Vendee Globe Open 60 - All Tricked-Out

[SuperPiper]

This is intended to be a continuation of the Are-We-Making-Any-Improvements thread.

The Vendee Globe is about to start. In my opinion, the Open 60 is THE ultimate sailing machine. However, I recognize that these boats are all tricked-out: loaded with features, gadgets and gizmos.

Here is my automobile analogy. Is a 2005 model automobile with CD/DVD, power everything, television screens and GPS a better vehicle than my 1991 Toyota Corolla with cigarette lighter and ashtray? I guess it all depends on the criteria used to assess improvement.

I enjoy viewing photos of the Open 60s and wondering if their gadgets and features could be installed on weekend boats. What would be the advantage of:
- rotating mast;
- semi-circular traveller;
- adjustable mainsheet bridle under the boom;
- twin, deployable rudders;
- self stowing running backstays;
- etc, etc, etc.

As for hull design? Pile on as much sail area as the physics will allow.

I can't wait for the race to start. We will have 90 - 100 days to decide the better design.

[yachtie2k4]

well, some boats have rotating masts, the 12m's had semi cirular travellers for the boomvangs, some boats have a adjustable mainsheet bridle, i don't think the 2 deployable rudders would work.

[CT 249]

When asking designers of succesful Open boats, I've been told that the Opens are actually fairly slow in "normal" sailing (ie crewed sailing with beating and square running and light airs and short legs) so they are perhaps NOT the ultimate for a weekend style boat. I'm told the Minis, for example, go about as fast around the typical harbour an Elliott 7 sportsboat or a First 31.7 type, but they cost much more than the Elliott and much more (IIRC) that the 31.7 which has lots of accomodation; so what's the gain? You get a boat that is not actually all that fast (in most conditions) for its length and is incredibly expensive.

The much-modified Open 60s here are really good downwind in a breeze (well, one of them is) but they've taken a lot of work to get going upwind and even then they are not outstanding in such conditions (actually the slow ones bark severely).

Re

"rotating mast". Complex in some ways. Normally require some sort of restraining control. Add a couple of % to upwind speed in boats like Tasar dinghies. It's hard to get the flexibility you get with a normal fractional rig AFAIK.

"semi-circular traveller". Nice but expensive, takes up lots of room.

"adjustable mainsheet bridle under the boom". Hmmm. Sounds interesting.

"twin, deployable rudders". About twice the price of a normal single rudder; shallower (all else being equal) so less effective upwind; heavier on the helm.

"self stowing running backstays". Hey, I missed them, tell me more! Sounds good.

"As for hull design? Pile on as much sail area as the physics will allow."

Yep, but you have to PAY for that sail, and there seems to be a law of diminishing returns that ensures the bigger rig will be proportionately expensive for its performance.

Why don't we go for rules that allow for simpler,cleaner, cheaper designs of almost the same speed?

Just my two cents worth.