Testimonials

“It’s a whole new boat. She is just gorgeous.” So said Gus MacDonald, owner of the Hinckley pilot PANACEA. In 1998, Gus went to Judy Wilson of Hinckley Yacht Services in Maine after a fire destroyed his spars to explore the possibility of a carbon fiber replacement. Working with Hinckley and GMT’s President and Chief Engineer David Schwartz, they were able to design a new mast that was lighter and taller by nearly three feet for added horsepower. “At the 1999 Hinckley Roundevous race, I started with eighteen other Pilots and beat all of them by 35 minutes. Not only did I beat the Pilots, but I beat all the B-40s and finished with the more modern SW-42s and SW-43s,” said Gus of the race. “We did the (2000) Marion-Bermuda Race last year and did so well that (Hinckley’s) John Correa sought to tell me what an amazing performance we and Panacea accomplished.” Gus relates about his fourth overall finish. “Before the new spars, Panacea would be dead in the water in light air, now she is competitive and beating boats I could not keep up with in these conditions. She is faster and more comfortable offshore, she now drives through a sea instead of hobby-horsing, plus she heels less and is drier. Panacea has been in my family for 35 years, and with the new carbon fiber mast and boom from GMT, she will be with me for another 35 years. Like I said, it is like having a whole new boat.” Gus then went on to win the Marion – Bermuda Race in 2004.

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Dear Will

As a bit more news of your customers, the Schooner Maggie B has just about finished her circumnavigation by way of the Southern Oceans. We have done 33,000 NM in 22 months, including Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. See www.SchoonerMaggieB.net. As a testament to your work, we survived a flying jibe of the foresail in the Chilean Channels, in a williwaw that hit somewhere more than 72 knots.

Also nice article about us in the December Yachting Monthly, that mentions the masts.

Best, Frank Blair
Captain, Schooner Maggie B
Florianopolis, Brazil

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Hello Will,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I was hoping to take some pictures this weekend but couldn't. When I get some, I will be sure to send them to you. I have been thoroughly enjoying the new mast - it's definitely a completely different (and better) boat!

We're still tweaking some rig details as a result of the change to in-boom furling. I am now adding a new jib (next to the new mast everything else on the boat now seems to need upgrading, too!). It's faster on all points of sail, and points higher, too. The weight savings really pays off to weather, as does the added sail area (vs. my previous in-mast furling mainsail) off the wind. I can definitely feel the added sail carrying ability, as well, which really helps since I sail shorthanded much of the time and now can reef (furl) less often. I get very useful sail flattening with hydraulic backstay mast bending (the wind can really blow in San Francisco Bay).

It's a beautiful piece of work, and I am a most satisfied customer!

Best Regards,

Mike Chobotov