FEATURES

Not too phased
Team Alinghi's chief designer ROLF VROLIJK had little direct experience of creating high performance multihulls... until late last year

The covers come off
No surprise that there are high expectations for Ericsson’s latest new Volvo 70. TIM JEFFREY talks with designer JUAN KOUYOUMDJIAN and race skipper TORBEN GRAEL

Growing choice
As IRC rule managers gently ease off the brakes with regard to composite rigging JONTY SHERWILL looks at the options for raceboat owners

Performance AND Durability
DAN NERI talks to DOBBS DAVIS about the re-introduction of taffeta into 3DL-concept sails in search of improvements in their longer term performance

REGULARS

Commodore’s letter
DAVID AISHER

Editorial
ANDREW HURST

Update
TERRY HUTCHINSON has definitely had a good (if busy) month, OLEG ZHEREBSTOV is looking forward to a wet ride around the world, France loses its grip on the Commodores’ Cup, IAN WALKER manages his Volvo expectations, Thomas COVILLE gets that first big record and SCHNACK scores his first GP42 triumph...

World news
A giant challenge for French (and other) soloists, Class 40 dominates to St-Malo, as VINCENT RIOU beefs up his act, and first GP33 hits the water in Auckland, Quantum and Cagliari score with the TP52s, ‘CLOUDS’ looks ahead to the toughest Volvo Ocean Race yet... and it’s the slow boats that are fastest to Bermuda (again!). DOBBS DAVIS, PATRICE CARPENTIER, CARLOS PICH, ROB MUNDLE and IVOR WILKINS

Paul Cayard
And it’s 2,070 very different miles to Hawaii

Olympic and small boat newsc – Detail man
LYNN FITZPATRICK catches up with Poland’s legendary coach to the ‘Stars’ Andy Zawieja

America’s Cup
– Inching to glory
The clock is ticking away... and with it perhaps the early advantage that was held by BMW Oracle Racing

Design
– Delivering the ultimate mast
So far as the Volvo Open 70 class is concerned, BEN HALL and JIM STONE have been working away to do precisely that

Seahorse raceboat build table – White is the new black
It’s all change for Team Lewmar with their approach to Grand Prix winch systems...

50 RORC news
– Consistency
It always pays... EDDIE WARDEN OWEN

Seahorse regatta calendar

Sailor of the Month
Great talents all, both young and old(er)

Below:
Not so good; Fernando Leon and Kiko Sanchez’ 2007 Botín and Carkeek TP52 CAM sank during the Trofeo le Reina in Valencia after her bow opened up under forestay tension. Though major rule changes for the TP52 class for 2010 now look likely to be watered down, one new rule that will come in will ensure all boats feature a water tight emergency bulkhead forward!