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Paneled Race Sails
 North Sails pioneered laminate sails and our knowledge has only been increased through 3DL. North's paneled racing sails are designed from the same proven library of fast shapes as our 3DL™ sails and the same sophisticated design and engineering software makes it easy to adjust for the structural inefficiency of a paneled sail. Proper cloth selection is critical and only North has a dedicated division that tests and analyzes fabrics from all the world's sailcloth manufacturers as well as producing our own NorLam™ polyester/Mylar laminates and our high modulus Gatorback™ Aramids. North Cloth has assembled a matrix of fabric styles to best cover a wide range of applications, regardless of manufacturer. Each North paneled sail is engineered to deliver a combination of light weight, low stretch and value that cannot be matched by any other sails and is only surpassed by 3DL.
A number of variables will affect fabric choice for your particular boat. The loads generated by non-overlapping headsails used in classes such as the Mumm 30, for instance, differ greatly from sail loads on a heavier displacement boat with large, overlapping genoas. Kerry Poe at North Sails Oregon can provide you with expert guidance in selecting the sail material best suited to your boat, racing style and budget. For more information, request a quote.
CLOTH OPTIONS:
Scrim Laminates
Scrim laminates are made of fibers laid flat between two layers of Mylar. The largest concentration of fibers is laid in the warp direction of the cloth that handles most of the load encountered while sailing. Fibers are also laid in the fill and bias direction of the cloth to give the sail more durability. There are many different fibers that can be used in scrim laminates. The most common fibers used in the scrim are, polyester, Pentex, Spectra and Aramid. Often combinations of fibers are used in the scrim.
Taffeta Laminates
Taffeta laminates are woven cloths made with either polyester or Aramid fibers that are laminated to Mylar film. Some styles of taffeta laminates will also have an offline reinforcement thread. Taffeta laminates are a little bit heavier than scrim sails, but have the advantage of greater durability. Excellent for use in paneled mainsails, and high aspect ratio sails, such as #3s and #4s.
Premium Nordac
Woven more tightly than any other Dacron fabric in the world to combine outstanding long-term durability with a soft feel and easy handling. Premium NorDac is constructed using 100% Type 52 Dupont Dacron, a rugged high tenacity yarn developed specifically for North Sails.
NOTE: Sails built with NSP NorDac fabrics feature a crosscut panel layout. Sails built with NorLam laminates feature a radial panel layout.
You can find more information on our paneled racing sails by visiting the North Sails North America website.
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