Ep.60. Catamaran Composite Mainsails

Innovation in mainsail technology is used most of the new performance cruising catamarans. We discuss the mainsail technology used on Biotrek, which has DFi sails made by Incidence Sails , France. We discuss the rational for choosing composite sails for a new catamaran, and their sail life compared to Dacron sails. Composite sails are also called laminate sails or membrane sails and most sail manufactures have their own technologies for making these sails from composite materials rather than woven. The video shows removing the mainsail and battens on BioTrek for annual maintenance and then re-installing the battens and mainsail after maintenance completed by Doyle sails. Music from Epidemic Sound A bitter love by Sven Karlsson Unbroken Spirit by Sunfish Grove Vegas by Onda Norte Wondering Nomad by Cody Francis Lost in Atlantis by Smartface Website: www.biotrek-sailing.com 0:00 Intro 0:30 Vendee Globe 1:19 What are composite sails? Also called laminate sails or membrane sails. 1:46 Why modern catamarans have square-topped mainsails 3:05 Specifications of BioTrek's mainsail 3:30 Extra Dry 3:41 Why spend more on composite sails? 4:23 Sailing performance and reducing stretch in sails 5:30 Antivibration devices 6:17 Keeping sails in top condition 7:06 DFi sails by Incidence 7:23 PomIII 8:12 Doyle Sails on the boat 9:11 C-tech battens 11:40 Battens 12:05 Installing and lashing the battens 13:18 Installing the mainsail on an Outremer 5X