The challenge of lightness and stability over time
Incidence Technologies is a subsidiary of the Incidence Sails Group, they are constantly working on the optimization of membranes. FIT Fibre is the result of this research, the objective of which is to further improve the shape of sails.
It took Incidence Technologies engineers more than a year to develop the ITF. This material was then tested throughout the 2018 season on a multi 50 and in Class40.
Yoann Richomme, after his victorious Route du Rhum in Class40, declared "Yoann Richomme In gusts, even at more than 40 knots, the sail does not deepen: it is not only an obvious and exceptional gain in performance, but also, in the event of a strong gust of wind, it helps to maintain control of the boat. Besides, the sail is really light . The priorities are different and the boats are evolving."
To exploit the unprecedented qualities of this product, a new 400 m² sailmaker will welcome in Lorient a pool of ultra-specialized technicians as close as possible to ocean racing.
We asked Julien Gresset, head of the Lorient Incidence department, about this new product.
We hear about an innovative material, DFi FIT?
Indeed, Incidence will introduce an innovative material on the racing market, it is DFi FIT.
The group's R&D department has developed a new product that is even more efficient than current laminated fabrics. This fibre, with its exceptional qualities, has been tested throughout the 2018 season by Lalou Roucayrol and Yoann Richomme.
What are the technical properties of this matériau??
I would say first of all the shape retention that has never been seen before, then the lightness. Even with the top-of-the-range products currently available, sails that are ageing tend to see their troughs shrink.
It is quite impressive, the sails made of DFi FIT do not deform at all, currently no other material provides such a performance. Comparative measurements were made between FIT fibre and Dyneema (fibre used for filament membranes). The curves speak for themselves.
As for lightness, a Figaro3 HS in DFi FIT weighs only 12 kg and an IMOCA HS weighs less than 70 kg (for a surface area of 155 m2). In addition, the sail does not get heavier over time, as there are very few rewashes.
How are these voiles? built?
Previously, high-end sails had a more or less oriented fibre structure. This structure was trapped in an envelope often made of mylar or Dacron.
Today, with filament technology, the manufacture of a sail is more and more similar to the manufacture of composite materials such as sailboats. On a marble are distributed flat staple fibres, they are then resinized under vacuum, then hot pressed[NDLR pressure higher than 6 bars].
And that's all (or almost) so we gain in weight and homogeneity.
You don't make laminated sails on a moule??
Contrary to popular belief, the filament veil is not necessarily built on a mould. Indeed, there is no real interest, because the fibre is discontinuous. So the sail is made on a marble and then it is assembled using the gripper technique to give volume and shape. This technique is more versatile and easy to use than a mold.
