Southern Spars supplies new rig for iconic J-Class Endeavour

Southern Spars Ltd
Media statement
31 October 2011

The iconic J-Class Endeavour has been fitted with a new 53.7m (176.18’) gold-tipped mast and rigging package from Southern Spars as part of her multi-million dollar refit in Auckland, New Zealand which finished in early October.

Originally built in 1934 and reduced to being a complete wreck in the 1980s, Endeavour’s 2011 re-launch marks the completion of an extensive 18-month refit at Yachting Developments’ yard based in Hobsonville, Auckland. The Yachting Developments’ team has taken extreme care throughout the refit to preserve as much of the vessel as practical while taking advantage of 21st century sailing systems, such as a carbon fibre mast and EC6 carbon fibre rig package from Southern Spars for enhanced performance and improved functionality.

Endeavour’s future performance will benefit from the significant weight savings – an incredible 900kg on the boom, and three tonne on the rig and rigging from her previous rig – achieved by the Southern Spars’ Custom Projects team based in Avondale, Auckland.


Photo: Yachting Developments : Endeavour Sea Trials in Auckland

No expense was spared during the restoration of Endeavour, and the rig itself is no different, says Southern Spars project manager Olivier Marthe.

“She utilises the latest Element C6 (EC6) continuous carbon fibre rigging technology, a 19m (62.33’) high modulus carbon fibre Park Avenue boom and to top it all off, the mast crane that sits at the very tip of the 53.7m high modulus carbon fibre mast is coated in gold leaf,” says Marthe.

“Being involved in the restoration of this classic America’s Cup yacht has been a dream come true for me personally; I have had an amazing week sailing on her during the sea trials.”

After completion of sea trials over the next few months Endeavour’s will spend some time on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour tuning the famous yacht which carries the legend JK4 on her sails. In February she will be shipped to the Northern Hemisphere ready to compete in the J-Class regattas in Falmouth and Solent timed to coincide with the 2012 London Olympics.

Southern Spars Custom-Projects facility in Auckland are also currently completing work on the new J-Class Rainbow’s rig and rigging package.

ENDS/

For further information, please contact:
Mark Hauser, director, Southern Spars
mark.hauser@southernspars.com

About Southern Spars
Southern Spars specialises in the design and construction of carbon fibre spars and components, rigging, and rig servicing.

As the industry pioneer, Southern Spars built its first carbon spar in 1990. Since then the company has pursued a passion for delivering world class cruising and racing spars, carbon rigging and service.

Its operation extends to four corners of the world with centres in the USA, Denmark, Spain, and South Africa, and headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand. Southern Spars employs more than 350 staff worldwide.

Southern Spars is backed by the international North Technology Group, a company renowned for investing in leading technology companies.