The Greed For Speed

The crucial role played by the mast and rig package in taming the beast that is the second generation of Volvo Open 70 cannot be underestimated, particularly in boat-breaking conditions.

That is the view of Matthew Sheahan, specialist racing and technical writer.

In a feature article in the latest issue of Life At The Extreme, the official magazine of the Volvo Ocean Race, Sheahan says that in heavy airs and brutal seas a subtle twisting of the mast can de-power the mainsail, allowing the crew to regain control.