Technology
Ultimate product
Reckmann have long been acknowledged as producers of the Porsche of sail furlers in terms of engineering and reliability. But maintaining this hard-won reputation means never standing still
Nearly all sailors know that the Reckmann brand is a guarantee of superlative build quality and rock- solid reliability. But to keep its enviable position at the top of a fiercely competitive market for four generations, this family-owned company has maintained a brisk pace of constant innovation, incrementally improving and evolving its product lines to stay ahead of the game in quality, functionality and long-term value for money. That’s why so many of the world’s finest yachts have Reckmann furlers on their bows and in their booms. Strong, collaborative partnerships have been forged over the years with many shipyards. One of these is with Southern Wind Shipyard (SWS), the builder of high-performance, carbon composite superyachts. Like Reckmann, SWS enjoys a stellar reputation for build quality and reliability, which its location in Cape Town, South Africa has helped to foster. Almost every yacht they build must withstand a maiden voyage of at least 7,000 miles to the Med or Caribbean (and frequently further), inevitably sailing through some seriously heavy weather en route to owners who expect their brand new yacht to arrive in perfect condition. It’s a heck of a shakedown and SWS has a very strong incentive to fit the strongest sail-handling systems. ‘We have worked with a variety of furler suppliers over the years and most of
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our recent boats have Reckmann furlers because they are among the most reliable,’ says SWS technical manager Yann Dabbadie.
Another thing the two companies have in common is a semi-custom build philosophy and an ability to maximise its advantages. Reckmann’s superyacht and large racing yacht furlers are comprehensively engineered to standard designs to ensure maximum reliability but they’re hand built to order and individually, rigorously tested. While the core technology has been proven over hundreds of thousands of sea miles, the furlers are often customised to precisely fit an individual yacht and its owner’s sailing programme. Likewise, SWS builds yachts on standard hull platforms to achieve a higher degree of reliability than a full custom shipyard can deliver, but apart from the underwater shape and the position of the mast, everything – deck, superstructure, freeboard, keel and rudder types, accommodation and more – can be completely (or partially) customised. Down below, there is little that cannot be moved. Each SWS yacht has its own look and individual character but the semi-custom approach makes them more versatile and cost-effective as well as more reliable.
‘We work with design studios and naval architects at the top of their game such as Nauta, Farr and
Above:
semi-custom yachts need semi-custom sail furling systems and Reckmann is the default choice for many of the worldʼs top builders. The German furler makerʼs solid reputation for reliability is founded on engineering excellence and rigorous testing of individual products before they are delivered. Thatʼs why Southern Wind likes to fit Reckmann kit – with a 7,000-mile delivery trip for every new boat, the appeal is obvious
Reichel/Pugh to develop and engineer the basic design package,’ says SWS commercial director Andrea Micheli. ‘Over the past quarter of a century we have continuously upgraded and fine- tuned these platforms, as well as our own construction processes, to ensure they remain at the forefront of technology. But semi-custom does not mean less choice. It means customising all that is visible on the yacht while relying on tried-and- tested solutions for the elements that are invisible. Robust reliability is a by-product of the series methodology we have perfected, based on smart repeatability.’ This extends to rig design, too. ‘Our approach is to use a semi- custom rig as a starting point, offering a customised sailplan, mast modulus and standing rigging based on the programme of the boat,’ Dabbadie explains. ‘The project becomes even more customised after the captain and owner provide their input and preferences for locks, trysails and other features so in the end each rig is quite customised.’ Occasionally, a disruptive technology comes along and requires a semi-custom builder’s finely tuned platforms to be re- engineered and that’s when it pays to have strong partnerships with key external suppliers – a smart design loop can be created and a solution developed collaboratively. A good
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