This man must be really, really chuffed watching the Transat Jacques Vabre. He’s designer Guillaume Verdier.

Who he? You might well ask. Verdier used to work for Groupe Finot and has been collaborating with mulithull designers VPLP, and he is behind the designs of the two monohulls leading at present: Marc Guillemot’s super-stealthy looking Safran and Giovanni Soldini’s Telecom Italia.

These are two great sailors, certainly (I love the way the battle-hardened, dishevelled and very laid back Soldini is showing the way to the nippers of the Class 40), but these boats are plainly quick.

If I were at Farr Yacht Design, I’d be looking over my shoulder.