Frers versus Farr

At the Nautor Challenge christening James Boyd had a scout around their two different Volvo Ocean 60s

Nav area

The chart table on the Frers boat is immediately aft of the companionway and has the advantage of being more central in the boat (good for weight distribution). Here there are two laptop computers - one running Deckman for Windows performance analysis software, the other MaxSea, the leading electronic charting and routing software. There are also two GPSes, electronic barometer, radios, etc. Women's team navigator Marie-Claude Keys doesn't want to lean back too much though because the linkage mechanism for the coffee grinders is just behind her head (top left in the photo).

On the Farr boat the chart table is right at the aft end of the accommodation and is cosy, if not cramped, but does have the advantage of being closer to the helmsman and there is a small hatch (in the aft side of the island for the main sheet winch) through which to communicate. It is similarly equipped to the Frers boat. It should be remembered that the Farr boat was a week old when these photos were taken and the Frers boat had been in the water for more than a month longer.