Inside the Designer’s Head

Reichel/Pugh Maxi Sled for Team Pegasus (among other things…) 

The design team of John Reichel and Jim Pugh have been among the most successful and prolific designers of the modern  era. Protégés of Doug Peterson, there isn’t an arena that R/P designed boats can’t be found.  Ranging from the groundbreaking Melges 24 to the speed monster Shockwave, R/P have put their stamp on the racing scene. From high-tech one offs to high-performance cruisers, the R/P portfolio is impressive. We had a chance to speak with the boys, and here’s what they had to say:

We’ve been talking to Philippe Kahn about his sailing program, including his new R/P Maxi Sled (Ed. Note:  his interview will be printed along with this one).  We assume this is a development of the ultra-successful Pyewacket/Zephyrus IV design.  What are the basic improvements you’ve made over the earlier design? 

R/P:      The Transpac is raced under the IMS rule/VPP to a speed limit over a constructed course, so development of shear performance is fairly limited.  We have gone for a little more performance, longer waterline and narrower beam.  The rig is masthead with non-overlapping jibs.

We know there is a new “Chance” for Bob McNulty.  What, if any, are the significant differences between the two new boats? 

R/P:      Chance and Pegasus are off the same hull plug.  Chance and Pegasus were Built by McConaghy Boats, Sydney, Australia.  They are currently being commissioned at Driscoll’s on Mission Bay here in San Diego.

How do these boats differ from the Shockwave type? 

R/P:      Chance and Pegasus are specifically aimed at IMS and the Transpac course.  Shockwave, though an IMS typeformed hull shape is 80’ LOA aimed at more performance, to no IMS rating limit.

It seems that you guys are currently cornering the market on contracts for boats of this size/type.  What’s your secret? 

You’re also doing some pretty cool, very large performance cruisers.  What can you tell us about those projects?  What’s the ballpark for D/L and SA/D ratios for this new generation of cruising boat?  We assume they are much closer to an IMS racer than to a Valiant 40. 

R/P:      We have done a number of performance cruisers.

Launched:  Loftfari 70’ LOA Performance Cruiser, Displacement 20,000 kgs

                        Builder – Baltic, Owner - German

            Launched:  My Song 85’ LOA IMS Cruiser/Racer, Displacement 29,000 kgs,

                                    Builder – Cookson Boats, N.Z., Owner – Italian

            Launched:  Super Baltic 78 LOA Canting Keel Performance Cruiser

                                    Builder – Baltic Yachts, Owner – Italian

            Launched:  Zaraffa 66’LOA IMS Cruiser/Racer, Displacement 18,500 kgs

                                    Builder – New England Boatworks, Owner East Coast US

Launched:  Leopard of London 2000 90’ LOA High Performance Cruiser, Displacement 39,000kgs

                                    Builder – Green Marine, Owner – Mike Slade, U.K.

What other types of custom boats are you currently developing? 

R/P:      Currently on the drawing boards or under construction: 

            Ranger, 136’ LOA, displacement 166 tons, re-creation of Ranger, the last “J” boat built.  Ranger won the America’s Cup in 1937.  We are involved with a design team including Glade Johnson Design of Washington who is responsible for developing the beautiful cruising interior.  The owner is from the East Coast, U.S. 

78’ Performance Cruiser, displacement 32,000 kg.  Two yachts under construction for European clients, interior and systems design by Nauta Yachts, Milan, Builder Southern Wind Shipyard, South Africa

Super Australian 30, 30’ Inshore/Offshore High Performance Racer, displacement 1700 kgs.  Builder not yet determined, Owner - Australian  

85’ High-Performance Offshore Racing Yacht, displacement 21,000 kgs, no rules, no limits, Builder McConaghy

147’ High-Performance Cruiser, displacement 100,000 kgs.  Builder – Baltic Yachts, Interior Design – Design Unlimited U.K., Owner - European

            50’:           

            Transpac 52, preliminary R&D on a 52’ for the Transpac 52 class rule 

            50’ PHRF Racing yacht, displacement 7,500 kgs, Builder – Franklin Yachts, N.Z., Owner – Alec Oberschmidt, San Diego, CA.           

79’ Light displacement yacht, displacing 23,000 kg.  Builder, Builder Latini Andrea, Rome Italy, Owner – Raffaele Raiola, Napoli, Italy.
 

You spent the past America’s Cup with TDC.  It seemed that the boat was pretty fast, given your non-existent budget and short development time.  You are hooking up with TDC for the 2003 AC, right?  Will there be sufficient funding for you to repeat the magic you brought to the A-Cubed and OneAustralia programs? 

R/P:      For the last America’s Cup, 2000, we pretty much had a six-week design development time.  There was no time for research.  We have been hooked up with Team Dennis Conner for the 2003 Cup for some time.  We have underway a significant research and development program involving excellent consultants, scientists and their complete resources.  We have every intention of providing TDC highly competitive America’s Cup yachts for Auckland.  We are committed to winning this event. (doing our part to bring the Cup home) 

You’ve been involved with the scene for many years and have lived through the IOR/IMS/Offshore One Design phases.  Give us your take on the State-of-the-Art in terms of where you think big boat sailing is headed. 

R/P:      State-of-the-art Big Boat sailing, we believe, will be headed towards more performance, and away from restricted performance rules.  Owners want big bang for their bucks.  Races such as The Race and the Vendee Globe really stir the interest of the sailing public.  We see box rules and open class rules being developed for Big Boat Classes. 

            One Design racing is fantastic and certainly will always be around as a strong backbone of competitive sailing. 

            Handicap rules such as IMS should be simpler and utilized for general club fleet racing.   

Let’s assume that grand prix handicap sailing is in trouble, which it is.  Can it be fixed and how so?  Do you favor Box Rules, Open Rules, or Measurement Rules?  In a world of Offshore One-Design boats (Farr 40’s and the like) where does R/P fit in? 

R/P:      Having designed the Melges 24 and the Melges 30, we look forward to being involved in the development of other One Design classes.

If a guy lived in an area that didn’t have an IMS or Farr 40 fleet but wanted a custom performance-oriented 40 footer, what would your suggested boat look like?  Would it have a sprit?  Swept spreader rig?  Overlapping headsails?  How about a giant Melges 24? 

R/P:      If an owner wanted a local high performance design, we would love to do it.  An extreme harbor/inshore/offshore yacht, that is what we like to do.  The Melges 24 is a relatively moderate production boat compared to the all out custom performance we could develop.

These super sleds like Pyewacket and Shockwave are indeed phenomenal things. In ballpark numbers, what would it cost to get one of these things to the starting line?