Vendee hull shapes

A photographic study of the diverse transom shapes in Les Sables d'Olonne

The transoms on the Open 60s betray a lot about the hull shapes of the boats and particularly their evolution. A development introduced for the last race was the requirement to carry a liferaft in the transom - this followed the spate of capsizes in the fleet (where boats turned over and remained inverted).

Below: the simple shape of Akena, formerly Nandor Fa's 1992-3 generation Budapest



The last two races have been an increase in the number of kick-up rudders. Below is the Joubert-Nivelt design VM Materiaux



Below: the 2000 generation Finot-Conq designs, Joe Seeten's Arcelor Dunkerque and Conrad Humphrey's Hellomoto also showing their deck spreader arrangements.





The winner from the 2000-1 race Michel Desjoyeaux's PRB had rudders that would kick up. For this race the boat has new high aspect rudders. The kick-up mechanism remains the sale.



Jean-Pierre Dick's Farr design Virbac Paprec has more of an open transom arrangement, but again has kick-up rudders built into the transom



Below: the two new Lombard designs Sill Veolia and Bonduelle, showing the chine in their hull and the kick up rudder arrangement.