Life aboard a MOD70 is one of pure intensity. Every wave, every squall, every manoeuvre demands total focus and stamina.
“The boats could race forever,” says Collier Wakefield. “It’s the humans who break first.”
The motion is relentless. “At 30 knots, it feels like a runaway train,” adds Thompson. “The hulls slam like thunder, and the foils scream through the sea.”
Crew members snatch brief moments of rest between three-hour shifts. Even then, sleep is scarce. “You might get ninety minutes’ real rest in six hours,” says Thompson. “Off watch doesn’t mean off duty.”
Endurance Meets Precision
Concentration is everything. “We limit driving stints to an hour,” says Collier Wakefield. “Fatigue costs speed. The data shows when you fade.”
On both boats, the mantra is simple: keep it fast. “There’s no secret weapon,” says Thompson. “Just thousands of small decisions made right.”
Even their rivalry sharpens discipline. Each team pushes the other to the limit, yet respect remains. “There aren’t many of us sailing these beasts,” says Collier Wakefield. “We compete fiercely, but we also look out for each other.”
Racing the Weather
The Atlantic offers endless surprises. Squalls often decide the race. “They can make or break a lead,” says Collier Wakefield. “You must ride the pressure just ahead of the rain.”
Thompson calls squalls the great equaliser. “They move as fast as we do. The trick is to stay calm, find clear sky, and hold your line.”
Each decision—when to gybe, when to reef, how to position—can swing the outcome by miles.
Rivalry and respect
Despite the exhaustion, both sailors speak with clear passion. “These boats still thrill me every time,” says Thompson. “Thirty knots across the Atlantic—it’s a dream come true.”
Their respect runs deep. “Loïck Peyron, on Zoulou, once skippered me on Banque Populaire V,” says Thompson. “Now we’re rivals, but friends too.”
At the dock in Antigua, the competition melts into camaraderie. “That post-race beer always tastes better,” says Collier Wakefield. “We’ve both survived it.”
Lessons for Every Sailor
Whether racing a 35-footer or a MOD70, the lessons endure: preparation, precision, and teamwork.
“Plan your race, trust your crew, and keep learning,” says Thompson. “That’s offshore sailing in a nutshell.”
For Collier Wakefield, it’s pure joy. “These boats are fast, furious, and uncomfortable—but I love every second. It’s not about trophies. It’s about racing hard and finishing close.”