CAN you tell me if the Walker Wingsail-built trimaran called Blue Nova is still in existence? This futuristic vessel was featured in The Northern Echo in 1991 and 1993. - JL Robinson, Darlington.

THE trimaran was built by Walker Wingsail in Plymouth between 1989 and 1990. Unlike a normal yacht, a wingsail uses rigid vertical "wings" rather than conventional cloth sails.

The sails are designed using aerospace technology and are powered by sun and wind and use the latest glass and carbonfibre technology.

During its first seven years, the Blue Nova sailed 30,000 nautical miles and crossed the Atlantic twice. It withstood several severe hurricanes, including winds exceeding 100 knots.

Blue Nova was bought from Walker Wingsail in 1997 by Next Challenge Ltd and renamed Inventure. It has been continuously developed by its new owners, which aims to use it for a number of record-breaking feats. Changes were made to the boat to improve its efficiency, but one of the primary aims of the modification was to make it suitable for disabled sailors. The whole craft is now suitable for wheelchair users.

Trevor Jones is at the forefront of Next Challenge's quest. He aims to become the first quadraplegic to sail around the world and achieve the circumnavigation with a majority crew of wheelchair users. If he succeeds it will also be the first navigation of the world in a Wingsail yacht.

Jones, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, broke his neck in a skiing accident in 1988. In 1992 he became the first quadraplegic to be awarded a pilot's licence and flew the Channel solo in a specially-adapted microlight.

Jones had hoped to sail the Inventure on an 80-day journey around Britain this year, for fund-raising, publicity, training and trials. But the trials came to a halt in August when it was discovered that further modifications to the hull and rudder would have to be made.

The round Britain journey has been postponed, although fund-raising events are still being held to promote it. Information and updates can be found on the official website at www.nextchallenge.co.uk

WHAT is the origin of the Stepford Wives? - Doug McKenna, Stockton.

STEPFORD Wives is the title of a 1975 film based on a novel by Ira Levin in which the men of a small Connecticut town (Stepford) turn their wives into robots.

At first glance, all the housewives seem perfectly normal, but all look a little bit too perfect and have little interest in anything other than the ironing and best brand of spray starch.

Joanna and Bobbie are newcomers to the town who organise an afternoon party to try to encourage a more adventurous outlook on life and some of the women reveal they were once enthusiastic supporters of the Women's Lib movement - but what changed their minds?

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