A Powerful Ally

A cursory look at the Seahorse Build Table would seem to indicate an upturn in the popularity of offshore box rules, ranging from Transpac 52s to Open 60s and maxZ86s. And this time next year there will undoubtedly be many listings of VO 70 projects for the next Volvo Ocean Race. Meanwhile, the growth of offshore one-design classes seems to have reached a plateau, and there is a dwindling number of custom boats designed for racing under more 'sophisticated' handicap rules such as IMS.

So what is the attraction of box rules in boats at larger sizes when one-design is all the rage among smaller boats? Dobbs Davis recently discussed this growing trend with Britt Ward and Pat Shaughnessy from Farr Yacht Design (FYD), fresh from their work on two new yachts designed to two different box rules. Karl Kwok's latest Beau Geste, a Transpac 52, was completed just in time to start this summer's biennial race to Hawaii, while Jean-Pierre Dick is putting his brand-new Open 60 Virbac through its paces in preparation for the next Vendée Globe.

These two designs were the first the Farr office have undertaken within these rules, though they are hardly new to the box rule game. Besides having designed most of the last Volvo 60 fleet, including overall winner illbruck, FYD also had an instrumental role in helping devise the new VO 70 rule, due for release in the next few months.

To read the remainder of this article please go to the July 2003 edition of Seahorse, available at selected newsstands or by calling: + 44 (0) 1590 671899 or by email at: info@seahorse.co.uk

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