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Early History of Composites

Early History of Composites

  • 1942: First glass fibre/polyester resin dinghy sail by Ray Greene (USA) (fig.1)
  • 1968: First sandwich construction in the yacht Sir Thomas Lipton
  • 1970s: Emergence of carbon and aramid fibre composites in sailing construction
  • 1980s: Early CFRP sailing vessels and introduction of prepreg manufacturing
  • 1980: Eric Tabarly constructs the Trimaran Paul Ricard (Hydroptère), featuring aluminium hydrofoils (fig.2)
  • 1990: Carbon fibres used in sails for low elastic deformation and aerodynamic efficiency
  • 2013: Fibre reinforced composite foils in America’s cup catamarans

Recent Development

Recent Developments

  • Fiber composite expanded beyond hulls, encompassing high-tech components such as masts, spars, sails, foils, rudders, and various other sailing elements (fig.3, 4 & 5)
  • Design developments for increased speed, e.g. foil shape and rigid wing sails (fig.6 & 7) and inflatable wing sails
  • Connected boats, e.g. photovolaic sails (Solar Cloth System) and embedded sensors in sails (3Di sails by North sails) (fig.8)
  • Use of eco-friendly materials, such as bio-resins and natural fibres
    Exemplified by the Ecoracer 30, built from renewable (such as flax fibres) and recycled materials (fig.9)
  • World sailing develops together with IOC the “Carbon Fibre Circular Demonstration Project”

Gallery

Gallery

1942: First glass fibre/polyester resin dinghy sail by Ray Greene (USA)
1. 1942: First glass fibre/polyester resin dinghy sail by Ray Greene (USA)

 

Eric Tabarly constructs the Trimaran Paul Ricard (Hydroptère), featuring aluminium hydrofoils
2. Eric Tabarly constructs the Trimaran Paul Ricard (Hydroptère), featuring aluminium hydrofoils

 

Fiber composite expanded beyond hulls, encompassing high-tech components such as masts, spars, sails, foils, rudders, and various other sailing elements
3. Fiber composite expanded beyond hulls, encompassing high-tech components such as masts, spars, sails, foils, rudders, and various other sailing elements

 

Fiber composite expanded beyond hulls, encompassing high-tech components such as masts, spars, sails, foils, rudders, and various other sailing elements
4. Fiber composite expanded beyond hulls, encompassing high-tech components such as masts, spars, sails, foils, rudders, and various other sailing elements

 

Fiber composite expanded beyond hulls, encompassing high-tech components such as masts, spars, sails, foils, rudders, and various other sailing elements
5. Fiber composite expanded beyond hulls, encompassing high-tech components such as masts, spars, sails, foils, rudders, and various other sailing elements

 

Design developments for increased speed, e.g. foil shape and rigid wing sails and inflatable wing sails
6. Design developments for increased speed, e.g. foil shape and rigid wing sails and inflatable wing sails

 

Design developments for increased speed, e.g. foil shape and rigid wing sails and inflatable wing sails
7. Design developments for increased speed, e.g. foil shape and rigid wing sails and inflatable wing sails

 

Connected boats, e.g. photovolaic sails (Solar Cloth System) and embedded sensors in sails (3Di sails by North sails)
8. Connected boats, e.g. photovolaic sails (Solar Cloth System) and embedded sensors in sails (3Di sails by North sails)

 

Use of eco-friendly materials, such as bio-resins and natural fibres. Exemplified by the Ecoracer 30, built from renewable (such as flax fibres) and recycled materials
9. Use of eco-friendly materials, such as bio-resins and natural fibres. Exemplified by the Ecoracer 30, built from renewable (such as flax fibres) and recycled materials

 

On the road to Olympic and Paralympic Games

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