FEATURES

Stealthy but deadly
Quietly working away in San Diego the design office of Reichel-Pugh has become synonymous with the largest maxi and canting keel designs. ANDREW HURST catches up with JIM PUGH

A race for second...
TIM JEFFERY was in Baltimore as ABN One shrugs off a light air finish to take yet another big bunch of points in the Volvo Ocean Race

Underwater hero
CHRIS NICHOLSON is becoming more famous for his courage and grit in helping save a sinking MoviStar than for his multiple 49er world titles!

The game's 'a changin'
Even experienced race-navigator MARCEL VAN TRIEST has found himself surprised by the performance of the latest Volvo Race fleet

Of Volvo and beyond...
JUAN KOUYOUMDJIAN can reflect on a Volvo 70 design job well done - so now it's obviously time to look at Open 60s (inset) and the Vendée Globe...

All on!
As the big boys start working up their new designs in Valencia what are the realistic prospects for the junior' America's Cup teams? TIM JEFFERY

Launch special
BMW Oracle has got the jungle drums going again with an allegedly relatively' novel underwater configuration on the new USA 87

Chillin'
Team CEO and race skipper CHRIS DICKSON has discovered a new calm... in spite of the huge pressure of expectations on his large ACC team

REGULARS

COMMODORE'S LETTER - DAVID AISHER

EDITORIAL - ANDREW HURST
That 'new' Volvo Ocean Race in full!

Update
JAMES SPITHILL continues to stamp his authority on the Match Race Tour in Brasil, TERRY HUTCHINSON will be glad to start the racing in Valencia, PETER DE RIDDER'S roll continues and ROB MUNDLE catches up with Volvo Race chief measurer JAMES DADD

World News
Areva returns to the Cup, record (new) fleet beckons for the next Vendée, Marc Guillemot gets his new ride, TP52 development, Moose's glorious new company wagon', the motor trade invasion continues and Acura Miami Race Week. MARCELINO BOTIN, PATRICE CARPENTIER, ROB MUNDLE, IVOR WILKINS, CARLOS PICH and DOBBS DAVIS

Rod Davis
And there are plenty of brittle nerves in Valencia

Seahorse letters
A taste of the current' Volvo Ocean Race debate...

Olympic and small boat news
- Black magic
JOHN CLINTON develops the reasoning behind the explosion in composite dinghy spars

Design
- Here come the big guns...
It was only a matter of time before Farr Yacht Design pointed its resources at the IRC.
DOBBS DAVIS and JIM SCHMICKERS

Seahorse raceboat build table
- Nothing's ever simple
BEN HALL and TP52 spar development

RORC news
- IAN WALKER on life after GBR Challenge

Seahorse race calendar

Seahorse Sailor of the Month
Classy veterans' in their fields...