Boats & Designers

The new Mark Mills Open 60 for Challenge Sailing Team is undergoing an in-depth research and development programme, which commenced in January 2003, that will include the use of tank testing, wind tunnel and finite element analysis in the design of her hull, rig, ballast and appendage package. In addition to the designers from Mark Mills, a number of engineering/design consultants will be used as a part of the process. The design has evolved incorporating the experience of skipper, Lee Gallacher and his team, and has been optimised for the expected conditions and parameters uniquely found in the Vendée Globe. Wherever comparable performance and safety criteria could be maintained, thought has been included into the design that reflects future commitments to double-handed and fully crewed events. This manifests itself most clearly in the form of the trench cockpit and twin wheel steering system.

As well as pure speed, much thought has gone into the interior and exterior design of the yacht to reduce fatigue and increase comfort levels during short-handed racing. This is also to reduce the impact on Lees’ joints. These design features are being affected with minimal addition to the overall displacement of the yacht. The yacht will conform with all IMOCA safety requirements. Engineering reserve factors throughout the appendages, hull and spar, will be on a par with existing Open 60 designs. Prudence, reliability and good practice have been the watchwords when making design and project choices. The design of the yacht will have input from Lee and Alex Alley, also a yacht designer. This is to be able to accommodate certain requirements of Lee and his disease. Those requirements are things like twin steering wheels to reduce pain of standing for long periods with arms held at an angle that Lee currently finds uncomfortable and painful with conventional steering methods. Other changes are to add a ‘coffee grinder’, a type of winch to reduce impact on the joints whilst trimming the boat, a constant requirement on offshore racing. The build of the boat is currently under negotiation with a UK builder and will be built from cedar wood. The boat will be light and strong, aspects which Lee considers important for endurance and safety.

Mills Design Ltd. is a firm set up by Mark Mills to specialise in performance yacht design. Based in Ireland but also active on the West Coast of the U.S., the emphasis is on medium/light displacement designs for racing and cruising. Mills Design has enjoyed remarkable success since its inception in 1995, with immediate wins in IRC for their first designs, followed by expansion into IMS, IRM, and Open rules. Their goal is to combine their design skills, open imaginations, and sailing experience. In producing a new yacht, the central philosophy of Mills Design is that of developing and maintaining a focal design concept, the nature and integrity of which will determine the character of the finished product. In attempting to hold to a clear design concept they have found that with careful analysis complex requirements are often best satisfied with simple discrete solutions, simplicity being a key to success sin competitive sailing.

Mark Mills is a San Francisco native raised in Ireland, Mills started by working for ULDB pioneer Thomas Wylie in California and later with Seattle designer Bob Perry, studying his legendary drafting skills. After graduating from Willamette University in 1990 he returned to the UK to earn a Naval Architecture Degree at the Southampton Institute, and expanded his design background to include extensive IMS and Whitbread rule experience. In fact, as a student he was a joint winner of the Seahorse Whitbread 30 Design Competition in 1992, and subsequently became a member of the Whitbread 30Steering Committee during the writing and release of the rule, since taken over by Mount Gay. During this period he also began racing at international level leading to participation in Commodores' Cup, Admirals' Cup, and other Grand Prix events. This ongoing connection with top level racing provides up to the minute technical awareness, as well as access to some of the best minds in international yachting. This means the best talent from around the world is available to maximise the potential of every project.