Offshore multihulls and open class monohulls demand more in terms of sailor-protection than virtually any other discipline of the sport...
Anyone who has sailed an MOD70 trimaran or a scow bow Class 40, let alone a foiling Imoca or giant Ultime trimaran, will be familiar with the increased number of bruises and potential for much more serious injuries on these boats compared with earlier generations of racing yachts. This prompted Musto, which has been at the forefront of the racing world for 60 years, to address these problems head on.
As ever faster foiling and scow bow yachts impose hitherto unheard of levels of impact on their crews, comfort and safety are increasingly common buzz words in the very highest echelons of offshore racing.
Musto has been working in partnership with world leading impact protection specialist D3O and legendary sailors including Vendée Globe winner turned Ultime trimaran skipper Armel Le Cléac’h. The outcome is an industry first in integrating impact protection technologies into offshore sailing kit.
‘There were two observations that led to MPX Impact,’ says Le Cléac’h. ‘One was speed with the foils – we go to 50kts and then down all of a sudden to 10kts. That's when you're getting the impact.’ The second point arose out of working with his medical team: ‘They're aware that we're likely to be alone and injuries are increasingly likely as a result. So, we're looking to protect the areas such as stomach, arms, and knees.’
London-based D3O produces impact resistant materials, tweaked by its own material scientists for a range of different purposes, that are lightweight and flexible, yet form a protective shield that can massively reduce the shocks that would otherwise be directly inflicted on the body. In its natural resting state, the material is soft, flexible and malleable, but on impact it instantly stiffens, dispersing the energy across the surface area of the product, which deflects the force away from the body.
It's used extensively in motorsport and for military applications in some of the most demanding situations imaginable, including combat helmets for US Special Forces, Formula 1 cars and MotoGP racing suits.
Musto has an exclusive agreement to incorporate bespoke D3O impact protection products into foul weather gear aimed at the very top of the sport. D3O’s own polymer scientists and engineers developed a product for this purpose with optimal levels of impact and abrasion resistance for sailing, without compromising comfort and the flexibility needed for ease of movement.
‘This was an opportunity to push the boundaries for our innovation and engineering teams,’ says D3O global brand director Mostyn Thomas. ‘They have this mantra that they believe they can out-engineer the physics of harm, and if ever there's an environment in which you can create harm, it's on a boat in the most extreme and harshest environments around the world.’
The D3O elements used in MPX Impact are bespoke pads added at areas of high impact – the elbows of the jackets, kneepads of the salopettes and at the hips. They have a somewhat open structure, thicker and denser in the centre of the pad, but are more open and thinner towards the edge. This means the pads are incredibly lightweight, extremely flexible and don’t interfere with fit or comfort.
For elbow and hip protection, the D3O material is printed onto a mesh using newly developed technology. This is then bonded to the Gore-Tex Pro fabric of the jacket and trousers, which remains flexible and retains its very high levels of waterproofing and breathability. Hip pads have a 3D profile and also have a laser cut abrasion-resistant film laminated on top, while kneepads fit inside a pocket within the salopettes. These are held in place using hook and loop tabs so users can customise the exact position of the pads to match their height.
The result is kit with the fit and feel of conventional high-end foul weather gear, but which reduces risk of injury to joints and markedly reduces bruising around the hips even in relatively moderate conditions.
Le Cléac’h played a key role within the Musto sailing development team in designing the new product and used a pre-production version during the Arkéa Ultime Challenge earlier this year, in which he took third place, completing a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe in just 56 days. ‘Developing MPX Impact with Musto has enabled me to try and test various solutions in real ocean conditions,’ he says, ‘we’ve worked together to design what I believe to be the ultimate offshore impact kit. It’s the first of its kind.’
Given that offshore racing at this level can be an extremely physical activity, this was never intended as full body armour in the way that that’s essential for motorsport. The kit therefore retains the sleek profile of Musto’s existing MPX garments, with impressive ease of movement. Nevertheless, aside from the D3O patches, the jacket has a number of innovations that make it stand apart from most others, while retaining the convenience of the central waterproof zip.
In particular, to keep the user dry even in extreme weather, it incorporates elements that are normally only found on high- end smocks, while retaining the central zip that makes it really quick to put on and take off. Features include an adjustable wide neoprene band at the hem that creates an effective barrier to prevent solid water flushing upwards. It also has a PU inner collar that’s adjusted with an elasticated Velcro tab, giving a close yet comfortable fit that makes an effective barrier to any water that gets past the standard jacket collar.
Articulated sleeves, an under-arm gusset, plus stretch panels across the shoulders help to maximise freedom of movement and create a more slimline fit. There's also an adjustable high-vis hood with a visor that zips away inside the collar when not in use. Single layer Velcro adjustable cuffs are also effective at keeping the water out, while keeping bulk and complexity to a minimum.
Above: MPX Impact gear has shockabsorbing pads of hi-tech material in impact-prone areas to form a protective shield where it’s needed. They’re soft, light and malleable but stiffen on impact
A phone pouch with a touch sensitive window is built into the left forearm, enabling key data to be kept at hand for instant reference. A great benefit of this arrangement is that each crewmember can choose the exact mix of wind or navigation data that is most appropriate for their role. An elasticated tab gives adjustment so that phone will sit comfortably against your arm.
Salopettes have a similarly comfortable slimline fit without any unnecessary bulk, while stretch panels in the upper sections ensure there’s plenty of freedom of movement. There’s also elasticated adjustment for chest size using Velcro tabs, which helps mould the shape to best fit each individual user.
To compensate for the extra weight of the knee pads the usual Cordura overlays on the knees and seat of the trousers have been replaced with an abrasion resistant film. ‘This still passes a hundred thousand rubs on the Martindale test,’ says Musto lead designer Lucy Davis, ‘and offers a lighter weight solution.’
‘The MPX Impact has been a fantastic asset to my offshore racing kitbag. With high-speed reaching in modern yachts, the slams and forces you have to deal with are multiplied and protection all over the body is important,’ says Will Harris, coskipper of Boris Herrmann’s Imoca 60 Malizia - Seaexplorer, who used the kit for both The Ocean Race and Transat Jacques Vabre.
‘The jacket has all the features I need to be able to quickly jump on the deck during a manoeuvre while feeling protected from both the elements and the boat itself. The number of bruises I come back with afterwards being drastically reduced,’ he adds. ‘Armel and Musto have done a fantastic job designing this product, putting years of experience into practice and keeping their kit at the forefront of the offshore racing world.’
Above all, this custom D3O technology developed for Musto provides a level of protection that belies the modest size and unobtrusive nature of the pads incorporated into the MPX Impact range. Along with the other innovations outlined above this represents an important step in Musto’s long running and ruthless pursuit of improvements in technical clothing that translate directly into success on the racecourse.
Although it was initially developed to help the world’s leading offshore racers improve their performance, MPX Impact is equally suitable for use inshore. ‘We've had foredeck crew in Cape 31s needing this,’ says Musto head of marketing Nick Houchin. ‘They tell it’s brilliant and will protect their knees on the foredeck when pulling the spinnaker up or down. So, although we had the avid offshore racer in mind at the beginning, this is going to be very relevant for a wider user base as well.’
It’s launched on the 60th anniversary of Keith Musto’s silver medal win at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, which is also the year he founded the company. ‘As a team, we're still completely driven by innovation,’ Houchin adds. ‘We've got this appetite to innovate constantly and have a long history of pioneering, introducing industry first products that have stood the test of time.’
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