Most vessels passing under the 28m (92ft) high Itchen bridge at the top of Southampton Water in Woolston can get under it with ease but when the 42.85m (140ft) classic ketch sailing yacht Hetairos was making her way to the yard at Southampton Yacht Services for a refit her 45 metre main mast and 36 metre mizzen mast had to be removed.
Hamble based rigging specialists Marine Results used their expertise not just to oversee this part of the operation but to look after the rig throughout the refit. Just two weeks ago the Marine Results team raised the rigs once again as, with the refit completed, the ocean sailing pedigree was on her way south once more, this time on her way to the Mediterranean.
Sailing yacht Hetairos
Marine Results provided the full rigging service as part of a major refit programme for the yacht, including a full service NDT (Non Destructive Testing) inspection, an application in which the company’s personnel are qualified specialists. Marine Results inspected the many components and carried out a rod service, as well as repainting the masts and booms.
The NDT process, which is carried out under ultraviolet light searches for stress, cracking and fatigue in rigging components.
“We were very pleased to be chosen for this contract following a successful tender, to carry out the rigging aspect of the Hetairos refit,” commented Marine Results’ Jon Morris, who himself has sailed on the yacht as race crew and rig consultant for a number of years.
Jon and his team from Marine Results also made a thorough rig inspection during sea trials once the re-rigging was complete.
Hetairos was built by world renowned shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen for world cruising and superyacht racing. She has cruised to the four corners of the world, including Alaska, New Zealand Madagascar, Greenland, Spitsbergen and the South Pacific. Her shallow draft of 3m with raised centreboard allows great flexibility for cruising, accessing shallow anchorages and harbours. But with the centreboard lowered to 8.7m she is a performance sailer and has won numerous titles, including the Superyacht Cup and Spirit of Tradition Class at the Rolex Maxi Worlds.
