The Whitbread 60 (W60), later known as the Volvo Ocean 60 (VO60), was a class of ocean racing yacht built to a "box rule" specifying key design parameters of the 10 smaller yachts which took part the 1993–94 Whitbread Round the World Race.[1]

Illbruck Challenge in Kiel during 2001–2002 Volvo Ocean Race
Illbruck Challenge in Kiel during 2001–2002 Volvo Ocean Race
Team SEB, Team Tyco and News Corp in Kiel during 2001–2002 Volvo Ocean Race

The class raced with such success that the following race was restricted to Whitbread 60s only. Its design was used for the last time in the 2001–02 Volvo Ocean Race, replaced thereafter by the sophisticated, canting keel Volvo Open 70, built to a new box rule.[1]

Box Rule specifications

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Ocean 60
Overall Length: 19.50 m (64 ft)
Beam: 5.25 m (17 ft)
Draught: 3.75 m (12 ft)
Air Draught: 26.00 m (85 ft)
Displacement: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb)

Yachts

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A total of 32 Volvo Ocean 60s were built for the three editions the class was used by the race. 28 of these competed in the race with 4 boats being built as training boats for two boat testing although race organizers tried to discourage this.

Whitbread 60s/Volvo Ocean 60s
1993–1994 1997–1998 2001–2002
Brooksfield America's Challenge Amer Sports One
Heineken Brunel Sunergy Amer Sports Too
Hetman Sahaidachny Chessie Racing Assa Abloy (2)
Galicia '93 Pescanova EF Education Djuice Dragons
Intrum Justitia EF Language Illbruck Challenge
Reebok/Dolphin & Youth Innovation Kvaerner Team News Corp
Tokio Merit Cup (1) Team SEB
Odessa Silk Cut Team Tyco
Winston Swedish Match
Yamaha Toshiba
Tune Up Boats
Tokio II Merit Cup (2) Assa Abloy (1)
Djuice Dragons (1)

Designers

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Whitbread 60s/Volvo Ocean 60s Designers
Designer 1993–1994 1997–1998 2001–2002 Total
Bruce Farr 7 8(1) 6 22
John Swarbrick (1) 1
Bouvet-Petit 1 1
Sidenko 1 1
Humphreys 1 1
Alan Andrews 1 1
Judel Vroljik 1 1
Laurie Davidson 1(1) 2
German Frers 1 1
Total 10(1) 10(1) 8(2) 32

Comparison of Ocean 60 and Open 70

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Ocean 60 Open 70[2]
Overall Length: 19.50 m (64 ft) 21.50 m (71 ft)
Beam: 5.25 m (17 ft) 5.70 m (19 ft)
Draught: 3.75 m (12 ft) 4.50 m (15 ft)
Air Draught: 26.00 m (85 ft) 31.50 m (103 ft)
Displacement: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb) 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
Ballast Water Ballast
Keel Fixed Canting

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Geographic: Volvo Ocean Race--Map, History, Dates". www.nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2001. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Volvo Ocean 70". www.perrottidesign.com.
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