4 May 2012

'M5' Refit update: 90m mast removed

By Lulu Trask

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In March the largest sailing sloop in the world arrived in Falmouth at Pendennis Plus, a refit facility for yachts of 60m+, to undergo an extensive 13 month refit. Just over a month later, the impressive 72.5m M5 has had her 90m mast removed, and completed the first stage of her refit.

M5’s 90m mast weighs 45 tonnes, hence the yacht’s de-stepping required an enormous amount of work. A 40-man mast lifting team was onsite at 4.45am last Friday, only to see the mast completed detached by mid-afternoon, a process aided by the necessary calm wind conditions. Sixteen lorries were needed to deliver the four cranes to Queen’s Wharf at A&P Falmouth where this process took place, the largest of which had a boom of 104m.

“We are fortunate in Falmouth to have a fantastic network of experts and facilities that are able to support an operation of this scale,” commented Stephen Hills, director of Pendennis Plus.


Throughout the removal of the mast Pendennis Plus worked closely with Marine results, the company responsible for the original mast and rig installation during the yacht’s construction in 2004. Ed Danby of Marine Results commented: “We have used our prior experience of this enormous rig to work alongside Pendenis’ expert in-house project team, with the support of many local riggers, to carefully plan and execute the issues surrounding timing, tide, equipment and weather impact on this complex procedure. Unstepping the rig is no small job.”







Hills praised the skills of all those involved in the process so far. “The team of local riggers that supported Marine Results throughout the day demonstrated that the local skill set is as strong and professional as anywhere in the world.”

M5 has now been moved back to Pendennis Plus’ dry dock facility where her exterior refit, to be undergone by Ron Holland Yacht Design, will continue. Her exterior refit will involve an exterior upgrade, extended transom, new main deck seating arrangements, sky deck extension and redeveloped sky deck layout. A hull side platform is also being added to enhance the use of the 72.5m sailing yacht.

Redman Whiteley Dixon will carry out the interior refit, which comprises a complete restyle of the main and lower decks.

Hill concluded: “All companies involved have worked professionally together to ensure that the detailed planning of the de-stepping of M5’s mast occurred without issue and on schedule. We now look forward to commencing the full refit following her docking down at Pendennis this weekend.”



Related Links

Pendennis Plus Profile | Pendennis Website

Ron Holland Design Profile | Ron Holland Design Website

Redman Whiteley Dixon Profile | Redman Whiteley Dixon Website

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