Please select your home edition
Edition
B&G Zeus SR AUS

New Mills 41 in Japan carries Halls Spars and Rigging from NZ

by Sail-World on 2 Nov 2016
Mills 41 Karasu was launched in September in Japan and features spars from Hall Spars NZ Mills Design
One of Hall Spar's latest projects, IRC Mills 41 Karasu (Crow) has just been launched in Japan and is currently undergoing test sailing.

Built by McConaghy in Zhuhai, this all-carbon racer is targeted at an inshore racing schedule in primarily light/medium conditions. The result of a lengthy reserach and development programme, this boat is for repeat clients in Hong Kong and reflects their experience racing locally in their previous custom Mills 41, as well as their views about the best way to approach the fleet with a new design.

A second generation mast was custom-crafted by Hall Spars & Rigging NZ for this design using High Modulus material for the mast and boom. 



The use of Hall Spar's fluid- structure integration (FSI) software has resulted in improved stiffness and sail integration. Happ Spars new fluid-structure integration (FSI) software is an advanced tool that allows us to accurately model the interaction of different sail combinations on Hall Spars' rigs. 

Giving accurate loading and mast bend predictions, this new tool enables us to explore different rig options in order to find the best solution based on each client's unique brief while reducing man hours spent on-site tuning a rig.

'The ability to integrate sail shape and mast bend and various sail configurations is a major step forward in producing the highest performing spar package possible,' says Hall Spars NZ founder Gary Hassall. 'It also allows us to effectively tune the rigging remotely - positively impacting project delivery timeframes. Loads are now more definable including deck loads for all sheet attachments: a large help for boat builders and designers.'

Karasu features a carbon headstay and a mast constructed from 3D printed titanium parts, as well as internal halyard locks and an optimised windage package.  



For more on the Mills 41 click here

For the latest from Hall Spars NZ click here

Beneteau AustraliaBarton Marine Pipe GlandsVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTER

Related Articles

2025/26 B14 Australian National Titles
Snatch dominates at Midway Point Yacht Club The 2025/26 B14 Australian National Titles delivered five days of varied and demanding racing at Midway Point Yacht Club, showcasing the full breadth of conditions the B14 class thrives in.
Posted on 4 Jan
ILCA Oceania & AUS Open & Youth Championship day 2
Hungary's Maria Erdi takes the lead in the ILCA 6 class Hungary's Maria Erdi has taken the lead in the qualifying series of the ILCA 6 Class of the 2026 Oceania and Australian Open and Youth Championships in Hobart, Tasmania.
Posted on 4 Jan
Moth Australian Nationals Invitation Race
Two races completed on two different courses at McCrae Yacht Club Champagne sailing conditions greeted the 31 starters of 40+ entries for the invitation race, with Port Phillip Bay turning on the kind of weather sailors dream about and talk about for years afterwards.
Posted on 4 Jan
40th Impulse Australian Championship
A fleet of 47 boats took part at Altona Yacht Club A fleet of 47 boats took part in the regatta which was contested a variety of light and heavy winds and seas. The regatta was generously sponsored by Riley Fittings and MD Spars.
Posted on 4 Jan
2026 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship Day 1
Sail Inc claims the first race on Sydney Harbour The highly fancied Sail Inc. crew of Nick Press and Andrew Hay have claimed the opening race of the 2026 triSearch 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship, the second race abandoned due to a predicted thunderstorm showing up on time.
Posted on 4 Jan
GLOBE40 Leg 4 Update
Heading towards the Roaring Forties After a superb stopover in Sydney, the Class40s of the 2nd edition of the GLOBE40 set sail again on Thursday, January 1st at 3:00 PM local time (4:00 AM UTC) for the 4th leg, which will take them, after a transpacific crossing, to Valparaiso, Chile.
Posted on 4 Jan
SailGP: Coutts says League will grow to 20 teams
Coutts says the value of a team now is USD$70million. current focus is on growing audience size. Ahead of the start of Season 6 of SailGP getting underway in Perth on January 17, SailGP CEO, Russell Coutts talks with the Yahoo Finance channel on the growth, value and future direction of SailGP.
Posted on 3 Jan
ILCA Oceania & AUS Open & Youth Championship day 1
Wearn and Plasschaert lead the charge in Hobart The River Derwent tossed up solid conditions for the 191-strong fleet in the 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championship in Hobart today.
Posted on 3 Jan
2025-26 Flying 11 Nationals overall
The 42 competitors were dished up a variety of conditions in Belmont Bay, Lake Macquarie The 2025/26 Flying Eleven Nationals have come to an end in Belmont Bay. 42 competitors were dished up a variety of conditions from light to moderate Easterly winds with sunshine, through to blustery 18-25 knot Southerlies with passing showers.
Posted on 3 Jan
Australian Sailing Team and Squad lining up
For the 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open Championships The Australian Sailing Team and Squad will line up this week at the 2026 ILCA Oceania & Australian Open Championships, hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, with a strong mix of Olympic experience and emerging talent set for racing.
Posted on 3 Jan