Tape-Drive Carbon/Spectra
Cruising Mainsail
The 80-foot custom motor sailor QUINTA with a Spectra Tape-Drive Passagemaker genoa and full-batten mainsail.
Tape-Drive Carbon earns its name from the black, carbon fiber tapes used on the sails. The matrix of load-bearing carbon tapes are applied to a Spectra reinforced laminate for the ultimate in cruising durability. Spectra is one of the world’s strongest and lightest fibers. Pound-for-pound, it is 10 times stronger than steel and up to 40 percent stronger than aramids. Many sailors have used Tape-Drive Carbon Spectra sails for 10 years or more since they hold up so well.
Spectra doesn’t breakdown from folding, is impervious to UV radiation, and gets softer with use. Unfortunately, Spectra is more expensive than carbon fiber and aramid fibers. Other sailmakers have problems working with Spectra because it elongates after staying under high loads, but when used as a skin fabric in Tape-Drive sails, the Spectra fibers never become loaded enough to creep.
Tape-Drive Carbon Spectra stands up to the rigors of cruising. These sails have been tested on club cruises, across oceans, and around the world. Many boat owners use the same set of sails for racing as well as cruising. With Tape-Drive sails they don’t have to deal with unrigging one set of sails and then re-rigging with another.
Tape-Drive Carbon Spectra sails are not all black, which makes them look more traditional.
A Tape-Drive Carbon/Spectra Testimonial
Larry Rouen liked first set of Tape-Drive carbon Spectra performance cruising so much, which lasted for 11 years, that he ordered a second set shown above.
Larry Rouen used the same suit of Tape-Drive Spectra sails for 11 years on his Dawn 41 NEPENTHE (shown above) racing Thursday evenings and cruising on the weekends. Naturally, he came back for replacements that, straight from their bags, helped him win his club’s non-spinnaker championship. “With UK Sailmakers’ Tape-Drive sails, you sure get your money’s worth!” says Larry to all his sailing friends. UK Sailmakers’ Tape-Drives are beautifully shaped, durable enough to remain that way for years, and take you wherever you want to go – cruising or racing.
Ocean Race 60, Ltd., offers ocean racing experiences on TOKIO II, the 60-footer used in the Whitbread Around the World Race in 1993-1995. Based in Helsinki, Finland, the boat can be chartered for day sails, day races and ocean races. When the company needed new sails for the boat’s powerful sail plan, performance and durability were the company’s requirements. Ocean Race 60, Ltd., needed sails that can help their charters win races while being tough enough to stand up to crews who are learning to sail a boat of such size and power.
Berckemeyer Yacht Design’s 70-foot schooner with full-batten Spectra Tape-Drive mains and a roller/reefing genoa. Photo courtesy Berckemeyer Yacht Design
Available details:
Available with:
– Reefs
– Loose Foot
– Cunningham
– Telltales
– Draft Stripes
– Sail Numbers
– Leechline
Options
Available with:
– Partial Taffeta
– Double Taffeta
Battens:
– Powerhead
– Full Battens
– Furling Mains
Other Options:
– Lazy Cradle
– Lazy Jacks
– Dutchman
– Sail Cover