Paprec-Virbac races with EC6+ rigging – again

by Southern Spars Media on 16 Dec 2008
When Paprec-Virbac 2 won the non-stop 29,000 nautical mile Barcelona World Race, they did so using a rigging product that, when tested post race, retained 100% of its strength, suffered no stiffness degradation and incurred minimum wear and tear on end terminals and spreader ends.

The Open 60 set off round the world again on the 9th of November for the 2008-2009 edition of the Vendee Globe. An unprecedented feat by rigging standards - the yacht will be racing the world’s oceans for a second time with the very same EC6+ rigging which helped the team to triumph in the non-stop Barcelona World Race.

Drama did not elude this race. Nine Open 60’s crossed the start line on November 11th 2007, but by the halfway stage nearly half the fleet had had to abandon the race, all bar one from mast breakages. For Southern Spars it became a remarkable situation as the 5 yachts using Southern Spars became the only remaining yachts in the race.

What set Paprec-Virbac 2’s rig completely apart from the others was the use of EC6+ continuous carbon rigging.

The Paprec-Virbac team decided to use the continuous carbon rigging product after it captured the market’s attention three years ago, as the first rigging product to offer all the performance factors in one solution – longevity, durability, strength, weight and aerodynamics.

The fact that the EC6+ rigging would not ‘wear out’ and that it could be used for multiple races was a huge pull in their decision.

In order to prove the longevity and reliability of the product, Southern Spars agreed upon a testing programme with the team that would determine the residual strength of the cables after their first circumnavigation of the world.

Installed in February 2007, the rigging was in continual use from this time until the conclusion of the Barcelona World Race – a period of approximately a year. The Element C6 cables had first been put into use for the delivery of the boat to France from New Zealand, nearly 13,000 miles, and then in the Barcelona World Race in which Paprec-Virbac sailed 28,329nm in 92 days non-stop.

The cables which had now been around the world a total of 1.5 times, were inspected immediately post-race where general wear and areas of chafe damage were noted. They were then uninstalled from the mast and shipped back from France to Composite Rigging so the planned inspection and testing programme could be carried out.

Scott Vogel, Composite Rigging General Manager comments, 'This was a great opportunity for us to have a very close and detailed look at rigging that has clearly been put through its paces. Since we are able to completely expose all the structural elements of the cable we get a clear picture of what, if anything, is happening all the way through the diameter.'

Upon inspection, the jacketing was entirely removed so that a detailed check of each cable could be made, noting any wear and tear or damage. The D1’s were then tested to destruction. Each D1 was put into the test rig and nominally tensioned to record the current length. After measuring the length, the cables were loaded to failure with the load and elongation recorded at 0.5 second intervals.

The results of the ultimate strength testing of the two D1’s indicated that the cables were as strong and stiff as they had been when new, and could continue to be used without hesitation. There had been absolutely no sign of strength reduction after one and half circumnavigations of the world. Considering the harsh environment and conditions imposed by the IMOCA Open 60 racing, the general appearance and condition of the rigging was concluded to be excellent.

Although the jacketing was well worn, which is to be expected, the only visible damage to the D1’s was a vertical slice that penetrated the jacket in three places on port side. The vertical shrouds on one side had two areas where the circular battens in the mainsail had chafed through the jacketing and on to the bare carbon rods. Both areas were easily repaired and the stays were qualified for continued use.

'While all the analysis and testing of the EC6+ product indicated that the cables would have very high resistance to strength degradation and good damage tolerance, there is nothing that can replace on-the-water use and these boats and the races they sail are the harshest test platforms. The results of the inspection and testing programme really validate the laboratory work,' comments Scott.

Paprec Virbac’s rigging was refurbished and reinstalled on the yacht ready for her next race, the Vendee Globe which began on the 9th of November, and she lined up on the start line in Les Sables d’Olonne, once again to race around the world.

Other yachts competing with Southern Spars in the 2008-2009 Vendee Globe event are: 2nd placed Barcelona Race competitor Hugo Boss, who set a new 24hour distance record in the race for a 60ft monohull; Temenos II; Ecover 3, and sistership Aviva.

About EC6+ continuous carbon rigging:
Element C6 cables are constructed from a bundle of small diameter pultruded carbon fibre rods. The carbon rods are made from Toray’s T800 intermediate modulus fibre. T800 provides the optimal combination of strength, stiffness and elongation, making it well suited for yacht standing rigging.

Each rod has a known tensile strength which enables the cables to be customised to each yacht’s loads.

Continuous rigging (EC6+) shrouds run continuously from the deck to the mast, eliminating all spreader tip connection hardware, creating the lightest and cleanest rigging solution available.

A number of jacketing materials can be used to encase the bundled carbon rods, including: extruded PTFE film, spectra, aramid, polyester braiding, and stainless steel braiding.