On big noses and extending things at the bottom

So first on extending keel. Off course system that 747 uses is not new. It is for instance used on 198 - added by Adrien Hardy for the 2007 transat. It makes a little difference but far from decisive. Keep in mind that racing is best selection regarding what works and what doesn't. Canting keel works so everybody has it. Sliding-canting keel is to complicated so nobody uses it anymore. Keep in mind that Raison and Lucas had funny keels on their chined 231 and 232. 231 had 3d keel that was canting and moving fore aft, while bulb stayed horizontal. Fin was also rotating around vertical axis. Davids 232 was "simpler" with canting keel that could also rotate around the axis.
So in this case extending keel obviously isn't considered as decisive performance feature otherwise it would be used by more than two boats.

Does this shoe-like shape works on heavier boats? Lets wait and see. Classic powerfull wide hulls work on serie boats as good as on light protos even though it was a lot of sceptisism at the start. And keep in mind also that this is first generation of this concept designed by visionary with balls of stell but no big design bureau behind him. When design studios (and off course David himself) start optimising the design I wouldn't be surprised that second and third generation make considerable steps in performance (and no doubt aestetic :)

Remember that new generation of VO70 promises to be faster than the last one inspite the rule changes that handicaped the performance solely due to design optimisation. And Groupama and Ericson4 look like twin brothers when you compare 747 and for instance latest Lombard 800.

Regarding the race field - Kro439, I raced in Minis from 2002 and after I saw a boat with sponsor with green logo and name Rabit in the name coming second in 2007 I stoped beliving in jinx. Just call it as you see it and that's it :)