Bruno Peyron interview - pt2

The Race creator talks of plans for a new boat - this time for himself!

Of the other potential contenders for the Race II, Peyron says that with the event now established, he does not feel this time around that he is obliged to name names. But a quick survey in the Volvo fleet seems to reveal considerable interest, particularly from the likes of Ross Field and Knut Frostad, aside from Dalton and Nilson who both took part. Peyron also believes that some America's Cup teams might consider coming to play. Steve Fossett, he says, is very interested in taking part too. "He definitely wants to be on the line in 2004 with this boat [PlayStation] or with another one, which is good. because he realises we were on the right track".
Cam Lewis is also interested in continuing his programme with Team Adventure, although the boat will not be fixed until February next year, following the collision at the start of her recent transatlantic record attempt.

Regarding Pete Goss' failed Team Philips project now that the dust has settled Peyron has some interesting observations to make. A long way back in Peyron's past he conceived and skippered a catamaran called Jaz which also had a rig in each hull. "I was trying that 20 years ago," says Peyron. "We learned lessons about the Venturi effect between the masts, that you need a narrow boat, not a wide one. It could have worked with a few modifications. If it were a lot narrower and with a lot lighter masts. It was a very incredible campaign." He adds that it was also a campaign that wouldn't have come to pass if limits had been placed on The Race.

The question outstanding in Peyron's mind is what Volvo will do for the next Ocean Race. Obviously he would love it to be in the giant multihulls he has created and it is hard to come up with a good reason why this should not be the case. Certainly if one places a Volvo Ocean 60 alongside one of the big cats, there is no question as to which is the ultimate offshore racing machine.

However if madforsailing's recent survey is anything to go by then the desire of those involved and those who follow the Volvo would like to see it in some form of more extreme 80 footer - like an Open 80 - possibly with less crew in the 2005/6 race. This choice proved more popular than an Open 60, a 100ft catamaran or the present generation of Volvo Ocean 60.

Peyron is also aware that interest in The Race as a competitive event rather than a demolition derby waned about one third of the way in. "Anything we can do to increase the sportive interest that would be good." In The Race, those who put in with breakages were forced to spend a minimum of 24 hours in port on the first occasions, 36 hours on the second, etc.

While all this is theory, Peyron has an uncanny knack of turning his ideas into reality and we can certainly expect some elements of this to come to pass. Much of the outcome Peyron says will be down to the skippers themselves, of which he will be one this time around.