Hood Sails

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"NEWSLETTER2.html">NEWSLETTER2</a><br> <br><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TR> <TD vAlign=top align=left width="60%" colSpan=2> <P>Hood uses the finest materials available on the market for its racing sails.</P> <P>There are enormous differences between various laminates or textiles, even when produced from the same type of fibre (though not necessarily the same fibre) and as a result they perform in a completely different manner when subjected to the same loads. </P> <P>So this means the shape under load can be completely different, even when the design shape is the same.</P> <P>An excellent design shape can prove to be a disastrous flying shape if the material used to produce the sail is not up to the task.</P> <P>A correct balance between stretch resistance and lightness are essential for a high-performance sail.<BR> </P></TD> <TD vAlign=center align=right width="40%"><IMG height=188 alt="" src="http://www.hoodaustralia.com.au/editimages/ACF840B.gif" width=250 align=baseline border=0></TD></TR> <TR> <TD colSpan=3> <P>While this task is partly the result of the sail designer's skill in establishing the panel layout, it is predominantly a question of expertise in textile production.<BR> <BR>Hood has a perfect understanding of the mechanical properties of the various laminates and textiles available on the market.</P> <P>This, thanks to the numerous tests carried out in Ireland at Hood Textiles, a plant with sophisticated testing equipment where Hood produces its textiles for cruising sails.</P> <P>Based on the sail to be produced, sail designers at Hood select the most suitable laminate or textile available on the market.</P> <P>With many years of experience Hood has four prefered suppliers of sailcloth : <A class=testo href="http://www.bainbridgeint.com/" target=_blank><B>Bainbridge</B></A> , <A class=testo href="http://www.sailcloth.co.uk/chal/c_index.htm" target=_blank><B>Challenge</B></A> , <A class=testo href="http://www.contendersailcloth.com/" target=_blank><B>Contender</B></A> and <A class=testo href="http://www.dimension-polyant.com/intro.html" target=_blank><B>Dimension-Polyant</B></A>, who each have web sites that give the specifications of their respective laminates and textiles.</P> <P>It's impossible to state that any one Hood sail model is always made from the same sailcloth, given that every producer updates its catalogue at least once a year. <BR></P> <P>Each manufacturer has an excellent range of materials. For instance, GPL and AC series laminates are often used to produce carbon laminated sails.</P> <P>Edge series, AKS and HMT laminates are mainly used for Kelvar sails and the new X-line products are proving themselves in our one design sails.</P> <P>And when, for instance, "exotic" fibres are not allowed or in cases of lower budgets, we use the Pentex range of laminates (high module polyester, 2.5 times more stretch resistant than normal polyesters) or normal polyester laminates (commonly known as "Mylar").</P> <P>Where rules prohibit the use of laminates we often use Polykote series Dacron® or Pentex textiles.</P> <P>But these are just a few examples. In fact we use many, many textiles.</P> <P>Airx series and Superkote nylons are often used for race spinnakers while special silicone-treated nylons are used for spinnakers that have to pass through funnels as they glide better.</P> <P>Again in this case many different choices are available.</P> <P>Based on the type of sail and budget available Hood's sail designers always offer you the best solution in terms of your sailboat's performance.</P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD></TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD></TR></TABLE> </body>