Design
Make your own rules
The philosophy and delivery of the DSS Infiniti 52 was always going to ask a lot of the builders and engineers involved in this dramatic new build. And some of the solutions which they identified are genuinely fascinating
When setting out with the Infiniti 52 to redefine a marketplace that has been dominated for so long by one class, albeit with a very different design brief (windward-leeward in defined wind strengths versus offshore rocket to take on all conditions, all over the world at all angles and strengths of wind, day and night under three rating systems) it is important to not only have design DNA but also the highest level of technical strength, not just in composites, but in systems and fit out. The consequences of failure in an
inshore boat can be expensive, losing a race or even a regatta, but being in sight of land and surrounded by your competitors, umpires, support vessels etc, does allow some mitigation of risk. A thousand miles or more from land, things tend to take on a more urgent complexion should something break,
and it is this which is the balancing act all top offshore yachts perform. Core choices, Nomex or foam is
not just a cost and weight/rating decision. Consequences of impact both in damage limitation and spread of further damage is very different for both materials. The ability to make “a fix” either afloat or back on land is again a key part of the decision- making process. There have been notable failures, particularly in the Imoca fleet with engineering solutions re-inventing a wheel that has taken some time to become round and reliable. So, risk averse is sometimes a synonym for smart; and giving your clients the best opportunity to finish the race a sine qua non. Structural failure is never fast and rarely a race-winning tactic. Working with structural engineers
Above: the hull of the new Infiniti 52 takes shape at Composite Builders. This DSS foiler is designed to challenge the top TP52s with a much smaller crew and to operate in a wider range of wind and sea conditions
Gurit for so many years and defining how a yacht with so much more righting moment than a conventional sibling can survive tough conditions when being pushed relentlessly is key to the reliability we have seen with all yachts to date. The Infiniti 46 Maverick was able to be pushed far beyond “prudent”, seeing speeds of over 30kts several times when reaching in the 2018 Middle Sea Race. One of only 30 finishers she ripped around the final half of the course in less than 24 hours and throughout her racing life has never suffered a single structural issue in spite of being driven as if stolen, again and again. Gurit’s engineering portfolio is
second to none, and having learnt a lot from the DSS powered Infiniti 46 Maverick and Baltic 142 Canova,
SEAHORSE 89 w
QUIN BISSET
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