Volvo Ocean Race: Design competition: "Well thought-out down to the last detail!"

The plans of Mark Turner, who resigned as managing director of the Volvo Ocean Race, were far-reaching. A new start was planned in just two years' time. A new boat was planned, the Super 60, which would also be eligible to take part in the single-handed races of the Imoca class, such as the Vendée Globe. And there were to be new inshore races during the stage stops, on new types of foiling catamarans.

A design competition was organised for this, in which renowned design offices took part.

However, it is currently very doubtful whether any of these changes will be made. A new race organiser has not yet been named, and it has even been officially stated that everything is currently under review, both the schedule and the boat concept. It could even be that the next edition could take place again on the Volvo 65 racers currently sailing to Cape Town.

The uncertain future of the race has now prompted two competitors to go public with their designs. "The organisers had promised to announce the winning design before the start of the second leg," Gonzalo Redondo from the Spanish engineering firm d3 Applied Technologies told YACHT online, "but that didn't happen, and we don't know whether it will happen at all. However, we believe we have developed a very interesting design and wanted to present it now, when it is new and up-to-date, and not at some point and then perhaps as part of a general cancellation of the idea."

This is understandable given the extremely interesting design. Redondo was already involved in the development of the Volvo 70, with which the French team Groupama won the Volvo Ocean Race, and his office has also been involved in the development of high-tech catamarans for a long time.

The design for the Volvo Ocean Race is very similar to one of the America's Cup trailers that sailed off Bermuda in June - but with a few major differences, necessitated by the specifications of the initiator of the new harbour races, Mark Turner. The new boat had to be quick and easy to assemble and dismantle and fit into a 40-foot container so that it could be transported from one stage location to the next with the least possible effort. In addition, a guest should have a safe place on board to offer sponsors or media representatives a sailing opportunity.

The Volvo Super 40, should it ever be built, would sail on foils similar to those used in the America's Cup. The centre section is designed to accommodate a guest on board. The real highlight, however, is the connection of the hulls to the centre section via hinges. This allows the floats to be folded down and the entire boat shrinks to the width of a container. A wing sail was dispensed with in favour of a conventional sail, as this is easier to salvage and transport. Its design, with the foot flush with the platform, is very similar to the latest development of the A-Cats, in which Retondo is also involved. ( You can download the project presentation as a PDF here).

Roland Gäbler, one of Germany's most successful catamaran sailors and a Cup enthusiast, is delighted with the design: "Wow, what an ingenious design! The next level for inshore racing has been born. Well thought out down to the last detail. Basically, it was the logical consequence. The AC's air show off Bermuda thrilled the sailing world. A new era in sailing was presented there. 100 per cent foiling time. Constant flying on all courses! That has to continue somehow..."

Another design from the design competition is a foiling Proa. This will be presented online tomorrow on YACHT.