Cruising Mainsail: Titanium Double Taffeta

Titanium® sails are made with a grid of continuous carbon load path yarns running unbroken between the three corners of the sail; those yarns are laminated between two layers of 3D-shaped film. In the Titanium construction process, the yarns are laid dry–without glue–to reduce weight and to prevent the carbon yarns from becoming brittle. The copolymer coating on the inside of the film holds the yarns and films in place until the final lamination has been completed. 

The five layers (taffeta, film, load path yarns, second film layer, taffeta) are dropped into a variable geometry thermo form in which the sail is heated and UV-bonded under vacuum pressure to become a one-piece finished membrane.

Not coating the yarns with glue makes for lighter (by 15-30%), more flexible, and more durable sails, which makes happier foredeck teams and happier owners who are not replacing their misshaped and broken sails as often.

Yes, there are seams in a Titanium sail, but they are there simply to shape the film layers. Unlike most high-tech sails in which structural yarns only run the width of an individual panel, a Titanium sail’s continuous yarns eliminate seam loads, load-induced seam distortion, wrinkles, or worse yet, seam failure. Titanium sails are smooth and wrinkle free.

Extra Durability With Taffeta

While very strong, Double-Taffeta Titanium sails are made more durable with the addition of a finely woven polyester taffeta layer laminated to both sides. The taffeta layers don’t add strength to the sail, but they protect the film layer from abrasion, which is a great benefit for cruising sailors. Taffeta comes in white or grey.

Available Details

Available with:

• Reefs
• Loose Foot
• Cunningham
• Telltales
• Draft Stripes
• Sail Numbers
• Leechline Options

Battens:

• Powerhead
• Full Battens
• Furling Mains

Other Options:

• Lazy Cradle
• Lazy Jacks
• Dutchman
• Sail Cover