The on-site regatta compound is up and running. Offers full-line of spare components and assembled products. |
Pewaukee, WI—For the 2007 edition of the Americas Cup in Valencia, Spain, Harken is supplying the 2003 Defender and 10 of 11 Challengers including the 1995, 2000 Cup winner and 2006 AAC Champion Emirates Team New Zealand with full winch and hardware systems. These packages include custom made blocks, mainsheet systems, genoa systems and full winch system packages.
Harken engineers began preparing for the upcoming Cup immediately following the successful 2002/03 event held in New Zealand. For the last several years, they have devoted significant time and energy meeting syndicate demands for increasingly lighter weight and stronger sail control systems.
"Harken engineers researched new materials, acquired state-of-the art design tools and software, and developed in-house testing facilities, allowing us to cycle test blocks at full safe working loads, test bearing efficiency, determine how different line effects sheave diameters, and the longevity of bearings ," said company president Peter Harken. "These upgrades have resulted in new cutting-edge gear, the ability to optimize hardware that needed updating, and redesign gear we wanted to improve."
Harken Valencia
Harken Valencia is up and running. The On-Site Regatta Compound offers a full line of spare components and assembled products, for sale, warranty and repair.The Compound houses a machine shop for product maintenance during the Cup with Tech Team personnel on-site 24/7. Two engineers will be available for the duration of the event.
Trickle-Down
During the America's Cup, years of wear and tear on our gear is compressed
into six months. We analyze bearings, coatings, mechanisms, materials, gear ratios, and systems layouts as well as how easy the gear is to service and maintain. The results transmit directly into new hardware and winch designs for your boat.
Deck Hardware and Winches
Blocks
For the 2007 Cup, Harken engineers used soft-attachment rope LOUPS™ to handle full block loads, decreasing weight by 20%. Blocks are designed for easy maintenance.
Genoa Systems
The 'XY' genoa systems feature Harken-designed and built custom hydraulic cylinders to move lead positions under load. Traveler car legs can be straight or bent to allow trimmers to move the sheave carrier all the way outboard or inboard and still meet the requirements of the V5 rules.
PCRX Mainsheet Traveler
This new Pivoting Track system allows AC boats using different foot length mainsails or booms to align the car to the load for greatly increased traveler efficiency. The track bonds to the boat using a series of bobbins carbon-taped to the traveler bulkhead. Eliminating fasteners and integrating the traveler into the deck saved considerable weight. A titanium rod used as the hinge pin saved more weight.. The track easily removes for service. The PCRX Traveler was nominated by the jury at the 2005 DAME competition held at the METS Trade Show.
Winch Systems
Winch engineers kept the basic winch designs the same, but concentrated on weight reduction. FEA (Finite Element Analysis) on the winch bases, housing and drums determined where material could be removed. New software allowed us to fine tune our winches and test different gear materials and treatments.
• The 1111 primaries come with carbon drums and titanium gears
• The AC version of the 990 winch is almost 3 kg lighter than the 2003 AC winch.
• A three-speed AC version with a 1:1 first gear ratio was added to the 65.3 STAC using carbon drum and titanium gears.
Pedestals & Disconnect Systems
• Pedestals feature stiff, lightweight carbon handles with smaller diameter, aerodynamic grips.
• The pedestal tube is stiffer and lighter weight.
• The disconnect system comes with carbon brackets, carbon levers, a longer clutch coupler and radial spring to help fast connections.
Gear Boxes
The gear boxes were completely redesigned.
• Boxes feature solid aluminum housings with larger bevel gears.
• Weights were optimized to keep boxes stiff for 8-man input and to prevent bevel gear wear.
• Disconnect brackets and levers are carbon.
• Boxes can be lubricated with oil (or grease) to minimize service and increase bevel longevity.
Harken, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative sailboat hardware and accessories. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Harken manufactures in USA and Italy. Their network includes offices in Rhode Island, California, Florida, France, Italy, Japan, Slovenia, Sweden, Australia and the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
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