Two major steps: long strides by Rondal.

Step 1: Rondal supplies tallest-ever one-piece mast for 70m Perini.

At the end of April, the 73m Rondalmainmast for Perini’s new 70m ketch was stepped. The60m mizzen mast was installed a couple of weeks earlier when the yacht was still on the hard.

Two telescopic cranes carefully orchestrated the positioning of the towering 73m-long spar above the yacht to achieve the perfect fit, both between yacht and spar and between Rondal and Perini Navi. This mainmast is not just the tallest yet produced by Rondal – it is the tallest one-piece mast ever produced anywhere. The engineering of a one piece mast on this scale represents a major achievement not only for Rondal – who developed the concept and the technology for single-piece spar construction – but also for Perini and the wider superyacht industry.

The complete rigging package supplied by Rondal features two style-to-order Rondal furling booms as well as spreaders, standing and running rigging, and monitoring sensors. In the coming weeks, the masts and solid carbon rigging by Carbo Link will be tuned prior to extensive sea trials.

To complete their contribution to such an impressive project, Rondal also supplied all flush deck hatches, feeders for the blade, staysail, main and mizzen sheets, and an electrically-operated stainless steel sliding door, clad in titanium.

Sailing pictures will appear in the September Rondal Review.

Step 2: 46m HJB. 62 m. rig. Enhanced by Rondal innovation.

The 46m Tripp-designed sloop Skade was launched at Holland Jachtbouw early in 2016; her 62m Rondal carbon fibre one-piece mast was stepped just a few days later.

The full Rondal rig package for this project consists of mast and furling boom, standing and running rigging … and some innovative extras.

The continuous side rigging configuration, produced by Carbo Link, creates smooth looks at the spreader ends. The diagonals are the first to be linked to Rondal’s new internal D-tang – a further example of Rondal’s fine eye for detail. This new system creates a clean and smoothlook at deck level, since no turnbuckles are required, yet it still facilitates length adjustments atthe D-tangs and shims at chain plate, all without affecting functionality, quality or serviceability.

A further feature of the standing rigging is that the loads on all shrouds are measured in real time. The output is not only made available to the crew to assist in trim and rig management, itis also communicated to Rondal engineers, who will utilise the data to assist in the optimization of future projects.

Following successful sea trials, SYSkade is now enjoying her maiden voyage.