Elaine Bunting's blog
Web log entry dated 30 April 2008
Small but perfectly formed
I've had a number of comments on the 10ft boats that have been designed to sail around the world, and on the Darwinian selection race devised for them, Around in 10.
First of all from John Welsford, the designer of the Gimli (pictured), who corrected me by pointing out that neither he or fellow 10-footer designer Paul Fisher are involved in any way with the organisers of the round the world race.
He adds: 'I pretty much agree with your anaysis of the Around in 10 challenge in most respects, however it's not as loony as it looks. When you look really hard the legs are very short which both keeps the fleet together and reduces the time on board for any one part of the trip to a relatively short time.
'It is in warmer rather than colder climates, there is at least one mothership doing the voyage and it's nowhere near as odd as the current attempts to break the record for the shortest boat to cross the Atlantic. I've designed Mini 6.5ms, have had some success at that, and have sailed those and other very fast mini ocean racers so appreciate the discomforts and the crew requirements from first hand experience.
'These boats will be workable - only just - and not my choice, but workable and if someone wants to do it, that's their perogative.'
Agreed, certainly. Still think a round the world race in a 10ft boat is more than slightly barmy. Oh, and I forgot to point out last time that the proposed race is supposed to be two-handed. Cripes.
Elaine Bunting
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