Just out of interest and mentioning no names, we met a couple this year in Guadaloupe who had done the ARC in the epitome of the heavy traditional steel 'offshore' boat. They went home early quite fed up with lack of room and modern facilities. Oh and they felt the crossing had been really uncomfortable despite being able to 'cleave' the seas. Having seen the 'opposition' I would not be surprised to see them next year in a spade ruddered narrow keeled AWB.