Skipper Ian Walker gives the low down on the new Patches. Enjoy.

One of the pleasing things in the TP52s this year was the fact that many of the older generation boats were competitive against newer 2006 boats. On Patches we won 2 of the 6 Breitling MedCup regattas and we were competitive across the wind range which was especially pleasing considering our boat was not designed to be fully oriented for Mediterranean conditions.

The Patches team and especially the owner Eamon Conneely are only too aware that to win the circuit next year we need to raise our game in all areas. It makes sense to replace 'Patches 05' whilst it is still an attractive, competitive boat and take the opportunity to put into place things we have learnt and a few new ideas. Eamon is also very aware that we will be a more attractive proposition to any potential new sponsor for 2007 with a new boat to campaign.

We have been thrilled with the performance of our Reichel Pugh design and it is an obvious choice to go back to them as our designers. They are convinced they can raise the performance in all conditions and I am very surprised that nobody else has chosen to commission a new TP52 designed by them. On the one hand this is bad for us as it is always good to have a sistership to measure yourself against, but on the other hand it may be good if we are fast as we may gain an edge over the whole fleet. Our concept is not to create a whole new package but to make incremental gains over what we already have in many areas. If we can gain even a second a mile from each of the hull, rig, structure, foils and sails then we will be in a strong position next year.

There is no real pattern as to which designs are fastest. I think that last year the overall results were a list of who sailed the best. How else can you explain 2 identical sisterships being 10 places apart in the overall standings? There were some patterns - the 3 spreader rigs seemed to have an edge - particularly under code zero, the Botin and Carkeek chined boats were very powerful reaching and good in a breeze but suffered in the lighter airs. I think the Farr boats were underrated as they were capable of good performances and the Judel Vrolik boats were clearly a strong all-round package with each one slightly tweaked for its own conditions. As always in sailing the silverware goes to the team that put in the time, refines all the detail and then sails the best.

Our decision to build in China is a sign of the times. I have always admired McConaghy boats and they have a great relationship with Reichel Pugh. In recent years they have built the R/P designed Alfa Romeo, Wild Oats, Morning Glory and more recently the 55 ft Yendys which has just left the yard in Dong Juan, China. Our plan is to commission the boat in Valencia prior to the first MedCup event in June next year. We will be sporting a new Hall Spars rig as again we were very pleased with our first mast and the service we received.

Much is made of the cost of the TP52 but as my boss Luca Devoti said to me in Palma - you could buy the whole TP52 fleet for less than the cost of a small America's Cup team! If you want to win you do need good sails, you do need a professional crew (most of the crew at least), you do need to run the program professionally, you do need a support boat and you do need to train. All of this costs money. I suspect that competitive teams spend between 500,000 Euros and 1 million Euros per year. What is pleasing is that many of the teams were sponsored last year and delivering good returns to those sponsors. Last year we were sponsored by Siemens and they had a huge amount of publicity and all their top clients who came to watch racing at various events had a great time. The racing is exciting and should improve next year with windier venues, a bigger fleet and more television coverage. It is an awesome sight to see 25 52ft boats lining up for a start. It is an even better sight to see them all behind you downwind. I am hoping that this is a sight we will see many times in our new boat next year, but then I'm sure that is exactly what everyone else is working on!

Ian Walker won a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics in the 470 class, He followed this up with as silver medal in the star class four years later in Sydney. He has since been skipper of the GBR challenge, and now divides his time between being tactician for +39 Americas Cup campaign, skippering Patches and running his campaign and project management company HighAspect Ltd.

Top: Photo by: Daniel Forster / Rolex