keel and an asymmetrical kite.  Others include a carbon wishbone boom for the Wylie Cat 39, a new keel and rudder for the Frers F3 Surefire, some more work on the Ultimate 20 and a 37-foot cruising catamaran. 

                “I still like monohulls,” Jim says, “but the improvements possible in single hull performance are limited.  There’s much more room for progress in multihulls.  They’re more challenging design-wise and they’re more thrilling to sail.”

                  Hogg has another scheme that includes Antrim and may provide thrills on a megascale.   There’s talk of a turn-of-the-century race around the globe for the 10 fastest yachts in the world.  The French plan to enter a 140-foot schooner rigged catamaran, figuring that bigger is better.  Hogg things a 65-ft, foil-borne multihull is the smarter and faster way to go.  In 15 knots of breeze, the craft could approach 30 knots of speed as it lifts out of the water.  For rough weather in the Southern Ocean, the boat would drop off the foils and proceed as a normal multihull.  Hogg thinks such a boat would demonstrate the superiority of American technology, and his designer of choice would be Jim Antrim.

                Such a project would be somehow fitting for the Wizard of El Sobrante, who has all the earmarks of a 20-year overnight success.  He’s definitely done his homework and proven both his tenacity and his diversity.  About the only challenge he hasn’t faced yet is how to deal with being ‘known’.  Somehow, we’ve a feeling it won’t be long after his mettle is tested in that area, too.

                -shimon van collie

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