I've been watching the Volvo Cup race coverage. I have one observation and question. These boats are the Ferrari's of the sea...super light with hi-tech composite materials. They race the boats to the edge...just to the breaking point. My question is about the durability of the carbon fiber masts. Why are they not made just a bit stronger (and heavier) so as to avoid snapping. I'm thinking the time lost racing with half of the stick rigged is far greater than that of a boat with a more robust (and heavier) mast. I'm no "Rocket-Surgeon", but me thinks someone didn't do the math for time/loss calculation. Just an observation. Comments?
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about two or three races ago
six boats sailed from S. Africa to Australia and finished within minutes of each other. They shave every ounce of surplus weight from these boats. The story is told of on skipper that insisted that the handles be cut off the tooth brushes to save weight. Sometimes it is hard to comprehend the competative mind.
six boats sailed from S. Africa to Australia and finished within minutes of each other. They shave every ounce of surplus weight from these boats. The story is told of on skipper that insisted that the handles be cut off the tooth brushes to save weight. Sometimes it is hard to comprehend the competative mind.
I wonder if they also don't carry water and only have small handpump watermakers to produce it when you need it. Lots of rail meat that could be put to good use while sitting there.There is a saying.....
There is a sailing racing saying that sums it all up: "With all things equal, the team not wearing socks will win."
There is a sailing racing saying that sums it all up: "With all things equal, the team not wearing socks will win."
Well, in the end...
Carbon Fiber is just a fancy way of saying "plastic". I always questioned whether or not it was worth replacing aluminum masts, and if the weight savings actually offset the load bearing concerns of carbon fiber masts. I am sure that I am in the minority, and that all the racers out there will jump all over this, however, I've seen way too many snapped carbon fiber masts over the years. If carbon fiber is here to stay, I wonder if you can't add additional support (shrouds and stays)to lessen the chance of failure. Just my two cents.
Carbon Fiber is just a fancy way of saying "plastic". I always questioned whether or not it was worth replacing aluminum masts, and if the weight savings actually offset the load bearing concerns of carbon fiber masts. I am sure that I am in the minority, and that all the racers out there will jump all over this, however, I've seen way too many snapped carbon fiber masts over the years. If carbon fiber is here to stay, I wonder if you can't add additional support (shrouds and stays)to lessen the chance of failure. Just my two cents.
pick your posion
Carbon fiber mast are great in that they don't need supporting shrouds and spreaders and all the rigging that goes with them, but they are also fat (at least they are on the Freedoms) because of it and that affects the wind flow around them. The no spreaders means you can run that boom out as far as you want to when running, but isn't that why we have spinackers? Also another bad point about carbon fiber mast is that they cost a lot to replace and are harder to find.
Carbon fiber mast are great in that they don't need supporting shrouds and spreaders and all the rigging that goes with them, but they are also fat (at least they are on the Freedoms) because of it and that affects the wind flow around them. The no spreaders means you can run that boom out as far as you want to when running, but isn't that why we have spinackers? Also another bad point about carbon fiber mast is that they cost a lot to replace and are harder to find.
Carbon vs Aluminium
This my interpretation of this mystery The new Volvo ocean racer are 70 feet long with a mast more than 100 feet tall. The boat weight about 13 tons (less than a swan 46) and the bulb around 5 tons, 14 feet below the waterline. During this race, the boats are expected to cover up to 600 miles per day, this is 25 knots average per hour. In a race boat, weight at the masthead is the enemy. Under sail, the mast acts as a long lever arm. Add 1 pound near the masthead and you need to add about 10 pounds of ballast to the keel to counterbalance it. That's 11 extra pounds you're carrying around the world. Carbon fiber cost two to four times as much as their aluminum equivalents. It is irrelevant when you are sponsored and the objective is to win a race around the world and get visibility for you sponsor. These boats are the formula 1 of the sea and they use the most up to date technology even if sometimes it is calculated to the extreme. Prior to rigging, the carbon spar will be half the weight of its aluminum counterpart; fully rigged with conventional shrouds, the advantage is reduced to about 35 percent. But still on a 100 foot tall mast, this is several hundred pounds they save at the top. I agree with your comments Rob that designers should be a little on the safe side and make the mast section a bit larger, but again these million dollar boats are extreme boats and everything, specifically weight aloft is not welcome. I think that contrary to Franklin affirmation, most carbon mast have a regular rigging with few exceptions like in Freedom. Aluminum masts are the same with the Hunter vision series or like the Non Such. Everyone can follow the race at www.volvooceanrace.org
This my interpretation of this mystery The new Volvo ocean racer are 70 feet long with a mast more than 100 feet tall. The boat weight about 13 tons (less than a swan 46) and the bulb around 5 tons, 14 feet below the waterline. During this race, the boats are expected to cover up to 600 miles per day, this is 25 knots average per hour. In a race boat, weight at the masthead is the enemy. Under sail, the mast acts as a long lever arm. Add 1 pound near the masthead and you need to add about 10 pounds of ballast to the keel to counterbalance it. That's 11 extra pounds you're carrying around the world. Carbon fiber cost two to four times as much as their aluminum equivalents. It is irrelevant when you are sponsored and the objective is to win a race around the world and get visibility for you sponsor. These boats are the formula 1 of the sea and they use the most up to date technology even if sometimes it is calculated to the extreme. Prior to rigging, the carbon spar will be half the weight of its aluminum counterpart; fully rigged with conventional shrouds, the advantage is reduced to about 35 percent. But still on a 100 foot tall mast, this is several hundred pounds they save at the top. I agree with your comments Rob that designers should be a little on the safe side and make the mast section a bit larger, but again these million dollar boats are extreme boats and everything, specifically weight aloft is not welcome. I think that contrary to Franklin affirmation, most carbon mast have a regular rigging with few exceptions like in Freedom. Aluminum masts are the same with the Hunter vision series or like the Non Such. Everyone can follow the race at www.volvooceanrace.org
Living on the edge
When in any serious competition, whether it be sailing, motorcycles, automobiles , etc. you have to live on the edge to win. Living on the edge means challenging yourself and all of your equipment to its limits. When i was younger and i raced dirt bikes, i would go as fast as i could without killing myself, and then 'just a litle bit faster'. We watch automobile races where the engines blow up. Competitors want that edge nd are willing to gamble to get it. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. The only sure thing about racing is that if you are conservative, and err on the side of safety, you will come in last providing someone doesnt run you over first.
When in any serious competition, whether it be sailing, motorcycles, automobiles , etc. you have to live on the edge to win. Living on the edge means challenging yourself and all of your equipment to its limits. When i was younger and i raced dirt bikes, i would go as fast as i could without killing myself, and then 'just a litle bit faster'. We watch automobile races where the engines blow up. Competitors want that edge nd are willing to gamble to get it. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. The only sure thing about racing is that if you are conservative, and err on the side of safety, you will come in last providing someone doesnt run you over first.
racing at the limit!
My college coach once taught me that when fitting out my boat, "if it doesn't break at least once a year, it's too heavy!" racing at that level means taking risks-if you add excess weight to the mast, you add it to the hull, the rigging, everthing else-a succesful team will be better at minimizing than the competition, as well as better sailors. As to the toothbrushes, oral-b makes these paper things called brush-ups....
My college coach once taught me that when fitting out my boat, "if it doesn't break at least once a year, it's too heavy!" racing at that level means taking risks-if you add excess weight to the mast, you add it to the hull, the rigging, everthing else-a succesful team will be better at minimizing than the competition, as well as better sailors. As to the toothbrushes, oral-b makes these paper things called brush-ups....
racing at the limit!
My college coach once taught me that when fitting out my boat, "if it doesn't break at least once a year, it's too heavy!" racing at that level means taking risks-if you add excess weight to the mast, you add it to the hull, the rigging, everthing else-a succesful team will be better at minimizing than the competition, as well as better sailors. As to the toothbrushes, oral-b makes these paper things called brush-ups....
My college coach once taught me that when fitting out my boat, "if it doesn't break at least once a year, it's too heavy!" racing at that level means taking risks-if you add excess weight to the mast, you add it to the hull, the rigging, everthing else-a succesful team will be better at minimizing than the competition, as well as better sailors. As to the toothbrushes, oral-b makes these paper things called brush-ups....
Brush-ups?
Seems like if you carried enough to get you through the race, you'd have as much weight as a toothbrush... ken.
Seems like if you carried enough to get you through the race, you'd have as much weight as a toothbrush... ken.
Brush-ups?
Seems like if you carried enough to get you through the race, you'd have as much weight as a toothbrush... ken.
Seems like if you carried enough to get you through the race, you'd have as much weight as a toothbrush... ken.
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