FEATURES

Novice no more
The speed with which ED BAIRD and his Alinghi crew learnt to race their new VX40 catamarans took their 2008 iShares Cup rivals by surprise

Match race around the world?
It was not the pace of this year's Volvo Race fleet that prompted surprise after the first week's racing, it was the closeness in performance. TIM JEFFERY

Up to speed
KEN READ is relishing his first experience as a Volvo Ocean Race skipper... and the sails look nice too!

Scary – but so, so cool
TIM JEFFERY got an exclusive look into the workings of Larry Ellison's magnificent, VPLP designed, 'multihulled' America's Cup machine

Driving daisy
For three-time America's Cup winner RUSSELL COUTTS BMW Oracle's first AC multihull presents an extraordinary learning experience as well as an unfamiliar degree of delegation

Les monstres! - Part II
MARC VAN PETEGHEM and VINCENT LAURIOT PREVOST look at a range of multihull design approaches... including BOR90

Too good to miss
As the entries grew for the 2008 Vendée Globe, so many of the greatest competitors of previous events were drawn back for one more lap. PATRICE CARPENTIER talks Imoca 60 development and Vendée strategy with LOICK PEYRON and MICHEL DESJOYEAUX

REGULARS

Commodore's letter
DAVID AISHER

Editorial
ANDREW HURST

Update
TERRY HUTCHINSON is back in the air, CAPTAIN GARTNER's extraordinary day, BERNTSSON joins the Gold Cup élite and skiff sailing on a budget... yes it can be done (... ISAF)

World news
Vendée Globe preview, from one who knows, DICKSON (ROY) hands back his prizes, MedCup games begin, 'Adios' Enric Puig, Australia aims high for 2012, Ilhabella ticks the boxes and match race fight-back. DOBBS DAVIS, PATRICE CARPENTIER, CARLOS PICH, ROB MUNDLE and IVOR WILKINS

Rod Davis
A good excuse to check the life balance

Olympic and small boat news
– Gold rush
For the second time in eight years sailing coach VICTOR KOVALENKO played a starring Olympic role. Now for one last step up the ladder

Design – Coming of age
The ORC GP42 class is about to begin its third season of competition. DOBBS DAVIS and DANILO FABBRONI catch up on development

Seahorse raceboat build table – Softly softly
Another relative newcomer to be doing well is the RC44 one design class. We look at the reasons for this fleet's growing success... afloat and ashore

RORC news
– Armchair sailing anyone?
EDDIE WARDEN OWEN 

Seahorse regatta calendar

Sailor of the Month
Gravitas, great skill, courage and perseverance