source : http://www.sail-world.com/europe/index.c...amp;tickerCID=0

Prototype Volvo Extreme 20

Herbert Dercksen takes the helm of the prototype Volvo Extreme 20, with Aaron Mcintosh (NZL) crewing for him. Dercksen about his latest project, enabled by Zwitserleven:

'This carbon cat is based on the M20, but has a different sail plan. You can consider it as a possible successor of the Tornado. Is carries a Tornado mast, the jib is smaller and the main a bit bigger. The VX 20 weighs 125 kilograms, which is 45kg less than the Tornado. I have learned a lot over the past years, so it is very exciting to helm by myself now. I look forward to the race.' At the moment, Dercksen is skippering the Extreme 40 in the Swiss Bol d’Or on Lake Geneva.

For measured specs go to the Texel rating system website and look Volvo Extreme 20 up in the table :

http://www.watersportverbond.nl/data/numdet_11-7-2008.pdf

Sadly, the TR committee has recently uploaded an unreadable table so here a summery.

extreme 20
Rating with spi 87 (Tornado is at 94 now, F18 at 101, Nacra 20 at 94)
Length 6,07 mtr.
width 2.92 mtr
Weight 132 kg

mainsail area 22,05 sq. mtr
mainsail luff 10,29 mtr
area jib 4,30 sq. mtr.
jib luff 6,23 mtr
I believe a 25 sq. mtr spinnaker

And I think that jib area measurement look suspicious, I would expect that jib to be about 5.00 sq. mtr in surface area considering its luff length.

two pictures below







In my opinion choosing a design like the V20 avoids all the pitfalls that have been mentioned. It can be founded as a true OD class (despite the fact that I personally dislike that setup) and it doesn't unhinge any existing class (like the F18) by selecting (favouring) only one builder over all others. Yet this boat is pretty modern in all respects (could do with a more advanced hull shape) and performant.


Wouter