History of Multihulls in the Azab Races

Multihulls in the Azores and Back Race
© Copyright Peter R. Clutterbuck

1975
The first AZAB race was restricted to single handed yachts and multis were well represented especially by the French entrants. The outstanding boat was no doubt the trimaran Three legs of Man sailed by Nick Keig. He took line honours in both legs, finishing the first leg in 8 1/2days. Also entered was Eugene Riduidel (France) in Capitaine Cook a 33ft Tri.

1979
Multihull Class won by N C Gray & J Mustoe in 34ft trimaran Whisky Jack
2nd D L Eastbourne & J H Patterson in Iroquois catarmaran Mineehaha
3rd A J G Davies & B S Sanders in 35ft Kelsall tri Mary Jane Louise
also competed:-
K Schrodt of Germany in trimaran Sigma 9
Sgt Phillips & D Dillstone in trimaran Kingsbury

1983
Only one multihulls entry out of 62 :- A & T Veyron in French 30ft trimaran Rizla

1987
Line honours for all classes won by Peter Phillips & Dickie Gomes in 75ft
trimaran Novanet Elite
Winner of Multihull class (MOCRA handicap) Lilian & Richard Woods in
Banshee designed and built by themselves
3rd David Adams & Slade Penoyre(Outward leg) ; Enid Carter (Return leg) in
26ft Telstar SP The smallest boat in AZAB ’87 had already completed Round
Britain and Twostar

1991
Winner :- Helena Darvelid and Brian Thompson in 35ft tri Transient. Their
time of 5days, 4hours 34 mins is the record for the return leg
Mark Gatehouse & Anthony Boach in catamaran Queen Anne’s Battery -
completed 1st leg only
Ian Holloway & Mervyn Owen in 38ft trimaran Sorceress
Mike Golding & Steven Williams (Ooutward leg) & Alam Wynne Thomas (Return
leg) in 40ft tri Spirit
Dutch entry Jan Klazinga (Out), Radbould Klazinga (Return leg) Melle
Klazinga (both legs) 53ft tri Tres

1995
1st in class (Mocra Handicap) John Fowler & Mark Orrin a 42 ft Irving tri
Shockwave
2nd Rupert Kidd & Alan Mitchell in Fiery Cross
Also competing were :_
Peter Clutterbuck & Brian Thompson in 40ft tri Spirit of England. Their
time of 4days 22 hours 14mins is the record for the outward leg
Trevor Leek in 40ft tri Mollyhawk
John Chaundy & Richard Skipworth in 36ft tri Severalles Challenge. The
crew were picked up by a Spanish helicopter when the tri flipped over in
rough weather 125 miles off Coruna

1999
On MOCRA handicap:-
1st Tony Purser & Pip Patterson in 34ft Banshee catamaran Multihull Centre
Backlash
2nd Peter Kinch, Ralph Kinch (Outward) & Diana Kinch (Return), an all
family trip in the Outremer 38 cat, Pegasus
3rd Donald Mchardy & Diana Holder in Fiery Cross
Also competing, Alan Grace & James Hatfield in a Dazcat 30 tri Time & Tide