Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008 - (Page 68)

LAB ©B. Stichelbaut/Britair ©G.Grenier/Generali The skipper of Brit Air appreciates the aerodynamic efficiency of his large diameter mast On Generali’s conventional rigging, we can see the upper level of spreaders with their gull wing shape His colleague, Yann Eliès likes to joke about it: «You can see those that have a wing mast, because they keep looking upwards», in other wards staring at the mast. To choose his spar, the skipper of Generali discussed it with his sailmaker (Incidences). Following these talks, he concluded that if there was a wing mast, it had to be such that considering its diameter, its weight and profile did not really correspond to the demands of sailing in the wild southern seas. He chose a conventional rig, which was not lighter, but more Why bother with all that? reliable for a Vendée Globe, he believed. And also much easier to manage whatever the sail surface hoisted. However, he has also fitted his boat with outriggers, which are only used to adjust the sails more easily reaching. When he visited Lorima, the manufacturer of his mast, Yann was joined by Jérémie Beyou, who also moved on to 60-foot IMOCA boats. Both sailors chose rigs with small diameters, which were available at the time, but the skipper of Delta Dore, whose boat was designed by the Farr studio, made it turn with mobile spreaders. An option that Yann Eliès did not go for, because: «that makes the rig more complicated for a gain in performance, which is difficult to evaluate.» A ROTATING WING MAST, A CONVENTIONAL ROTATING MAST, A FIXED MAST These spars all share advanced technology and a height of around 30 metres – two higher than in 2004 – and as much as a 60-footer with three hulls. They are all featherweight and can have a cathedral of sails hoisted in terrifyingly stressful conditions. What can we say about the recent families of mast? “I have sailed on two boats… There are too many other differences to appreciate what is down to the mast,” adds the designer of Generali and Brit’Air, with their identical hulls. «In their short trials, it would seem that Yann sails better close hauled, while we are better reaching», noted Armel. He added: «Very small differences in comparison to what you can see between two Figaro monotypes.» Yann shares the same point of view and adopts the joke made up by Michel Desjoyeaux after a day of tests out on the water: «Why bother with all that?» As if all that energy, work (and money moreover) spent perfecting rigs can be expressed by minute differences out on the water, at the most. That is why Yann preferred not to worry too much about all that. Patrice Carpentier A RIG STRETCHING UPWARDS IN ONE PIECE There is one remarkable aspect concerning the differences in the masts on the new sixty-footers. That is the one-piece rig on Gitana 80. The shrouds made of PBO are in one piece from the top to the bottom. There are no joins, no need for mechanical spreaders or links… The shrouds simply go from the ends of the spreaders with their special housing (in a crescent shape). Only the links on the top are fitted with a steel screw at the top to adjust the tension. The aim is to save a few kilos of course. These composite cables linked by rollers are made by the Italian manufacturer, Mafioli. It took some brains too to work on the manufacture of the new generation of hooks for the Vendée Globe 60-footers, which we will tell you about in a future issue of OceanRacing. Ocean Racing - december 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008

Cover
Edito
Contents
What they said
News
Portfolio - The news in the picture
Transat Jacques Vabre - Monohulls in power
In the words of the skipper - Michel Desjoyaux, A little bit more
Barcelona World Race - A couple sailing around the world
Imoca - Growth crisis in the Imoca class
Transat 6.5 - A whole series of records
Mini Class - Anatomy of a winner
Multihulls - What sort of trimarans tomorrow ?
Volvo Ocean Race - Second generation
Trials - Mach 45 : an unusual IRC
Match Racing - King Richard
Tactics - A good start
Portrait - Jacques Caraës
Lab - Tubular or wing mast ?
Forty years ago - Chichester, the lonely sea and the sky
Equipment - Shop window
New products - From the drawing board to the boatyard
Opinion - The mirage of worshipping technology

Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008