Can it be a coincidence that a Farr boat is finally in the lead at a time when it is rumoured that the Volvo Open 70 will probably be replaced by a Farr One design in the next edition of this regatta?
Last night on the transatlantic leg, it was full throttle heading east. Abu Dhabi was already 70 miles ahead, but this lead was gradually reduced by the pursuers, above all Puma. Unusually, Telefonica was right at the back of the field, more than 80 miles behind, just behind Groupama and the life artists from Sanya, a Farr design of the penultimate generation, which had not finished so often in the past. But there are still around 1300 miles to go to Lisbon, and light winds are on the cards again, which could turn the current standings upside down.
Meanwhile, there are growing indications that the next Volvo Ocean Race, as already reported by YACHT online announced The team is also in favour of a switch to a single class. Volvo has reportedly agreed to be the main sponsor again for 2014, but on the condition that at least eight teams are at the start and costs are drastically reduced. The new class is to be designed by Farr, whose two boats, Sanya and Abu Dhabi, have so far mostly lagged behind in the current race when they have not been forced to travel by freighter due to defects.
There is talk of shorter and heavier ships (60 to 65 feet) with a smaller crew but more endurance. A cost reduction of 50 per cent for the design and construction of the boats, fewer stages and smaller crews are allegedly being targeted. With rumoured prices of 4 to 9 million euros for the current VO70 boats, this could free up a lot of capital. In addition, the number of sails is to be reduced from 32 to 22 to 25, which will then only be supplied by North. Various shipyards such as Multiplast in France, Green Marine in England and Persico in Italy are to be commissioned to build various components. Decision in Switzerland has also allegedly been mentioned. This would mean that shipyards in the USA, New Zealand, Australia or China would not be involved.
Juan Kouyoumdjian, the designer of three of the four leading boats in the current VOR, hinted at this development in a confidential conversation with YACHT back in March, but harbours no grudges. "Anyone who looks at the overall standings in the past Volvo Ocean Races and the current one will have their own thoughts on this," said Kouyoumdjian. He naturally found it strange that CEO Knut Frostad did not consult him, even though he had made an offer. "To counter the reduced budgets, I suggested to Frostad that he offer my design plans for the VO70, which would limit the costs to further development," Kouyoumdjian told the French magazine Voiles et Voilières. "But this letter is probably still in his drawer."
The pendulum seems to be finally swinging in the direction of single classes, as the Orma-60 multihulls have already been replaced by the MOD-70 trimaran single class, and the Imoca-60 class monohulls, which are used in the Vendée Globe, for example, could soon be a thing of the past. This decision is due to be made on 26 June.
