Windquest

John Bertrand was Project Director and Sailing Master for the design, construction and campaigns of the 74-foot Class A Maxi ocean racer Windquest. Launched in 1993 the custom-designed IMS racer set new design standards that were subsequently adopted for Class A Maxis. The boat was first to finish in the 1993 Chicago - Mackinac Race and the Chicago - Port Huron Race. In 1994, she took line and corrected fleet honors in these two Great Lakes classics. That year, Windquest also took line honors in the 630-mile Newport to Bermuda Race. She was also overall Class winner at the San Francisco Big Boat Series later the same year. For the 1995 Transpac Race, Windquest was turbocharged with extra sail area and other modifications that quickly became the trend for maxis competing in open events.