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10/07/2008 - Araldite Set for Vendee Globe Adventure Two engineering adhesives from Huntsman Advanced Materials are set for a world class adventure on the high seas. Araldite 2031 (a black epoxy adhesive) and Araldite 2022 have played a vital role in the construction of Safran Open 60’ - a pioneering new monohull racing boat that competed in the Vendee Globe round the world solo race, March 2008. Safran Open 60’ is a 60 foot long, ergonomic lightweight vessel. Designed to weigh less and be more manoeuverable than other boats in its class, the Safran Open 60’ was built by the Safran Group of Companies at the world famous Chantier Naval de Larros shipyards (CNL) in France. The project took five months to complete and involved 4,600 hours of R&D and engineering time. During construction of the radical new vessel, six companies from the Safran group were involved in the project working alongside renowned naval architects Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prevost and Guillaume Verdier. In order to meet racing requirements, the Chantier Naval de Larros team specified the use of Araldite 2022 and Araldite 2031 adhesives to bond the boat’s bulkhead to its hull, which was machined from carbon-nomex sandwich panels. Araldite 2031 was also employed to attach key pieces of ironmongery during the build and to build the ballast tank entrance. The team was chosen because of their attention to detail and the stringent performance requirements they demand of all of their design materials. When it came to selecting the best range of adhesives to use in the construction of this responsive racing machine, the decision for the whole team was very simple : Araldite 2000 PLUS because of the breadth of the range and the exceptional track record of its products. Christened on 1st September 2007 at a ceremony at Le Havre attended by 500 spectators, Safran Open 60’ is skippered by Marc Guillemot – a yachtsman with more than 30 years’ experience. In November 2007, the boat took second place in its maiden competition, crossing the Atlantic in just over 17 days as part of the 8th Transat Jacques Vabre race - which runs between Le Havre in France and the Brazilian harbour of Baia |
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