Type: World speed sailing record boat · Status: Delivered Scope: Full fairing to racing specification and painting in a Hempel yacht system
The project
Vestas Sailrocket 2 was built for one purpose: to break the world sailing speed record. The project, sponsored by Vestas Wind Systems A/S, was led by Paul Larsen. He employed Scott Taylor and the Superyacht Painters team to fair and paint the boat.
The challenge: fair, but as light as possible
On a superyacht, fairing is about reflection. On a record boat, it's about drag and weight. The surface had to be fair for aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, but every extra gram of fairing compound or paint would slow her down.
What we did
- Weighed everything: every product applied, and everything sanded back off, was weighed, so the added weight was known and kept to a minimum.
- Racing-spec fairing: fairing to racing specification, applied thinly and longboarded precisely.
- Hempel paint system: a full Hempel yacht paint system, specified for minimum weight and a smooth, streamlined finish.
The result
In November 2012 Vestas Sailrocket 2 set the outright world sailing speed record over 500 m, at 65.45 knots.
Paul Larsen wrote of the project:
"I employed Scott Taylor and his team to fair and paint under stringent conditions of weight perfection on fairness for aerodynamics and completing the perfect paint job."
What superyacht owners can take from a race boat
The disciplines used on Sailrocket apply to every superyacht we fair: measure the surface, control every layer, and never let compound go on thicker than it needs to. Excess fairing adds weight, increases the risk of cracking and costs more to apply and sand. How we fair a superyacht.
Our racing yacht experience
Sailrocket is part of a wider record of race boat work in the UK, including IMOCA 60 (Open 60) racing yachts. Our team also faired Discovery Yachts' fairing plugs for their complete range between 2001 and 2007.
Project at a glance
| Boat | Vestas Sailrocket 2 |
|---|---|
| Scope | Full racing-spec fairing and painting |
| Paint system | Hempel yacht paint system |
| Special requirement | All products applied and removed weighed |
| Outcome | Outright world sailing speed record, 65.45 knots over 500 m (Nov 2012) |
Frequently asked questions
Do you fair racing yachts as well as superyachts?
Yes, including record boats and IMOCA 60s.
Can you keep added weight to a minimum?
Yes. We can weigh and record materials applied and removed, as we did on Sailrocket.
Which paint system was used?
A Hempel yacht paint system. We also apply Awlgrip, Alexseal, International and Jotun.
Related: Superyacht fairing · Superyacht painting · References · Contact · info@yachtrefitasia.com · +66 (0)80 829 0122
Superyacht Painters Ltd, The Clock House, Western Court, Bishop's Sutton, Alresford, England SO24 0AA · +66 (0)80 829 0122 · info@yachtrefitasia.com