design we developed for her has applications for cruising yachts looking for the maximum righting moment (the lowest centre of gravity of the keel), minimum hydrodynamic resistance, maximum sideforce and minimum draft. All these goals are shared by a 12-metre yacht and a shoal-draft cruising boat.

The Kiwi Magic project used methods of research not previously available to the yacht designer: wind tunnels and tank testing techniques to study underwater flow characteristics and sophisticated computer programs to compare different designs under simulated race conditions. These new tools of yacht design are equally valid for any cruising design.

After Kiwi Magic won 36 of her first 37 races, we were justified in claiming she was an exceptional design. It was disappointing not to have won the Cup. Realising they had a fast boat, the New Zealand America's Cup team concentrated on improving their sailing skills without the distraction of developing the design through constant modifications. Dennis Conner realised that he needed extra performance and modified his boat until he could match the speed of the New Zealanders. We were left with a feeling of "Perhaps if ..."

The promotional potential of being involved with the America's Cup led to a new racing design commission. Rather than re-enter this presently confused arena of the America's Cup, my idea was to