North Sails now offers boaters the same quality of sails as the professionals: the possibility to install molded sails with an affordable price.
3Di sails are built on a mold, a shape that, with the help of cylinders, defines the final volume of the sail. On this mold, filament tapes are laid out in the axis of the forces (hence the name filament sails). Reinforcements such as the halyard, tack or sheeting points or the reefing points on the mainsail are also provided for when the sail is manufactured. A vacuum impregnated resin is used to bind the whole.
On racing sails, the fibers used are Dyneema, carbon or Kevlar. Hence the grey or black color of these sails (but also the cost!). On the new 3Di Nordac sails, polyester fibers are molded. For beautiful white sails!
Polyester has many years to go
Polyester fiber is the most commonly used for cruising sails. Woven, it is assembled in panels. While it is very strong, it has the unfortunate characteristic of relaxing over the years (and with effort). Polyester sails end up looking like bags, each panel being deformed.
With its 3Di Nordac, the sailmaker North Sails applies its molded sail manufacturing technique, but using polyester fiber. This allows to combine a low cost fiber with a high quality manufacturing technique.
The first tests were carried out on about thirty sailboats sailing around the world and the results were so positive that North Sails decided to bring forward the commercialization by 3 months! Since the 1st er june 2017, this sail construction technique is available. Tests have even been done on Mini 6.50 sails (although the objective is indeed cruising sails) with skippers bluffed by the qualities.
For whom?
While North Sails has an image as a sailmaker for racing boats (Volvo Ocean Race, Vendée Globe...), they now offer a product that can be used by all boaters. Thus, quotes are requested on large series sailboats, even old ones like the Sun Shine or even the Samurai. A 3Di Nordac sail can replace any polyester sail.
At what price?
One might imagine these molded sails to be inaccessible. But this is not the case. The 3Di Nordac is offered at about 10% more than a tri-radial Dacron sail. This is certainly a slight extra cost, but largely acceptable for those who enjoy trimming their sails.
For what longevity?
These sails are not laminated. It is not a membrane that is glued to a fabric. There is therefore no risk of delamination. Sails that are raced around the world are in a surprisingly fresh state when they return. It will be the same with the 3Di Nordac. Of course the polyester fiber will eventually stretch, but not as quickly as a woven sail. Indeed, the fibers being arranged on the sail according to the efforts, the work will be less visible.
For which sails?
The mold only allows to create "flat" sails. Thus we can make jibs, mainsails and even gennakers (Code 0 type). Hollow downwind sails cannot be made.
Currently the available machine limits the luff length to 16 m. This corresponds to the majority of cruising yachts from 40 to 45 feet (and the smaller ones of course!).
The 3Di Nordac, already a success?
When we ask Luc Joessel, from the North Sails France sales team, about this new product, he answers: "Often products have their advantages and disadvantages. With the 3Di Nordac, we are still looking for the disadvantages..."
