True Radial -- Racing Spinnakers
While differences in spinnaker moulds may not be immediately
apparent to the untrained eye, North sail designers refine proven
molds/shapes
to match the distribution of area, girths and profile to each particular
class or yacht. New designs are optimized with North's exclusive FLOW and
MEMBRANE computer simulation programs, which analyze pressure and stresses
on the sail at various wind speeds and angles. With this data, the designer
can create a "flying shape" that more accurately matches the
designed shape. The result is a spinnaker that is fast and easytofly.
For
the 1995 America's Cup, North Sails New Zealand developed a unique "twisted
wind tunnel" to better replicate the differences in wind speed and
angle a spinnaker experiences between deck level and the upper part of
the rig. The tunnel, developed in conjunction with the University of Auckland,
has allowed North sail designers to harness more speed over a broader wind
spectrum for a specific spinnaker design.
The ongoing development of fast shapes will continue especially with the upcoming Whitbread Round the World Race; a true test of speed and durability.
Spinnaker Cloth Options
North TRUE RADIAL spinnakers
are available in two lightweight cloth types, polyester and nylon. Each
has its advantages. For instance, polyesters stretch less for their weight,
especially when wet, but cannot withstand "shockloading"
as well as nylon. Conversely, nylon loses as much as half of its strength
when wet, but is a better choice for rough water, or offshore racing. Polyesters
tend to last longer than nylon styles but are not as resistant to tearing.
Following is a table of available cloth weights and colors for the complete
range of TRUE RADIAL spinnaker designs.
NorLon™ .75 and 1.5 oz. White, Red, Green, Yellow, Lt. Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Black, Caribbean, Fuschia, Mango, Grape, Raspberry
NorLon Accent Colors (.75 only)
Periwinkle, Sweet Pea, Pumpkin, Yam, Beige* (Great for inlays,
faces,and flesh tones)
NorLon 250 Colors White,Red, Blue
.6 Nylon (30/20) White,Red, Blue
.5 Contender SuperLite White,Red, Blue
.5 Polyester White, Red, Yellow, Dark Blue, Gray
.6 Polyester White, Red, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Gray, Hot Yellow, Hot Green, Hot Orange, Hot Pink
.85 Polyester White, Red, Dark Blue, Yellow, Green, Hot Pink
Specifications subject to change and may vary from loft to loft. 1997 North Sails. All rights reserved True Radial and NorLon are trademarks of North Sails.