of grand prix racing and round-the-world experience. But this was relative: by the time the Open 60 project started Ellen had completed several transatlantics and won Class 2 in the Route du Rhum.

2.  A wide-ranging training programme, devised by Mark Turner, built into the budget from the beginning. I think its success was partly due to its range, the fact that Ellen sailed different craft and studied with different people, doing what she does best, soaking up knowledge like a sponge. All important......

For the remainder of this article see the June 2001 edition of Seahorse. 

© 2001 Seahorse Magazine. All rights reserved.