Fresh from his smashing the single handed monohull transatlantic record on his Open 60 Hugo Boss, Alex Thompson is giving the yacht an overhaul. Marine Results who has taken care of Hugo Boss for many of her campaigns will be carrying out a frequency test to the keel to check for any stresses or damage. A test, unique to the Open 60 Class according to its rules, is carried out using recorded resonance to pick up any irregularities, a specialised service which Marine Results offers for the Class.
The attention to detail leaves no stone unturned. The keel will be removed and Marine Results will also undertake a magnetic particle inspection in conjunction with angle beam ultrasound inspection of the fabricated keel. Further inspections will include checking structural bulkheads and taping, where the bulkheads are laminated onto the hull. Chain plates, deck tang fittings, and slamming areas from front to back of boat are also inspected.
It is just as well that the inspection is so thorough. Prior to the record attempt Marine Results carried out an earlier inspection and found a small area of delamination which could only have been found using advanced ultrasound equipment. The repairs were made in time for Alex to keep to his schedule.
“Marine Results has a high level of experience in carrying out non-destructive testing such as these procedures,” comments Director Ben Wood, who was leading the inspection with Richard Freemantle. “This inspection for Hugo Boss is part of an ongoing maintenance programme that we have for the yacht.”
The inspections are part of the IMOCA Class Rules’ requirements to ensure that the yacht, formerly Artemis, which has covered many thousands of ocean miles, in good shape for her next challenge.
