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News

World's Tallest Mast Delivered

01 Jan 2004

VT Halmatic rounded off an eventful 2003 with the completion of the world's tallest yacht mast, which will be fitted on the high-tech luxury yacht Mirabella V under construction by parent company VT Shipbuilding . The 90m hollow carbon epoxy mast, which has a maximum cross section of 1.6m and structural thickness of up to 40mm, will support some 3,400m 2of sail.

The Mirabella V mast is loaded onto a barge at VT Halmatics Portchester shipyard.

Having been loaded onto a barge at VT Halmatic's Portchester shipyard, the mast was transported to Southampton Docks where the rigging is being dressed and the mast stepped before fitting out is complete. The mast was manufactured in halves, with the back half comprising two sections and the front half divided into three sections.

The manufacturing process, a similar method to that used in the production of Grand Prix racing cars and the aerospace industry, consists of layers of carbon reinforcement pre-impregnated with epoxy resin. A vacuum bag is used to consolidate the carbon every few layers.

The mast sections were cured using a heat process with temperatures up to 70ºC.

Carbon compression tubes were pre-fitted to coincide with the position of each spreader.

Some five tonnes of cabling have been fitted within the hollow centre of the mast, including a mass of sensors to monitor the sail performance.

The final process saw the sections of the mast glued together using an epoxy adhesive.

Structural expertise was provided by Hamble UK based High Modulus, who are involved in composite engineering aspects for the total Mirabella V project.

MJ Information No: 19003

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