The Ultimate 30s were skittish,
overpowered and expensive
high-performance machines
designed for the short-run
Ultimate Yacht Race series.
Designed by Ian Murray, they
were described as an Aussie
18-footer on steroids—with a
48-foot rig, 16-foot racks and
a 20-foot sprit that provided
plenty of high-speed sailing for
the crews, entertainment for
spectators and empty purses
for owners. Ziti was built in
Australia for American owner
Wayne Womack.
PHOTO: SAILING WORLD
ARCHIVESVolvo Ocean Race, Leg 4 of
the 2001-2002 edition, was
a Southern Ocean express
ride on the Volvo Ocean 60s.
Assa Abloy finished second
overall in the race to American
skipper John Kostecki and
company on the German
entry, illbruck. The Volvo 60s
were replaced by the canting
Volvo Open 70s in the next
edition of the race.
PHOTO: RICK TOMLINSONKen Winner, a young dinghy
and Hobie Cat sailor, was an
early adopter of boardsailing
as its popularity blossomed
throughout Europe and the
United States in the early
1980s. Winner was a pioneer
in the evolution of windsurf-
ing equipment, credited with
the adjustable boom—the
foot-adjustable mast track
common on course racing
boards. After two Windsurfer
World Championship titles
(1977 and 1980), Winner
authored multiple books about
the sport and later transitioned
to kiteboarding and kite design
with North Sails.
PHOTO: SAILING WORLD
ARCHIVESU
Z
In 1993, Australian sailor Simon
McKeon, sailing Yellow Pages
Endeavour, broke the World
Sailing Speed Record of 46.52
knots in 20 knots of wind over
the ocial 500-meter course.
The record stood for 11 years
until broken by Finian Maynard,
on a sailboard, in 2004. Paul
Larson’s Vestas Sail Rocket
bumped it up to 65.45 in 2012.
PHOTO: FREDERIC CLEMENT/
DPPIThe X Boat class is the primary
source of top-quality youth
sailors from the Midwest’s
inland lakes. In 2019, the
class will hold its 79th annual
championship, hosted by the
Minnetonka Yacht Club.
PHOTO: MELGES