On board the Stem 50 are halyards, sheets and boat ropes made by a true Italian excellence, such as Gottifredi Maffioli. It is Luca Sabiu himself, ocean navigator and ‘Navigation Advisor’ to the Stem Marine team, who reveals how they were chosen and how they make driving this cabin cruiser simple, pleasant and safe.
On board a sailing cabin cruiser, among the essential components are the boat ropes and halyards to which we entrust not only the setting of the sails, but more generally the running of the hull and the safety of navigation. Choosing quality sheets and halyards can only enhance the characteristics of the boat and its performance, and facilitate the work of the skipper and crew.
That is why the Stem Marine team for the ropes and cables of the Stem 50, a 15.85 metre aluminium cabin cruiser destined for the great outdoors, chose a partner of excellence: the historic Gottifredi Maffioli brand. The quality of the leading Italian company in this sector is widely appreciated. It is valued on cruising cabin cruisers as well as on mega yachts and racing boats, from the Imoca 60 of the Vendée Globe to the AC75 of the America’s Cup.
So let’s see what ropes and cables are installed on board Stem50 and what advantages they offer in boat handling, with the help of Luca Sabiu, ocean navigator and sailing coach. In fact, he personally took care of the entire deck and rigging of the Stem 50, using all his expertise in the ocean aboard racing and cruising boats.
Study of work loads and rope diameter
It is Luca Sabiu himself who reveals what Stem Marine‘s approach was when choosing which lines and cables to take aboard the Stem 50. Each manoeuvre was the result of a careful and detailed study. “The first step in the work was to define the specific loads for each manoeuvre, i.e. sheets, halyards, tack and reefing hands. Once the loads were identified, we moved on to the choice of individual materials. The aim was to obtain lines with diameters as small as possible, obviously without exaggerating, because lines that are too thin are then more difficult to adjust, just think of the spinnaker sheets. However, a smaller diameter significantly improves the passage of the lines through the organiser systems and pulleys installed on deck,” he says.
A fundamental concept is that all halyards in a cabin cruiser must be in perfect synergy with the deck plan. To give an example: there is no point in choosing a 12 millimetre halyard if the stoppers are calibrated for 10 millimetres. The choice of lines therefore cannot be made in isolation, but must be part of a coherent design that takes into account every single component of the deck plan. It is a concept that is often overlooked, but when the time comes to execute the manoeuvre, one realises that it “does not turn” as it should.
Material choices: top ropes and socks
When it came to the choice of materials for the boat ropes and sheets with which to equip the Stem50, the Stem Marine team made no compromises: a very high level of quality was adopted. Proof of this are the Stem50’s ropes, which all have a core of Dyneema DSK 78 by Gottifredi Maffioli. This material is an absolute guarantee in terms of strength, weight and durability. In addition to the core of the ropes, great attention has also been paid to the choice of socks.
The most heavily loaded manoeuvres, such as tacking and halyards, have been made with Technora socks. This high-tech material offers excellent “grip” and works perfectly with stoppers and winches, keeping the manoeuvre “firm” once in traction. The sheets, on the other hand, have been fitted with polyester socks, which are softer and more pleasant to the touch.
Custom work and “covers” at critical points
Stem 50 was born as a project that can be customised in many aspects. Even the ropes, halyards and cables of this offshore cabin cruiser are no exception. ‘All the lines on board the Stem 50 have been customised,’ explains Sabiu. “In practice, each one, in its use, has specific friction points that are stressed thousands of times more than the rest. Take, for example, a halyard working on a sheave at the masthead: the 20-30 centimetres of line that continuously run at that point are subjected to intense wear. We took our inspiration from the world of racing to apply so-called “covers”, already widely used on maxi yachts and ocean-going boats, to those critical points”.
Two main types of “covers”
To better understand, there are two main types of “covers” on the nautical market:
- In Dyneema: they protect against wear and tear and improve sliding.
- In Technora: they increase grip, ideal for stoppers and winches.
For the Stem50 the “covers” were bought by the metre, cut and sewn thread by thread, a craftsmanship performed by the team rigger.
On the Stem50, the yard went even further: ‘We also studied the boat ropes according to the sails’ gaits and conditions of use,’ he continues. “For example, the mainsail halyard has a “cover” positioned in the area that works when the sail is fully hoisted, but also in the points that come into play in strong winds and low sails. Each line has therefore been calculated and coated to ensure optimal performance in all wind and sea conditions,” he says.
The same approach has been adopted by our team for the tack of the gennaker, one of the highest load points. The area subjected to the greatest stress is covered with a special ‘cover’. It extends for several metres to ensure coverage even in the event of slack.
‘Rings’ instead of blocks for a clean layout
When it comes to components, the Stem50 also features carefully designed solutions from equally excellent and innovative companies. ‘We did not use standard blocks,’ says Luca Sabiu, “but purchased “Antal Rings” and made custom “loops” for each manoeuvre at the mast foot. Each “loop” is also overbraced with a white “cover” finished with a red thread (the same red as the boat’s name “Red Thread”, nda). It allows for a completely clean layout, with no steel shackles or other metal elements that could bang or wear. The result is a custom, functional, high-performance and, above all, exclusive deck plan“.
It should also be noted that a Dyneema “loop” holds 10 to 15 times more than a stainless steel shackle. This improves safety and reliability, which are crucial aspects for an ocean-going cabin cruiser like the Stem 50.
Extensive use of textile with less bulk and higher loads
With the aim of reducing the use of heavy and bulky hardware on deck and making it easier for the Stem50 crew to manoeuvre, the Stem Marine team, in collaboration with Gottifredi Maffioli, made extensive use of textile. ‘Even for the backstay we ruled out the use of steel,’ says the Navigator Advisor, “opting for an all-textile solution, with reduced weight and bulk, but with higher workloads. The same applies to the dragnets, which on board Stem50 are all made of Dyneema shod with a specific product from the Novara company”.
Finally, another crucial detail: at the bow of the Stem50 there are two sails on furlers. In boats that are not optimised, it can happen that the furler circuit malfunctions, with all the risks involved, especially in difficult weather conditions. ‘To ensure flawless operation, we chose a specific line, the “Loop Line”,’ explains Sabiu, “which is a cable with a perfectly circular cross-section that does not deform. This guarantees smooth, constant and safe winding, even in strong winds. It is the same technology used on the VOR 70 in the world tours’.
Boat ropes and cables faithful to the Stem 50 concept
In short, even in the choice of ropes and cables on board, the Stem 50, the vision of the Stem Marine team stayed true to its vision. The philosophy behind this innovative cabin cruiser for the great outdoors is clear. A boat that is safe, easy to handle and with an uncompromising quality of components and equipment. The philosophy has been fully embraced and interpreted by the Gottifredi Maffioli team.
‘A well-designed and efficient deck plan in terms of sheets, halyards and rigging,’ concludes Luca Sabiu, “equals maximum safety, high performance and durability.
