TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) investigated
which adhesive would be the most suitable for the new mast of a classic beauty.
Built in Scotland in 1928 as a twenty-three metre class yacht for the
newspaper magnet Sir William Berry, the Cambria is now recognised as a J class
yacht and thus a predecessor of the current generation of America’s Cup
yachts. When the current owner of this historic ship decided to have its mast
renovated and enlarged, TNO was called in to help.
At 48 metres, the Cambria’s mast is the world’s tallest wooden mast. It must
be able to hold up as much as 1685 m2 of canvas sail – at times under rough
conditions at sea. The mast consists of a total of 130 smaller and larger
pieces that are held together with adhesive.
The restoration team asked Touchwood, the wood supplier, and TNO which
adhesive would be most appropriate to use, especially over the longer term.
Based on the results of a number of accelerated ageing tests carried out in
Delft, TNO advised the mast builder in La Ciotat (France) to use melamine
formaldehyde. The most suitable wood was selected with the aid of the Mobile
Timber Grader, an instrument developed by Brookhuis and TNO.
TNO info: mario.vanderlinden@tno.nl
