Siliconised Spinnakers from Hyde Sails
by Julie Latta, Webwords 9 Jul 2002 15:17 BST
Classes such as the Cork 1720’s sport Hyde’s very latest siliconised spinnakers |
Silicon coated spinnakers are fast becoming the ‘must-have’ accessory for race boats this summer. Benfleet and Hamble-based sailmaker Hyde, has seen sales of these slinky sails take off like wild fire on fleets such as the Farr 40, Kerr 11.3 and sportsboats this season.
Hyde has offered siliconised spinnakers to its one-design dinghy customers for many years.
Having seen the advantage of this material over traditional cloth, Hyde were fundamental in encouraging its suppliers to introduce a 0.5oz version last year; “The new weight made it ideal for designing big boat spinnakers,” explains Mike Lennon, Hyde’s technical director. “It has many user advantages from a higher tear strength to weight radio and a no snag finish, it’s not however the easiest fabric to machine. To overcome this, we invested in an automatic sewing machine which lines up the two sides of the material, avoiding the need for seam stick, which is not only heavier but more expensive.”
The key advantage of siliconsied spinnakers is improved sail handling and performance, particularly on Asymmetric kites. The silicon-coating stops the nylon sails taking on water, so reducing stretch, maintaining shape and providing product longevity. Silicon also had the added effect of giving a slippery finish to ease tangles when the sail gets twisted during a hoist or caught up through gybes.
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