Looking at the excellent photos published on this website it's my impression that modern M/Rs plane with far more of the front of the boat out of the water than in former years, at least back to the mast in many photos. Do people agree and if so is it the bow being lifted by today's much larger spinnkers? Anyway it makes for exciting pics.

Rockers are flatter for a start

I believe that there is simply more wind than was in the old days...

Health conscious attitudes have led us to increase the levels of fibre in our diets.

I was under the impression that the more waterline length ie the flater the faster!!

I am sure this is why some crews and some helms sit on the leeward side deck on a reach - nothing to do with seeing how the spinnaker is set, but all to do with the sailor's diet and beer intake the night before sailing!!  When both are to windward you can be sure it was baked beans for both. Crew to leeward - he'd had a skinful.  Helm to leeward - Atkins Diet!!  All relative on the Beaufart Scale!!!!

Or possibly it could be because the photographers and the editor were looking for the most spectacular picture?  Remember the Peter Cook speculation that there are hundreds of portraits of nude ladies that we are not allowed to see because the wisp of gauze didn't land in the right place.

Nowadays spinnakers are carried in far stronger winds than in the past. In the two windy races in the 1963 Champs I don't think any spinnakers flown at all!

7'2" beam - carbon masts - flat hulls - lowers - 64:1 kickers - raking rigs - long leech spinakers - spinaker shoots - mylar sails - carbon fibre knees - west - the list goes on....

Would we carry a spinaker in a Proctor IX with a wooden mast glued together with cashemite now?

Thanks to development!!

Who's got Carbon Fibre knees - I've still got the clapped out organic ones - do they help with straight leg hiking

My knees are a bit stiff these days but the doc didnt stay they were carbon,Ive got a Carbon fibre Strut though but now were getting personal.