British specialist in large-scale carbon composite structures, founded in 1992 and based at Trafalgar Wharf, Portchester (Portsmouth, UK). Magma designs and manufactures freestanding carbon masts and DynaRig rigging for superyachts, as well as pre-impregnated structural parts for offshore racing, luxury yachting, energy, and defense. Led by Clive Johnson (managing director, formerly of Tacktick) with Damon Roberts as lead engineer — he was responsible for the Aerorig and then the Maltese Falcon’s rigging at Insensys before joining Magma.
The world’s leading specialist in freestanding carbon masts
Sailing Yacht A (2015) — absolute record
Magma designed and built the three freestanding carbon masts for the sloop Sailing Yacht A (Nobiskrug, 142.8 m), currently the largest freestanding composite masts in the world: over 90 meters in height, approximately 50 tonnes each, cantilevered (un-stayed). Three years of development in Portsmouth, with an embedded fiber-optic sensor network in the carbon to measure structural loads in real time.
DynaRig — Black Pearl and Maltese Falcon heritage
Magma is the reference builder of DynaRig rigging (rotating mast with carbon yards and in-mast furling sails). In 2016, the yard delivered the DynaRig for the Black Pearl (Oceanco, 106 m), three masts. The previous iconic example, the Maltese Falcon (Perini Navi, 2006), had been rigged by Insensys with Damon Roberts at the helm — the team now forming Magma’s core engineering group.
Partnership with Southern Spars since 2020
In June 2020, Magma partnered with Southern Spars (North Technology Group) to industrialize the next generation of DynaRig and make it accessible to more superyacht programs. Magma contributes design/build/maintenance experience from existing DynaRigs, while Southern Spars provides serial production capability.
