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For almost a decade, UK-Halsey Sailmakers have been making Tape-Drive® sails
with carbon fiber tapes. Of all the fibers used in today's high-tech
sails, carbon is by far the strongest (highest tenacity) and is
the least stretchy (highest modulus). Also important is the fact
that it is impervious to ultraviolet exposure.
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In the early days there was a concern about Carbon Fiber being brittle, but cloth and tape manufacturers have corrected their production techniques so that sails with Carbon Fibers can be handled like any other sail.
Carbon fiber is ideal for the structural tapes used in Tape-Drive® sails. Just looking at the numbers, the goal of lighter, stronger, less stretchy sails looked to be easily attainable. Our racing Tape-Drive sails with carbon tapes are unmatched for their performance and durability. |
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CarbonPict:
A Mumm 36 racing in Chicago |
With the durability of sails with carbon tapes is so well documented, we are now using carbon fiber reinforced tapes in our performance cruising sails. Our top of the line cruising sails use are a Spectra base laminate reinforced with the Tape-Drive reinforcing grid. Both carbon and Spectra are not affected by the sun's UV rays. The combination of Spectra laminates and carbon tapes make the most UV resistant sail on the market. |
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For boats under 35 feet, we can make a performance cruising sailing for less money using polyester laminates instead of Spectra. Pictured is Phil MacFarlane's Ericson 35 SAIL A VIE showing her sails made of a polyester laminate and carbon tapes. Phil just won the 2000-mile Singlehanded Transpac in August. 2004 using these sails. |
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Ericson35: Singlehanded Transpac winner SAIL A VIE |
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For more information on this latest Tape-Drive® advance, give us a call! The price for the benefits of carbon tapes is surprisingly affordable.
UK-Halsey's Test on Carbon Cloth |
