IMOCA 60: World’s coolest yachts

Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and noted British offshore champion Conrad Humphreys nominated the IMOCA 60 Charal. Here’s the report:

“When you look at what the designers and engineers have put in place to get round quite restrictive IMOCA rules and balance on a single foil, I think that is something extraordinary,” said Conrad Humphreys.

Jérémie Beyou’s VPLP-designed Charal, the first of the new generation of foiling IMOCA 60 round the world designs, typifies the huge evolution in this evergreen solo ocean class.

It is nearly 15 years since Humphreys raced in the Vendée Globe in Hellomoto, formerly Mike Golding’s Group 4.

“That boat was considered revolutionary, with its canting keel and wingmast, and for one person it was a beast to sail. I had a halyard winch on the mast and used to be on the foredeck getting the spinnaker down.

“Now, the whole way these boats are engineered is to keep the sailor off the deck and they’re so fast they need to be protected from the elements. But that really adds to the interest of what, to me, is the greatest spectacle.”

For Yachting World’s list of cool boats, click here.