Laminates
The problem with woven materials is that due to the weaving process, the yarns are ‘crimped’, which means that there is a certain amount of stretch inherent in the construction. Laminating eliminates this crimp and the film used either side of the scrim provides good bias support.
Laminating reduces the amount of the yarn content required, which results in a lighter sailcloth with less stretch. Racing sails take advantage of this reduction in weight, so most racing laminates are what is known as ‘film on film’; in other words, shiny on both sides. Although this weight reduction is an advantage to cruising sailors too, the durability reduction isn’t. For this reason, cruising laminates have a layer of light weight taffeta glued to each side of the fabric. This taffeta increases the bulk of the cloth, which in turn increases the durability.
Racing Laminates
Sanders offer 4 styles of racing laminate with a variety of yarn and taffeta options. These are determined by the racing you plan to do – be it local inshore club racing, up to offshore multiple day RORC events.
A. Grand Prix Laminate (GPL)
Dimension Polyant’s GPL was the first laminated sailcloth line to capture the strength of high-performance carbon. This cloth benefits from high strength carbon warp sheet fibres, a super rugged Technora base and Technora X-Ply. As a pioneering racing fabric, GPL keeps impressing with incredible resistance to flex, elongation and degradation from UV. If you do not wish to compromise on high performance, this composite sail cloth is the one for you. There are two options available in this racing range:
a. GPL Graph X (film on film)
b. GPL Lite Skin (taffeta on taffeta)
B. Carbon Sport Black (CS)
The Carbon Sport line is the result of meticulous reconfiguration of the race proven GPL range. Substituting a rugged black polyester in the base warp scrim, CS provides an economical, high-performance product with exceptional flex and impact durability. By utilising the same Carbon warp insert and Technora black X-Ply as the GPL range, CS delivers incredible value with superior shape holding characteristics. The film-on-film option is held together in a black adhesive giving a modern opaque appearance.
a. CS Black (film on film)
b. CS Lite Skin (taffeta on taffeta)
C. Aramid Sport (AS)
If you are a keen club racer, looking for the perfect combination between performance and longevity – then the Aramid Sport sail cloth could be for you. Based on Aramid load bearing fibres and manufactured with Dimension Polyant’s patented X-Ply technology, this is a fantastic addition to our racing sail cloth range. This only comes in the ‘lite skin’ taffeta range.
a. AS Lite Skin (taffeta on taffeta)
D. Racing Membrane
Membrane sails are custom made laminates. The yarns are individually positioned to align the loads in the sail. This method of construction is the most expensive, but also the most efficient. Sanders design the yarn maps of each sail, selecting the yarn type, denier and yarn count. There is an array of yarns available, including Carbon, Technora, Kevlar and Polyester.
Cruising Laminates
Sanders offer 3 primary cruising laminate options, on top of those mentioned in the racing segment. Made with both performance and durability in mind, these sails will give any cruising yacht a complete package for their upwind wardrobe.
A. Contender CDX Pro
CDX laminates are engineered for durability and cruising performance. Contender have designed the CDX Pro range around a series of sub-assemblies using different weights of taffeta’s and a 500-denier polyester cross-ply. The sub-assemblies are combined, one with another and a 6000-dpi polyester insertion to create a complimentary range of styles stepping up in weight and strength. This is a fabulously soft laminate, giving great ease of use and is offered in two styles.
a. CDX Pro Natural
b. CDX Pro Cool Grey
B. Dimension Polyant DCX Line
If you are an ambitious cruising sailor and looking for a low stretch material, then here is your straight forward answer: Dimension Polyant’s DCX cruising laminates have been developed with the aim of producing a high durability fabric. The film covering taffetas are robust and additionally coated with an UVM finish, adding two more desired features to the sail: it will be protected against harmful UV radiation and mildew growth gets reduced. This material tends to be a little more ‘stiffer’ and of harder handling that the comparative CDX Pro, and also comes in to forms:
a. DCX Natural
b. DCX Grey
C. Cruising Membrane
Membrane sails are custom made laminates. The yarns are individually positioned to align the loads in the sail. This method of construction is the most expensive, but also the most efficient. Sanders design the yarn maps of each sail, selecting the yarn type, denier and yarn count. There is an array of yarns available, including Carbon, Technora, Kevlar and Polyester. With our cruising laminates, we will apply a layer taffeta each side of the film providing strength and abrasion resistance.
Want to find out more about our unique range of materials? Get in touch with the Sanders team, we’d love to hear from you!
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