Jan 14 2003
Just four months after it began its racing career, 90 foot maxi, Alfa Romeo took line honours and recorded the second fastest time ever in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race which started on Boxing Day 2002. Weather conditions robbed it of the chance to set the fastest ever race time.
On top of this, it was the largest yacht to take the line honours title in the history of the race.
Alfa Romeo is one of the latest yachts to be built to a high power, lightweight design, utilising SP Systems materials and technologies.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) helped engineers keep weight down while not compromising on strength or stiffness. A key area which benefited from FEA use was the keel top plate, where designers were able to save over 150kg.
Weight saved here was migrated to the bulb, lowering the keels VCG with no draught penalties.
The other key element to the lightweight design of the boat was the use of SP Systems SE84 prepreg which was used in the hull, deck, bulkheads and most of the other internal structure.
For more information on yachts and the materials used in them, click here.