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Extraordinary!
They wanted action for the sponsors and they certainly got it. In spades. TIM JEFFERY reports from Cape Town after the first offshore stage of the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race

Strategy
Navigator and offshore 'routier' WOUTER VERBRAAK reviews the teams' scores on Leg 1

Where next?
NIGEL IRENS thinks that we may finally have to come to terms with calling time on the stiffest carbon raceboat shellst

Smart - and fast enough
PASCAL BIDEGORRY talks with PATRICE CARPENTIER after giving loyal Orma Class sponsor Banque Populaire its first big win

The cats to beat
In the first of a two-part look at America's Cup holders Alinghi we talk with newly-appointed race skipper BRAD BUTTERWORTH

REGULARS

COMMODORE'S LETTER - CHRIS LITTLE

EDITORIAL - ANDREW HURST

Update
TERRY HUTCHINSON reports on a good event but a less-good result at the new Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, PAUL CAYARD describes a very scary start to the Volvo Race for the Pirates and PETER HEPPEL looks at the bigger picture surrounding the engineering of the latest canting-keel raceboats

World News
A quiver of records in the TJV, fresh doubts about Orma, catching up with rising Spanish star ALEX PELLA, RAY HASLAR gains public recognition in Auckland, Alfa Romeo goes tungsten and a look at Key West '06. PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS, CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS

Rod Davis
A hard look at the reality of professional sailing

Olympic and small boat news
Kevlar-built, rotating wingmast, lightweight and offering sparkling and aerodynamically-advanced performance. And it was designed back in the mid-1970s. FRANK BETHWAITE

RORC news
Teething problems... they're to be expected!

Design - Pay attention
Claudio Fassardi and Karsten Hochkirch look at a new approach to 'cutting' the design corner

Seahorse raceboat build tablec - All black
SIMON ROGERS feels it's time to look at all-carbon construction in mid-sized IRC builds

Seahorse race calendar

Seahorse Sailor of the Month
Brains versus beauty... you decide!