New Mirror class rules will allow the use of aluminium spars, changing from a gunter to a bermudan rig 9/3/06

As of April 2006 the Mirror class rules will allow the use of aluminium spars, changing from a gunter to a bermudan rig. Seldén has been working with the class association as well as Mirror experts such as P&B and Trident UK to develop the definitive Mirror mast.

A key requirement for the new mast was for the mast tip to give gust response, in a similar manner to the wooden gaff so as not to overpower the lightweight sailors within the fleet. Due to Selden’s unique mast tapering process, and the investment in a state-of-the-art plasma cutting system, we have been able to tweak the taper characteristics to provide excellent gust response maximised to the limits of the class rules.

With P&B sail maker Peter Gray currently trialling our rig, we have gained some valuable feedback and are now on our third and final iteration of mast.
Selden say that the mast has been designed with the racing sailor in mind. All halyards are internal and the shrouds and forestay are attached to the mast by T-terminals, keeping the mast simple and ‘clutter free’. Using their smallest profiled section ‘Lambda’ they have developed a rig utilising their newly designed fittings range, which they say provide excellent functionality and high reliability.