Vo70

That seems a very measured response. I was concerned there could have been a knee jerk reaction to the breakages in the last race.

But it still has to be seen if there remains any appetite for the race amongst the sailors, sponsors and above all the public. Here in the UK there is total confusion amongst the general public about 'round the world' races. Long gone are the simple days of 'just' (!) having crewed, solo, non stop, stopping, upwind, downwind distinctions between the various races. Now with so many branded events, I don't know any non-sailors that know the difference between say, the Clipper Round the World Race and the Volvo. The Clipper certainly gets more network TV air time as local towns are involved.

So I guess if Volvo and the other sponsors are going to extract any publicity from future races, they probably do need to go where ever, and stop over where ever, to gain publicity, even if sailors bemoan the loss of purity in the race course. But with such lack of understanding amongst most of any sponsor's target audience (ie the public), would it really matter if the boats weren't so extreme?

In fact, would it really matter if the event didn't attract the best sailors either? I'm sure there are plenty of 'good' sailors who would, for a reasonable fee, 'race' around the world in their mobile bill boards, giving good interviews about their daring-do to the media in the various 'emerging market' publicity hot spots. (That's new speak for towns that were formally known as 'stop overs, and chosen for the proximity to the race course).
 
brian eiland said:
...courtesty of Scuttlebutt

VOR 2.0 - HANDBRAKE OFF
Anyone who has experienced at first hand the sheer speed of the Volvo
Open 70 will be delighted to learn that the official Rule for 2008-09
has been framed to safeguard the status of the world's fastest ocean
going monohull.

Rather than apply the 'hand brake' to the VO70's stunning
performance, the rule focuses on durability measures which carry no
speed penalty.

Weight distribution, restrictions on appendages and the integrity of
construction materials in keel mechanisms are the main elements of
version 2 of the Volvo Open 70 rule - upgraded from the 2005-06 race.

The race organisers and Rule Management Group (RMG), led by chief
measurer James Dadd, have concentrated on the issues which
contributed to structural problems in the previous race -
particularly in the area of canting keels.

The intention has been to stay true to the stated philosophy of
producing 'fast, single mast, monohull keelboats of similar
performance, suitable for long distance racing offshore at the
highest level of the sport'.

A summary of the key changes are as follows:

- Maximum weight for keel, fin and bulb of 7.4 tonnes (To ensure
weight saved in the structure could not be added to the keel to
improve performance)

- A reduction in the overall weight range of the boat to 13.86-14.00
tonnes (previously 12.5-14 tonnes) (To ensure there is enough
structure put into the boat to improve durability)

- A ban on bomb doors (To prevent water ingress)

- All spinnakers may be furled and one additional masthead spinnaker
to be added to the inventory (To make handling easier and safer for
the crews and improve light air performance)

- Set appendage configuration - two dagger boards and one or two
rudders (Reduce research and development costs and retain the
characteristics of ocean racing boats)

- No spinnaker poles (To cut down on the research costs for different
sail configurations)

- Ban on titanium in keel rams (To reduce cost and increase
reliability)

Commenting on the Rule, Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race,
said: 'Evolution rather than revolution was uppermost in our thoughts
when we considered changes to the Volvo Open 70 Rule. At every turn we
have endeavoured to provide encouragement for designers to distribute
weight sensibly while limiting performance penalty. Introducing a
maximum keel, fin and bulb weight achieves that.

'The other changes we have made, like outlawing the use of titanium
in keel rams, puts the emphasis on improving the reliability and
durability of the boats. All the changes and refinements we have made
are based on the feedback we have had from the approval authorities,
insurers and the designers and crew members from the 2005-06 race -
the first time that the Volvo Open 70 was campaigned.

'We firmly believe that we have arrived at a sound formula without
detracting from the exhilarating performance of the boats. What we
don't want is a situation where, having created the world's fastest
monohull ocean racer, we are asking the designers to apply the hand
brake.'

http://volvooceanrace.org
Click to expand...

I think all of these are sensible reforms. Only time and future races will tell if they are adequate.

The canting ballast keel is here to stay. Purist, such as myself, will just have to learn to live with it.

Someday all racing keel boats witllhave canting ballast unless it is expressedly forbidden. And now there seems to be no real rational reason to ban them.

Bob
 
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