High Modulus, the New Zealand-based composite engineering and materials supply company, have joined the team that will build the fleet of 82ft yachts for the Antarctica Cup – the non-stop 14,500 mile dash around the bottom of the planet, starting and finishing in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Up to 15 maxi yachts will be built in the next two years, to a design by Ron Holland, and High Modulus will supply Western Australian superyacht builder, Oceanfast Yachts with materials, engineering advice and management programmes.

Talking about the specific problems of building 15 identical boats of this size, Ron Gorter of High Modulus commented: “To meet these demands we have developed an innovative kit process that eliminates first-built and last-built issues and ensures all yachts will be created equal, and delivered on time.

“Our relationship with Ron Holland dates back to the ground breaking construction of the first glassfibre 12 Metres in 1985, for New Zealand’s first challenge for the America’s Cup.”

High Modulus are currently working closely with Oceanfast, supplying engineering expertise for the sundeck superstructure, on golfer Greg Norman’s 228ft expedition yacht that is due to be launched later this year.

Bob Williams, chairman of the Antarctica Cup, is pleased to have High Modulus on the team, and commented: “We really now have a great combination to ensure these turbo sleds that will blast around the Southern Ocean, will be built to the highest standards.

“Their practical understanding of design and construction clarified many issues for us, and the kitset solution they propose creates a ‘boat in a box’, so the competitors can take comfort in knowing that these boats will be engineered for the task, and identical like no other one-design to date.”