“Up to 16 knots it will be less, but better after,” says Ravussin, comparing the MOD70 to its 60-foot predecessor. “In 0 to 12 knots, we don’t know exactly. Maybe because the main hull is longer it will be better, but I think in 2 to 10 knots, an ORMA 60 would be faster. When it comes to maneuvers, I think it will be similar to the old ORMA 60s before Groupama 2, which had a lot more sail downwind and a trim tab [on the daggerboard]. With the trim tab, you tack through 84 degrees, without it is 90 degrees.”

The layout on board is like other large racing trimarans, with an elliptical cockpit situated between the aft crossbeam and the semi-circular mainsheet track. It’s possibly the safest cockpit of all offshore raceboats. At each corner of the cockpit is a bucket seat, tiller, and traveler winch for the helmsman, as well as hydraulic releases for the mast cant and the mainsheet. In the middle of the cockpit are two grinding pedestals, which drive the winches and a rotary hydraulic pump for the mast cant, the mainsheet, and other high-load sail controls.

There is a large doghouse, with controls for the daggerboard, outer foils, and the rig, led on either side to dual pit workstations.

Down below there is minimal room: Two bunks for the crew are located just aft of the mast, with the nav station aft of the bunks, and the galley, media station, and head aft of the relatively steep companionway ladder.

While progress to date has been relatively smooth, snaring a non-French team still remains as a hurdle. Even at its height the ORMA 60 class remained predominantly French. Best prospects at present are the Oman Sail team and a Swedish campaign led by Volvo Ocean Race crewman Klabbe Nylof.

MOD70

LOA: 70'
Beam: 55'
Hull draft: 14'9"
Mast height: 95'
DSPL: 13,900 lbs.
Upwind sail area: 3,335 sq. ft.
Downwind sail area: 4,400 sq. ft.
Info: multionedesign.com