A new ballast system, a new titanium keel, and now a new mast with a 3D woven carbon mast track, which is something completely new in the world of ocean racing. Safran is innovating once again, bringing together expertise from within the Group and from outside. The weight savings and improvements in terms of performance and reliability are “huge”. We find out more.
The original idea was decided on at the same time as the keel change (the titanium one), and the overall philosophy of this new mast was as follows: it had to be lighter, offer better performance, be more reliable and with an overall cost not exceeding 20% more than a classic mast. Guillaume Verdier explains: "We didn’t begin with a blank sheet of paper, as the initial choice was to keep the basic arrangement of the first two masts, in other words, it rests on the deck and has three layers of spreaders. We didn’t want to take any risks by completely changing the concept, with for example a mast with two layers of spreaders or a wing-mast, which are both more flexible and subject to dynamic forces. We gradually made headway working together: I was involved with the conception and design, Hervé Devaux at HDS checked over my static calculations, Bruno Dambrine at Safran offered us his experience of the 3D woven technology and then, there was also Snecma and Safran Engineering Services (subsidiaries of the Safran Group) working on dynamic calculations. Thanks to digital modelling and the means available at Safran, we were able to carry out simulations at each stage of the job concerning the behaviour of the boat and mast, for example, seeing what happens, when she slams into a wave. Thanks to that, we were able to identify strains in certain places that we couldn’t see simply by using static calculations." These dynamic calculations, used by Safran in particular for their crash tests, are a new concept in ocean racing, and enabled the team to advance towards this highly innovative mast. "We also included the data we already had thanks to the sensors measuring acceleration on board the boat, when she had her previous masts. At each stage, we knew if we were on the right track or if we had things to correct."
Jacquard woven carbon
The actual weight savings are obviously confidential. But they are “huge”, according to Jean-Marie de la Porte, Safran’s project manager. If we are looking at a boat, we need to consider everything, and it is no surprise to anyone that saving weight high up, is something everyone looks for, "as when you save one unit on top, you can take three times that from the keel bulb, for example," explained Guillaume Verdier. We end up with a boat that is stiffer, which cuts through the waves more easily, which pitches less, and so is faster.
Returning to the 3D woven technology, this is a process developed in the Safran Group, which involves weaving together carbon threads using the same principle as on a traditional loom. This technology used in the design of parts for the aircraft industry means that it is possible to obtain mechanical specifications, which are much higher than using traditional carbon. “The design of this new mast involved calling upon the services of experts within the Safran Group as well as from outside, and this was an extremely enjoyable experience,” stated Jean-Marie de la Porte. In the end, as with the two previous masts, it was built at Marstrom’s in Sweden. “This is the conclusion of this renovation of the boat, which began with the replacement of her keel and the modification of the ballast system.”
Marc Guillemot: “We’ve made considerable progress”
As for the final result, we leave that to Marc Guillemot to explain. What did he see at the recent Guyader Grand Prix, which was the first opportunity to try out the mast in a race? “There were two goals: reliability and weight savings, and so consequently improved performance. As far as the reliability is concerned, that is something we’re going to have to wait to judge, but in theory, knowing that we’re not going to see the mast track snap off, thanks to the 3D woven carbon, that is something very positive. As for the savings in weight, that is something we can see already: it is a high percentage and the goal has well and truly been achieved.” Out on the water? The reply is clear: “What I felt since the trails has been confirmed: we’ve made considerable progress. We see that in every point of sail, particularly sailing upwind. Last year, as you might expect, we were lagging behind the boats from Safran’s generation,which were built afterwards (PRB, Macif, Banque Populaire, etc), but now we’re back up with them. Combined with the new ballast system and the new keel, this work we have done together is rather like pushing the reset button. For the moment, it’s very encouraging.”
To see the video of the new mast: click here
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