Out of the water in Cape Town

Ropes through rudders, blown off fairings revealed as the VO70 boats are lifted

Sunergy was lifted out of the water yesterday afternoon clearly showing the loss of the fairing at the front of her keel's canting point. Also for the first time we saw the boat's unusual (and several of the crew suggest - unwelcome) fixed canard. Under Volvo Open 70 rules appendages are allowed one freedom of movement - thus you can have a daggerboard that only lifts. Thus because this canard is fitted with a trim tab it must be kept down constantly. Aside from providing lift upwind the trim tab has proved valuable for keeping the boat on course when steering through waves. A single lifting, canting daggerboard with a trim tab would seem to be the optimum solution to accompany the canting keel on a Volvo Open 70 - it is a shame that the rule prohibits it.