60 feet of fun

In the first of this series James Boyd looks at why the 60ft trimaran class is currently so successful

Those who thought the Transat Jacques Vabre was an exciting race should hang on until next year as this will be eclipsed totally by the 2002 Route de Rhum singlehanded transatlantic race.

On the start line of this event it is predicted there will be 20 full-on 60ft trimarans, sailed by the top names in the predominantly French world of long distance singlehanded racing. These, alongside an equally formidable Open 60 fleet, will be the most impressive line-up of Grand Prix ocean racing machines ever assembled.

So why has the 60ft trimaran circuit come of age?

Part of the reason is that offshore multihull racing has been going some time now.

In 2002 it will be 30 years since Alain Colas became the first to win the OSTAR on a trimaran. Since that time many, many heavyweight figures have passed through this class including the likes of Eric Tabarly, Philippe Poupon, Yvon Fauconnier, Florence Arthaud, Marc Pajot, Philippe Jeantot, Bruno Peyron to name but a handful of the French stars but also on this side of 'La Manche' notables such as Chay Blyth, Robin Knox-Johnston, Rob James, Tony Bullimore - even Lawrie Smith.

Over this time the circuit has had its peaks and troughs. The 1980s were the halcyon years of the big 85 footers. The 1986 Route du Rhum had perhaps an even more impressive fleet than will assemble next year, due to the sheer size of the boats and the amazing prospect that there were some people on this planet crazy enough to try racing an 85ft multihull singlehanded. It was the equivalent of Grant Dalton setting sail on The Race aboard Club Med on his tod.

The early 1990s were the years of consolidation for the French racing multihull fleet. The 85 footers had become prohibitively expensive for the budgets of the largely domestic French companies sponsoring them and the class had banned them, opting instead for cheaper 60 footers.

The 60ft class had become popular in France during the mid to late 1980s ironically through two British boats - Tony Bullimore's Apricot (and subsequent Spirit of Apricot) and Mike Whipp's Paragon, both of which on occasions kicked butt remarkably well against the bigger French cats.

Compared to today, the racing of the early 1990s was unremarkable with a fleet of around five boats. Either Laurent Bourgnon's Primagaz would win events, but more likely it would be the talented Loick Peyron on Fujicolor.

Contined on page 2...