Yachting Monthly - November 2015

The rip-stop pattern

of Dimension-Polyant Square

TECHNICAL

66 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com NOVEMBER 2015

In a standard weave all threads

are the same denier, but cloth

manufacturers produce technical

weaves where thicker, stronger

threads are added. Fed along the

fi ll and warp orientations, the

thicker yarns give the cloth more

strength and stability. They act

as reinforcing beams, resisting

stretch. Another advantage of

Reinforced

Dacron

Premium woven

sailcloth

Dimension-Polyant (DP)

produces Hydra Net sailcloth,

while Contender makes Fibercon

Pro Hybrid. Both are polyester

interwoven with Dyneema

and designed specifi cally for

cruising yachts. Both cloths use

a combination of polyester and a

very high percentage of ultra-high

molecular weight polyethylene

(Ultra-PE) yarns, which we know

as Dyneema. Ultra-PE resists

stretch far better than polyester

and it’s less susceptible to

abrasion. Other high-strength

yarns are used, Bainbridge for

example is experimenting with

Technora, while others use

Vectran or Spectra.

The cut of the sail, whether

radial or cross-cut, will depend on

which style of Ultra-PE reinforced

cloth you choose.

PROS

■ Low stretch

■ Good abrasion resistance

■ Should outlast a

laminate sail

CONS

■ Expensive

PROS

■ Stronger than basic cloth

■ Resists ripping

■ Stretch will be reduced

and delayed

CONS

■ Increase in cost

■ Increased weight

■ Polyester still stretches

PHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK/YM

PHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK/YM

PHOTO: R.AXEL

Hydranet gives strength and

performance, and looks similar

to Dacron, but lasts a lot longer

ABOVE: A Dyneema

alternative: the

gold-coloured thread

of Vectran is used

to reinforce

polyester cloth

Hydranet is an

excellent material,

but it can cost

more than

laminate sails

How it’s made

It’s woven just like traditional

sailcloth, but the Ultra-PE

reinforcing yarns are woven

extremely tightly to ensure a good

bias stability (the change in shape

as the sail is stretched). Some

cloths use Ultra-PE in one thread

orientation, others in both.

What it’s made of

Woven polyester cloth with

ultra-high molecular weight

polyethylene threads within the

weave to distribute force evenly

and withstand stretching.

Best for

Long distance sailors who want

good performance and great

sail longevity for the lifetime of

abuse dished out while sailing.

PHOTO: GRAHAM SNOOK.COM

PHOTO LEFT: GRAHAMSNOOK.COM

these stronger threads is they can

prevent a tear from running across

the sail, giving rip-stop properties.

If a sails rips, the tear should

stop at the thicker yarn, allowing

the owner to resolve the problem

before it’s too late.

How’s it made

In the weave process, either

warp and/or fi ll yards can be of a

different thickness to the majority

of threads that make up the cloth.

The loom is set up to create the

desired pattern. Another option

is to fi re single fi ll yarns across as

usual, but every 30th time (for

example), fi re two across,

almost doubling its strength.

What’s it made of

These types of sail will use

polyester, and double polyester

yarns for the rip-stop pattern.

Best for

Cruisers whose budget dictates

traditional woven sails, but are

prepared to pay that little bit more

for a longer service life.

Rip-stop weave pattern should

prevent a small tear becoming a

terminal problem for a sail

Rip-stop weave

pattern is most

commonly found in

spinnaker material,

which can be made

from both Nylon

and Polyester

COMGRAHAMSNOOK.PHOTOS BELOW: