The end of the ORMA 60

Welcome a new one design 70ft multihull!

With costs skyrocketing, a dubious track record for reliability and one perennially dominant boat in Franck Cammas' Groupama II, so it has been no secret that the ORMA 60 trimaran circuit is currently on the rocks. Despite these hi-tech state of the art boats being widely viewed as the most awe-inspiring on the ocean wave, only four or five boats have been competing on the regular grand prix circuit this season and so in France those involved with the circuit - the sailors, designers, sponsors, race organisers - have been scratching their heads as to what to do to put this right.

Rather than come up with a more effective and business-like race organisation or introduce measures to curb the escalating costs of the 60ft trimarans, or revisit the rules to ensure the boats don't capsize or break-up as often, instead this group have decided to start from scratch with a organisational body, a new circuit and a new 70ft one design multihull. Does this sound familiar?

This group has introduced a new Board of Directors headed by President Patrick Chapuis, with Franck David, Executive Director. The Board also includes representatives from the remaining teams - Groupama, Banque Populaire and Sopra Group - but interestingly not Baron Rothschild's Gitana. The new project, called 'ORMA 2009-2019', will be officially presented in December 2007.

Design-work for a new 70ft multihull that will still be current for the next 10 years is now underway by leading ORMA 60 tri creators Marc van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prevost, who by coincidence are also designing the 70ft catamaran for the new Coutts-Cayard World Sailing League. Once this is complete the building of a prototype will take place.

The one-design aspect of the boat will help to control costs of campaigns but importantly it may well also help to attract much needed international competition to join the party.

The Board is considering what the new circuit will look like and are saying it will include two annual transoceanic races including singlehanded, doublehanded and crewed, presumably using existing events such as The Transat, the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Quebec-St Malo. There will also be a five week long series of regattas around Europe each summer, taking in the largest cities, to gain maximum spectator appeal and to make corporate hospitality easier. The body to organise the racing side of the program is set to be put out to tender.

The media side of the circuit is also to receive attention with the stakeholders and sponsors contributing to a 'media purchase' - ie they will pay to have the circuit broadcast.

More on this in due course...