United Kingdom

Formula Yacht Spars

Formula Yacht Spars has announced the recent appointment of experienced designer, Simon Eatwell. Joining the company as Design Engineering Manager, Simon will head up Formula’s design function from its Lymington headquarters and will lead the company’s designers and engineers based around the world. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123718/image/large-b31aaeb38b7f0ed142c2a0c698cbc7e7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123718">Simon has invaluable experience in design and engineering having worked for Sparcraft/Southern Spars in Cape Town for six years as the company’s head designer and lead designer on all custom projects. This was followed by a year working for the South African America’s Cup Team, Team Shosholoza, where he ran and maintained the rig programme. “I am delighted to join Formula at such an exciting time,” says Simon Eatwell. “I am looking forward to bringing some fresh ideas to the design department and working with the international design teams over the coming months on some great design projects, including a number of the IMOCA 60 boats and various superyacht rig designs.” A keen yachtsman, Simon’s previous designs include Skip Novak’s Pelagic ii; the 05-06 Clipper round the world fleet; and the new generation Farr 40’ rigs. Simon is currently working on the Artemis II IMOCA 60.

New designer joins Formula Yacht Spars 

Formula Yacht Spars Ltd has acquired the business and assets of Phoenix Marine Equipment B.V. based at Blokzijl, Overijssel, Netherlands; creating Formula Yacht Spars B.V. <img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123519/image/large-415a69be344ca9ec33de2b886c5ad586.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123519">Chief Executive Officer of the Formula Group, Mark Merritt commented, “This is a significant acquisition; providing us with another first-class manufacturing base in Europe. The capabilities and skills of our Dutch partners are a result of nearly 20 years experience and the investment in purpose-built, quality facilities at Blokzijl, which is one of the most efficient aluminium mast factories in Europe.” The new facility enhances Formula’s capacity to meet the requirements of all boats from 60 feet through to megayachts. The new company, Formula Yacht Spars B.V., will be a wholly-owned subsidiary within the Formula group and will benefit from the stability, management and expertise required to compete effectively in an International and increasingly growing market. Mark continues; “The expertise and facilities required to build masts and booms for large yachts is immense and the spars built at the facility in Blokzijl can be seen on many magnificent yachts around the world. These capabilities combined with our design and engineering team credentials will now enable us to cater for a wider range of projects.” Formula has produced spars for several America’s Cup yachts, as well as for many cruising, classic and superyachts in the last year alone. In January the company was awarded (UKTI South East England) ‘Exporter of the Year’ and has already acquired a mast builder in Southern France. Formerly owned by Black Flag the business is now known as Formula France. The acquisition of Blokzijl in the Netherlands will become a very important addition for this vibrant group. Formula Yacht Spars Ltd has consistently grown and developed over the years as a quality business; successfully implementing its strategic policy of acquisition and growth. The Group now has specialist factories for custom Carbon structures and spars at Lymington (UK) and near Montpellier (France). The company also has superb Aluminium facilities at Burnham-on-Crouch (UK) and now at Blokzijl (Holland). <noscript></noscript>

Formula Yacht Spars acquires Phoenix Marine Equipment B.V.

Formula One met Formula Spars when Nelson Piquet, the three times Motor Racing Champion, enlisted the help of Formula Yacht Spars to design, develop and build the rig for his unique 64 metre superyacht, <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1658">Pilar Rossi</a>.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123096/image/large-4f09397e8d15e325bb53e513875e3f01.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123096"> Completed in Italy, the yacht started life as a luxury 33 metre yacht that offered plenty of space for the race driver’s family, as well as the luxury expected by a motor racing legend. However, never one to stand still, Nelson, under the guidance of his uncle and Naval Architect, Mauricio Piquet, soon decided to change the vessel into a sailing super yacht by adding two masts, outriggers for stability, and extending the overall length of the model to 64 metres. To achieve the sailing rig, Lymington based Formula Yacht Spars project managed the entire process of masts, rigging, sails and controls, together with the complex technical support needed to get the yacht sailing. The yacht has now been launched and test sailed by the Formula team in Brazil and has already completed its first transatlantic passage to Sardinia.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/123097/image/large-f2efac7129df55d50f0d9f65fd9854ba.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/123097"> Technical Director, Jon Morris, commented, “This was a complex undertaking, to turn a large motoryacht into a working sailboat. At 64 metres she is a substantial yacht, for which we built the schooner rigs at our Burnham aluminium spar facility and arranged for the supply of other elements such as sails and rigging. They were the biggest rigs the Brazilian yard had lifted into place but all went well and the yacht has successfully sailed the Atlantic. We look forward to seeing her in the Mediterranean where we are certain she will attract considerable interest.”

Formula Yacht Spars completes rig of 64m Pilar Rossi

Lymington based, Formula Yacht Spars has been commissioned to build a custom rig for a 44m classic of superyacht standard. In addition to its own manufacturing involvement, the company has project managed the entire rig project sourcing deck gear, hydraulics and sails. The yacht, which is being built for an undisclosed owner, will have the appearance of a traditionally rigged vessel but underneath has a hi-tech specification which includes lightweight carbon fibre spars which have been timber clad to present an authentic appearance. Throughout the build, the Formula Yacht Spars project team has worked closely with the builders in a two way transfer of specialist knowledge to ensure that the final product has the cosmetic finish of a classic rig. The special Formula spars are being delivered at the end of July. All four of the carbon spars have been made using the filament winding process of pre-impregnated carbon, the winding and curing all taking place in the UK. Both of the main spars were vacuum-bagged as well as stretch-taped because of the increased laminate thicknesses. The wood cladding has been carried out by specialist craftsmen experienced in both wood and composites, the veneer being glued to the carbon spar using epoxy adhesive and sealed using a clear epoxy resin. The final finish is of UV stable, polyurethane varnish while the high load areas will be leathered in the traditional manner. As with many of Formula’s custom rigs, the company will also supply the running rigging and a full deckgear package, in this case sourced from Lewmar and Spinlock. This includes hydraulic winches for integration into the vessel’s main hydraulic system. Sails for the project have been built by UK sailmaker Banks Sails, which has experience in this extremely specialist area and has been working closely with Formula to ensure authenticity. Group Managing Director of Formula, Mark Merrit commented, “This is a very unusual project for us as it blends modern carbon technology developed from our America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race customers with traditional boat building craftsmanship. The result has been a lightweight set of spars that look exactly like their traditional counterparts. I am extremely proud of our teams’ commitment to the task and it will be exceptionally rewarding when we see the vessel hoist those sails.”

Formula Yacht Spars builds custom rig for 44m classic superyacht

Formula Yacht Spars Ltd, one of Europe’s fastest growing mast builders has restructured its business to allow it to better service its clients and increase efficiency. Following an extensive review, Formula Yacht Spars has split its manufacturing sites into clearly defined operating units, separating Carbon and Aluminium sites and allowing the company to better utilise the key core competencies of its design teams and production staff.<img alt="" src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/122796/image/large-d431af0da25bf6e8539971d7d25e8b5c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/122796"> Photo caption L to R: Thierry Castaldin, Patrick Salomone, John Green (Sales Director), Charles Pourreau, Mark Merritt (Group Managing Director) and Richard Balding (Chairman).<div align="left">Carbon Solutions A review of the current market has resulted in the creation of a new custom mast production facility in Lymington, UK. At this facility, the highly skilled team will concentrate on producing carbon spars for Superyachts, which include America’s Cup, Volvo, Open 60 and other high end specialised sectors. This move to one location capitalises on the work carried out in these areas for the Ericsson Sailing Team’s last Volvo Race as well as both Team Shosholoza, the South African America’s Cup Challenge and United Team Internet Germany, the German America’s Cup Team; a 34m Dubois Superyacht called La Cattiva (ex Taramber) and the forthcoming Rogers designed Open 60 Artemis II.</div>All additional carbon work will be produced in the new and rapidly growing Formula France facility based just outside Montpellier, where a 32 metre autoclave has recently been installed – one of the largest in Southern Europe outside the aerospace industry. As a result of this significant investment, Formula France has recently won contracts for the Mills43, which has started production, as well as the new production Ker 39 (delivery late July this year), Ker 52 mast packages (delivery late 2007 and early 2008) and a French Open 60 projects (delivery mid 2007 and early 2008).Aluminium Solutions Formula’s growing aluminium mast business is supported by two manufacturing facilities based in Burnham-on-Crouch, UK and a new facility (the acquisition of which is currently nearing completion) in mainland Europe. The highly skilled and experienced Burnham facility has over the last three years seen great investment and development under the ownership of Formula and has recently shipped spars for <a href="#managed-by-application" data-legacy="true" data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1432">Bushido</a>, a 33m Paolo Scanu design Superyacht and also for Pilar Rossi, a 64m schooner for ex F1 champion Nelson Piquet. The European factory is preparing to build spar packages for Anastasia a 31m and a 45m Dijkstra &amp; Partners design, both for delivery in 2007. This purpose built mast making facility is capable of shipping 58m in one piece thanks to the easy access to well established distribution networks.Not just Product Formula continues to develop its growth strategy within its defined markets and continues to invest in the infrastructure and skills to meet the ever increasing demand for bespoke solutions required by its customers. It has also developed its ability to offer the customer packaged solutions rather than just discrete product by investing in its management, design and project skills; making Formula a perfect choice for not only the superyacht/high end racing project but also the smaller production requirement.<noscript></noscript>