Cruising with an edge of performance
Seldén is tweaking the concept of cruising by blending it with a great deal of performance.
The Seldén Group is the World’s leading manufacturer of masts, in particular furling masts, which by now after some 30 years is more a standard than an option with a production cruising boat.
In the 90’s when sailmakers developed sails with vertical battens and a positive roach, the reduction in sail area became less dramatic and furling masts were no longer that much of a compromise with the performance of the boat.
With carbon fiber furling masts designed for a furling mainsail with big headboard and full roach, Seldén is now taking the concept to a new dimension, and it is done in conjunction with Hallberg-Rassy who shares the same ambition of providing convenient sailhandling for the demanding and performance oriented sailor of a larger yacht.
“The bare mast section for a carbon furlingmast is 39% lighter than corresponding aluminium section which will reduce the heeling and the weather helm to a minimum and improve up-wind performance. The lighter mast also makes for less pitching and pumping in choppy and big seas and the whole set-up will give a richer over-all sailing experience” Magnus Rassy says.
Seldén’s first carbon furling mast has been specified for the all-new Hallberg-Rassy 50 and it comes with electric drive and a hydraulic outhaul for push button operation.
“Larger boats with small crews call for smart sail handling and we are constantly pushing our product development in that direction” says Seldén’s CEO Peter Rönnbäck and continues; “- The benefits of carbon fiber masts have been appreciated by racing sailors for decades so why wouldn’t a cruising sailor be offered the same deal?”
