FEATURES

Hill 33
It’s a big ask, but as TOM SCHNACKENBERG reports on a planned new Cup class rule BRAD BUTTERWORTH is making progress with most of the challengers toward an event in 2010

Official training base...
Perfect winds, big waves and a lot closer than Hawaii (for most!)

War on a grand scale
The 2008/09 Volvo Ocean Race looks set to be the most gruelling and hardest fought yet. TIM JEFFERY

Media slave
ANDY RICE talks to a ‘surprised’ MARK COVELL about his own unexpected Volvo role

View from the ground
– part 1
BLUE ROBINSON presents a ‘human’ view of mastering the foiling International Moth

More variables... more solutions
Sandy Wright and Martyn Prince explain how the Wolfson Unit is developing its tank techniques to keep pace with the challenges of multiple-appendages and water ballast

Covering the spectrum
SAM DAVIES and BRIAN THOMPSON are racing the Vendée aboard two very different craft, as they explain to TIM JEFFERY

The toughest of challenges
Spar builder DOMINIQUE MARSAUDON of Lorima talks with PATRICE CARPENTIER about meeting the conflicting demands of the latest generation of Vendée Globe customers

REGULARS

Commodore's letter
DAVID AISHER

Editorial
ANDREW HURST

Update
TERRY HUTCHINSON scoops the Melges 24s, KITO DE PAVANT’s Vendée pain, ISAF misses an open goal, MARK RICHARDS goes for the (Hobart) record, a hiccup for Reichel-Pugh and remembering the great HARRY WALKER

World news
Tough start for the sixth Vendée Globe, new Farr 55 shows promise in Auckland, as does the ‘senior’ Rags, no trip to Tas for Neville Crichton and another key step for IRC in the USA. DOBBS DAVIS, PATRICE CARPENTIER, CARLOS PICH, ROB MUNDLE and IVOR WILKINS

Paul Cayard
An America’s Cup on the move... time will tell

Olympic and small boat news
– Next!
The 29erXX failed to make it past the ‘cones’ but JULIAN BETHWAITE’s 49er did get its upgrade as he tells fellow skiff enthusiast ANDY RICE

ORC column
– Old rivals... and new partners
TP52s and GP42s to team up – it’d looking likely

America’s Cup
Easing those wheels... TIM JEFFERY

Design – Consequences
PETE MELVIN, Ken Childress and BMW Oracle’s MIKE DRUMMOND talk to LYNN FITZPATRICK about some of the implications of the latest advances in wing masted technology

Seahorse raceboat build table – Nervous call
Fortunately ISAF went our way (this time at least)

RORC news
EDDIE WARDEN OWEN 

Seahorse regatta calendar

Sailor of the Month
A positive initiative and immense determination