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Torbjorn Linderson argues the economic (and performance) case for higher-quality construction in production multihulls

Introduction
Nine years ago Whitbread veteran Magnus Olsson brought high-performance trimaran racing to Sweden in the form of the trimaran First Hotels (ex-Fleury Michon IX), designed by Nigel Irens and originally built in 1988. First Hotels was soon joined by the Thompson-designed Paragon and the VPLP Toshiba, to create Scandinavia's all-new Oops Cup circuit. These boats made a huge impact for both their sponsors and for multihull racing in general, drawing large crowds to watch close racing at over 20kt - in a well-organised, corporate friendly environment.

One of the guests onboard First Hotels was Jan Gapinski, a local 11-Metre and Mumm 36 sailor. In 1999 Jan had decided that it was time to trade up from his ageing 36, so his team had been evaluating bigger boats such as the IMX 40. Faster, yes, but more exciting? Hardly. More like larger, heavier, more expensive, more free beer for the crew on the rail and even less suitable to sail with family and friends.

After a long evening with a friend in a 26ft My-Cat design, making 10kt in almost no wind (but with considerable wine), Jan asked himself what he had been doing for the past 25 years. Multihulls are the future! But when scanning the market for a suitable boat his team didn't find what they were looking for. They wanted performance so they could race their Volvo 60 friends, but with an interior that would still attract the family to come along for fun cruising - which they definitely did not do on the 11-Metre or Mumm 36!

To read the remainder of this article please go to the June 2004 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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