DynaRig for world's largest sailing catamaran ASC58 begins production
by Kate Davison 3 Sep 08:46 BST
ASC58 Mould © Southern Spars
Southern Spars has begun production of a twin masted DynaRig sailing system for Project ASC58. Designed by Dykstra Naval Architects & One2 Three Naval Architects and being built by Echo Yachts, ASC58 will be the world's largest sailing catamaran and the first ever catamaran to be equipped with this revolutionary rig.
With a LOA of 58 metres, this landmark yacht will feature two free-standing, rotating masts and a fully automated sail-handling system, allowing the entire sail plan to be managed by a single operator from a digital control panel. Famously installed on the likes of SY Black Pearl, the DynaRig is built to maximise sailing time, with its fast and efficient furling, unfurling, and trimming. For instance, Black Pearl's 2,900 square metres of sail area can be set in around seven minutes - dramatically reducing fuel consumption, extending range and supporting low-emission cruising.
Blending all-round performance with operational efficiency and utilising a total sail area of 1,660 square metres, ASC58 will sail under wind power alone for long periods. The free-standing masts create a clean, uncluttered deck that leaves space for a helicopter pad and extensive tender storage.
"Kicking off production on ASC58 DynaRig is a huge moment for our team," said Rudy Jurg, Head of DynaRig Sales at Southern Spars. "The world knows the DynaRig, but we've been developing it relentlessly, and we can't wait to show what it can do. This is an exciting step towards fundamentally changing the way large vessels harness the wind."
What's next?
The moulds have arrived at Southern Spars' production facility in Ustron, Poland. Now, the rigs will be constructed using a combination of carbon fibre reinforcements and precisely moulded components to create lightweight, ultra-strong spars optimised for large vessels and ocean-crossing loads.
A new era: the modular DynaRig
ASC58 will become one of a new group of yachts, to be launched in the next 18 months, showcasing the next-generation DynaRig - combining proven sailing efficiency with new levels of cost-effectiveness, low maintenance, and all-round performance.
Southern Spars, alongside its sister organisation North Windships, is a leader in the push toward green propulsion for yachts and commercial cargo and cruise ships. The new DynaRig allows a standard 1000m" Panamax rig to be installed onto any ship above 70m LOA. One rig, two rig, or three rig configurations are compatible with ships up to 200m+ in length. This design simplifies installation, reduces costs, and makes wind propulsion practical onboard everything from superyachts to cargo and cruise ships.
The first example of the new generation of DynaRig will appear on Greenpeace's new wind-powered sailing vessel, due for launch in early 2027 - read more here.