Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008 - (Page 77)

VLC 35 : Spanish time This latest rocket from the young Spanish yard, Muller Yachts, located near Valencia, was designed by the Nauta Tec studio, including Manolo Lopez and Manuel Ruiz Elvira, who both came from the design team of Alinghi, and are now working for the American, Oracle. She was due to be displayed at the Paris Boat show, but in the end will make her first public appearance early next year at the Düsseldorf Show in Germany. The first objective for this boat is performance and she favours in particular onedesign racing. Completely made of a sandwich of infused foam/Vinylester, the VLC measuring 35 feet in length boasts a mere weight of 3000 kg. It should be said that she only measures 2.95 m in the beam and is fitted with a keel that can be raised. The lead bulb goes down 3.10 m in the down position, which enables weight savings, while showing an amazing LPS (limit of positive stability) of 160°. In the raised position, the draught is only 1.70 m. Lightweight, narrow and with a smallish keel thanks to the electrical jack system, the VLC 35 can easily be transported by road. Her rig is inspired by light sailing boats. There are no backstays at all, which makes it easier to use the square topped mainsail. The carbon mast is held with angled spreaders and an adjustable mainstay. The other particularity of the boat is her retractable bowsprit, which juts out almost three metres from the bow section. The further forward the spinnaker (asymmetrical of course) is fixed, the further it is from the mainsail, and the greater its effect and also the easier the gybes. The deck layout is fairly classic, inspired by IMS prototypes, which can still be found in Spain and the internal fittings are relatively simple with a large central chart table rather like on ocean going yachts. Thanks to the coach roof, the maximum headroom is 1.80 m. It will be interesting to compare the boat’s performance in IRC races against more conventional boats. The rating that is expected with a 47m_ square topped mainsail is 1.178, which is comparable to a Farr 40 or a First 44.7. Her « target » is to get close to them tacking upwind and to do better downwind. One last detail, which is important, the Muller Yachts yard intends to sell this yacht at a price of 120,000 euros. Quite tempting, isn’t she? http://www.dimension-polyant.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008

Cover
Edito
Contents
What they said
News
Portfolio - The news in the picture
Transat Jacques Vabre - Monohulls in power
In the words of the skipper - Michel Desjoyaux, A little bit more
Barcelona World Race - A couple sailing around the world
Imoca - Growth crisis in the Imoca class
Transat 6.5 - A whole series of records
Mini Class - Anatomy of a winner
Multihulls - What sort of trimarans tomorrow ?
Volvo Ocean Race - Second generation
Trials - Mach 45 : an unusual IRC
Match Racing - King Richard
Tactics - A good start
Portrait - Jacques Caraës
Lab - Tubular or wing mast ?
Forty years ago - Chichester, the lonely sea and the sky
Equipment - Shop window
New products - From the drawing board to the boatyard
Opinion - The mirage of worshipping technology

Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008