Technology
Making the exceptional standard
At first glance the sheer quality of Rondal’s captive winch engineering can make a critical and highly demanding task look too easy...
Superyachts haven’t just been getting larger in recent years. They’ve also become far more strongly focused on sailing performance and helm response in light airs. For designers and builders this means an ever-increasing preoccupation with weight reduction is required, while at the same time rigs are getting larger and the loads that the yachts’ sail control systems have to handle are higher than ever before. Rondal has been a key player in enabling this evolution, not just by building the giant carbon spars for the new generation of mega sloops but also, more recently, creating a super-light version of its unique integrated sailing system to control their enormous sailpower. This includes a remarkable range of captive reel winches, built in carbon fibre and 22 per cent lighter than their aluminium anodized alternative. That’s a potentially massive gain for a racing yacht or a performance cruiser. Installing a full set of Rondal carbon winches can reduce the sailing displacement of a 60-metre yacht by at least two tons. Rondal’s aluminium captive reel
winches – both hydraulic and electric types, currently available in model variants with 2.5-ton, four-ton, six-ton, eight-ton, 12-ton 18-ton and 24-ton pull loads – have earned an enviable reputation for rock-solid reliability. That’s why they’re used on so many of the world’s largest sailing
72 SEAHORSE
yachts. Not just those built by Rondal’s parent company, Royal Huisman, but also Baltic Yachts, Vitters, Oceanco, Perini, Pendennis, Holland Yachtbouw, Nautor and most other leading superyacht shipyards. After 20 years of service, it’s not uncommon for a set of Rondal winches to need only a small amount of cosmetic refurbishment before being reinstalled for another two decades of sailing. All Rondal winches are designed
with a safety factor of 150 per cent of the pull load built in, so the 18-ton pull load model for example has a hold load of 27tons. Their line speeds are equally impressive at up to 90 metres per minute, delivering a competitive advantage in regattas by enabling fast gybes and swift spinnaker hoists. The winches are optional fitted with load sensors, enabling live read-outs for sails, sheets and halyards. Alarms for safety purposes are available too. All models can be customised for a precise pull load and larger, even more powerful winches can be built on request. ‘For a new project we are developing 48-ton winches,’ sales manager Rudy Jurg reveals. A mini version completes the range, typically used as a forward pull for runners.
The full carbon variants of these tried-and-trusted, high-performance
Rondal’s captive reel winches have earned an enviable reputation for rock-solid reliability aboard many of the world’s largest sailing yachts – ultra- lightweight carbon versions of the full model range are now available
winch designs have been engineered and tested, by both Rondal and by independent external test companies, to ensure that the same very long service life as the aluminiumversions can be expected, with the sameminimalmaintenance requirement. In addition tominimal corrosion, the carbon winch drums are proven to be as impervious to chafe-related wear as theirmetal equivalents. A range of hybrid inches is also available with aluminiumbase and carbon drum, and these are currently themost popular option, Jurg explains, as they offer the best ratio of weight saving versus cost. There are, however, compelling
reasons for a new-build yacht to choose the all-carbon option. First, the frame of each winch can be fully integrated into the structure of the hull or deck, eliminating the need for a heavy base plate. The reduced weight of all-carbon
winches could potentially also give naval architects and shipyards’ design engineers more scope to
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