Update - New Section for Big Kite

Since the inclusion of the new big spinnaker, there is a world-wide change to the Seldén Cumulus section. With similar fore and aft bend to the notoriously fast ‘D’ section, existing proven mainsails are immediately fast.

The increased sideways stiffness gives the rig the support it requires offwind. Well proven since 1999 by Krister Bergstrom, the then two piece Cumulus has already won one World Championship (Durban 2000).

Since then, the tube is now available long enough to suit the 505, and has dominated most major 505 regattas worldwide, being used by the likes of Howie Hamlin, Ian Pinnell, Sandy Higgins, Krister Bergstrom etc.. 

In 2005 Seldén worked with BM Sails to develop a ’stiff’ rig option in the Epsilon section, ideal for heavy weights & Baltic (flat water) regattas, being fully optimised for the BM sail.

New for 2008 is the new Selden section called "Alto." This is now being widely used across a range of classes including the 505.

At the 2008 World Championships Ian Pinnell selected the ALTO section mast and 76mm carbon boom. "The extra stiffness of the Alto gave us great speed in the light to medium conditions. THe 76mm boom being almost 2kg lighter also helped the leech of our mainsail to be a lot more responsive." Ian Pinnell 2008 World and UK National Champion.

Since the original prototype was produced at the end of 2007, Ian has been testing and racing in the 505 with a mast produced from the new ALTO section. The section was developed in order to offer sailors an additional choice between the Cumulus and Epsilon matching the correct mast more accurately to team weights. Based on the Cumulus design the ALTO is 4-5% stiffer with minimal windage and weight increases.

The new product has proven a popular choice quickly gaining recognition within the 505 class with many of the top teams currently testing the new section in preparation for the 2009 season. Current Flying Dutchman World Champion Jacob Mosen-Boller also made the change to the ALTO section mast after testing in the pre-worlds and finished 4^th overall.

This year Ian also used a 76mm carbon boom, the tube was made available after the rule changes early this year, Ian used the Seldén boom for both National and World Championship victories. The Seldén 76mm carbon 505 boom tube has been specifically designed for the loads created by the 505 rig with localised reinforcements to maximise the strength where necessary without compromising on the weight saving. The 76mm tube was designed for the commonly used aft sheeting led forward. Seldén Mast Ltd also offer an 88mm specification for use with centre sheeting to deal with the increased loading on the boom.

Results

1st and 3rd World Championships 2008

1st 505 Nationals 2008

1st 505 Nationals 2007

1st - 5th World Championships 2004

1st National Championships 2004

1st French & Australian National Championships 2004 

Why Seldén?

Choose a Seldén mast and you will find many performance enhancing features unique to our products, for example:

• The Seldén tapering system ensures that our tapers are minimum size and weight. This gives low windage, centre of gravity and topmast weight. This maximises your speed by enabling the topmast to react quickly to gusts and waves giving better acceleration, a smoother ride upwind and, ultimately, more races won!
• Automated welding keeps excess heat out of the taper for guaranteed consistency and performance. The weld produced is so perfect that there is no need to mechanically grind the weld (which can induce inconsistencies). This means that once we have finalised a winning design, you can be sure that your spar will perform identically to the champions.
• All masts are heat treated in our purpose-designed oven. This artificial hardening ensures that you get maximum performance from the high performance aluminium alloy.
• Our spars pass through a purpose-developed bead-peening machine. This gives the mast a perfect satin finish that dramatically improves fatigue properties, giving you a mast that will perform reliably for many years.
• Top quality fittings such as our fully adjustable spreader bracket and highly durable cast gooseneck ensure speed and reliability on the racecourse.

Sections Available

Mast Specification - Cumulus , Alto , Epsilon

Mast is supplied overlength (7500mm) with fittings below deck supplied loose, including main hook rack. Mast is fitted with small deck level sleeve to reduce compression failures and at spreaders to prevent halyards snagging. Spec includes ball bearing spinnaker sheave, and fully adjustable ’thumbscrew’ spreader bracket.

Our stock mast has been optimised by Ian Pinell and is now supplied with ’high’ T wire positions and lower ’tweaker’ slots.

There are many fit out options, please contact ih@seldenmast.co.uk for details.

Boom Specification - 2633

2633 section has an unrivalled stiffness to weight ratio, allowing maximum performance through vang and mainsheet control, together with minimum excess weight.

Outboard end of boom is cutaway as standard, and boom is supplied with inboard and outboard ends with sheaves, plus three boom slides. which allow direct attachment of kicker and mainsheet blocks for easy centrelining in medium conditions.

Spinnaker Pole Specification

Standard spinnaker pole is stiff, lightweight 42mm tapered section for end slung pole systems.

Rigging Specification

Wire main and jib halyards and kevlar pole uphaul. Draw lines are fitted in the mast for rapid attachment of halyards.

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