Once Shining was launched, the Magic Sailing Team’s adventure got more thrilling by the minute… and its organization knew no limits. The Open, designed by German Frers jr, features an innovative hull, whose design reaped its first significant rewards with the Barcolana victories in ’99 and the year 2000, and with the Roma per Tutti race record in 2001. Shining takes part in races where the overall win counts (based on “elapsed” time as opposed to corrected time), and where the boats compete with the aim of setting a record for covering the distance in the shortest time. Shining, therefore, is synonymous with speed as well as technology.

In 2003, the boat will be taking to the water again after a thorough overhaul: see how Shining has been transformed in the relevant boatyard section. Here are some photos and comments on all the work carried out. Shining, the hull with the finned ballast… is ready to glide off towards new challenges!

"Having formulated a number of solutions approaching a skiff version of a 68' hull, I came up with the idea of using the fins as water ballast”, explains German Frers jr., designer of SHINING. “This system allows for a narrower hull design with a much-reduced wetted surface, minimal structural weight and excellent adaptability at sea. The additional weight of the water in the fins (technically, the ballast) is nonetheless needed to counter the lightweight structure and the fixed keel, which behaves better when sailing on the wind than a swing keel.

The fins stay above water level, using the downwind fin for the stability angle in the event of a sudden luff. If the boat capsizes, the water tank will transform the boat into an asymmetrical shape, so that she rights herself immediately. The system has been designed to move the mass of water from one side to the other in 30 seconds and to fill in less than 45 seconds. A special keel profile was designed for optimum performance over a wide range of speeds and to resist the strong bulb bending moment.”