Magnus Ullman, Marstrand Big Boat Race and a shared drive for performance

As Marstrand Big Boat Race approaches – now part of The Viking Challenge, the new Northern European ORC series – the connection between Rutgerson Marin, Erteco and competitive sailing becomes even more relevant. For Magnus Ullman, the race is not only a sporting challenge, but also a real-world arena where materials, design and performance are tested in practice.  The event a natural meeting point for technology, collaboration and sailing at a high level.

A partnership built on shared understanding

Magnus Ullman is a polymer engineer with more than 40 years in the industry and almost 23 years at Erteco. During that time, Erteco has evolved from a traditional distributor into a technical development partner, with simulations, calculations and application specifications as part of the way of working.

In the collaboration with Rutgerson, much of the marine context is already understood. That makes meetings more efficient: instead of spending time on basics, the focus can quickly move to deeper questions about real-life use, load cases, geometry and manufacturability – to reach the right solution from the start.

Sailing as a reference – where theory is tested

Magnus has been sailing since childhood and still races actively. With Marstrand Big Boat Race as part of The Viking Challenge ORC series, the event stands out as an especially relevant arena where experience from racing connects directly to the kind of technical discussions that Rutgerson and Erteco work with every day. The fact that Magnus is also competing adds to that relevance, bringing together people who share a practical understanding of performance, durability and demands at sea.

One of his magnus defining experiences is Watski Two Star (double-handed) starting in Oxelösund. In extremely tough conditions, only around 25 out of approximately 125 boats reached the finish. That kind of offshore racing provides a very concrete perspective on what truly lasts – and why details, materials and design decisions matter.

Rutgerson as an early innovator – metal replacement in practice

Rutgerson was early to adopt metal-replacement materials in marine applications. For Erteco, Rutgerson blocks have become a clear reference example of what the right material and the right design can achieve in real use.

This year, Rutgerson Marin marks 50 years of product development for demanding marine applications – building solutions around real load cases rather than theoretical assumptions.

Magnus explains that he still uses Rutgerson blocks as demonstration pieces in customer discussions, precisely because they represent proven long-term durability and reliability in harsh environments. When performance has been demonstrated over many years, discussions about long-term properties become easier – and the dialogue can move forward.

Erteco – a technical development partner with breadth

Founded in 1888, Erteco operates across the Nordic region, the Baltics and partly in Poland. Magnus describes how the company has invested heavily in technical support – combining calculation engineers with experienced process specialists. This combination of theory and practice helps customers translate requirements into manufacturable solutions with the right performance in real-world conditions.

Moving forward

For Rutgerson and Erteco, Marstrand Big Boat Race is more than a regatta. As part of The Viking Challenge, it becomes a strong platform where sailing, innovation and technical collaboration come together. With Magnus Ullman on the water the event clearly reflects how close the connection is between real-life performance, product development and long-term partnerships.