Yachting: Why the yachts are breaking

Farr Yacht Design president Russell Bowler says a delay in the release of the specifications for the new ocean racers and the teams' struggle for financial support are possible reasons for the high attrition rate in the current round-the-world race.

Four of the seven yachts - all Farr designs - have suffered serious structural or component failure.

The design specifications for the new 21m yachts were released in 2003 for the 2005 race.

That and the search for funding meant most went into the race with minimal nautical miles under them.

"Every one was squeezed for time other than ABN Amro," Auckland-born Bowler says.

"When you look at the speed in which the boats were built and trialled before the race started, you'd have to stand back and say it would be unrealistic not to expect some problems.

"What has been disturbing is that the problems have led to the withdrawal of the boats from the leg." Bowler says the new boats could have been slightly more conservative, but "what they have produced is a very fast and very exciting ocean racing boat".

"The question of whether they are just too brutal for the crews has yet to be answered.

"I think [ABN Amro skipper] Mike Sanderson made some interesting comments which sort of said, 'We are doing our job, we are having fun, get off our backs'. If that is the general opinion of the crews out there then I think the boats are just fine."

Three of the failures (movistar, Pirates of the Caribbean and Ericsson) have been with their canting keel system, in particular the hydraulic rams.

Bowler says his designers had met the people who designed the machinery for the rams to try to work out why the technology keeps failing.

"It is not our area of expertise but after a couple of weeks of this it will be."

The crew of Brasil 1 found a section of delamination of their deck but were able to repair it and continue.

When asked if they would have done anything different, Bowler says it is too early to say.

"We have a notebook full of little things but I would reserve an opinion on that until I sit down with the crews after this leg, their first Southern Ocean leg."

Farr Yacht Design has a proud history in the race, designing the last five winners.

Bowler is hopeful that number will rise to six in June.

"There is a long way to go yet. It is a funny game and you never know what is around the corner."