I just came across an article this morning describing a new keel for the 60 foot IMOCA racing yacht, Safran. In their quest for performance, sailors always look for ways to keep everything on the boat as light as possible so the maximum amount on weight can be applied to lowest point, the keel bulb. Marc Guillemot (the skipper of Safran) and his team have taken a step beyond what anyone else has done so far and have made a hollow titanium keel blade. It doesn't hurt that his sponsor, Safran Groupe, is a leading international aerospace and defence contractor who have easy access to the materials and expertise to bring this innovation to fruition. Messier-Bugatti-Dowty (a company within the group) just happened to have a block of titanium that would fit the project. A titanium keel for Safran - Safran Sailing Team
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