Posts Tagged ‘Stratis’

Doyle Stratis sails are now onboard Team Sanya for the Volvo Ocean Race and Team Korea in the AC 45′s. These projects along with the IRC Mini Maxi Shockwave are proving that Doyle Stratis outperforms the competition in the highest arenas.  

Are you ready to break with the status quo and gain the advantage of Doyle Stratis to power your program?

Listen to Doyle’s Head Designer Richard Bouzaid, Team Korea’s Captain Chris Draper and Brett Bakewell-White, Team Korea’s Design and Technical Director discuss the relationship between Team Korea and Doyle Sailmakers.

Learn more about:

Team Korea
Shockwave
Team Sanya

Team Sanya 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race powered by Stratis © Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

It’s been a very exciting few months at Doyle Sailmakers loft in Auckland, New Zealand as they start seeing the on-the-water race results of their Stratis sail development progam currently in two of the world’s most significant yachting events – the America’s Cup and the Rolex Volvo Ocean Race.

After months of design and perfecting the engineering process to create these leading edge new generation Stratis Grand Prix race sails, the sails have finally been put to the test on the race course with significant results.

First up, the newcomers in the AC45,’s Team Korea sporting Stratis on their striking White Tiger skippered by Chris Draper, set their cat among the pigeons by coming second in the 500 meter speed trials behind Emirates Team New Zealand, then put the icing on the cake by beating Oracle’s Russell Coutts in their Match race. They finished a creditable fourth in the series.

After initial scepticism from their fellow competitors for breaking from the rest of the fleet and choosing Stratis sails, the overwhelming feeling from the Korean team was that they were very fast and they’ve stuck with their decision.

Chris Draper has requested a further set of Stratis sails from Doyle for the upcoming series in Plymouth.

Team Korea and Oracle Racing – Cascais Day 6 – Gilles Martin-Raget-www.americascup.com

Meanwhile, Mike ‘Moose’ Sanderson, skippering Team Sanya has completed the Fastnet utilizing a full set of Stratis. Here it is from the Moose’s mouth:

"They went on, they fitted nicely and most importantly, whether we are right or wrong with regards to the choosing of the concepts, they looked exactly how we expected and hoped!!

For Team Sanya to be a success and be the campaign that ‘punches above its weight’ in all areas, we really had to make sure that we as a loft and as a sail program had done our homework. The Volvo 70 as a boat is now on it’s fourth generation, so all in all they are well developed. What does throw a proverbial spanner in the works for this race is the fact that two downwind sails and one jib has been taken out of the Inventory, so plenty to think about. Richard Bouzaid has done an excellent job with the designs, the laminations and engineering look fantastic and the attention to detail and the finesse that the guys have gone to with the finishing is better then anything I have seen in my 22 years of sail making."

The Fastnet also highlighted Leopard’s success with their Stratis mainsail as they finished with Line Honors in their division.

There’s a lot to look forward to for Team Sanya, White Tiger and Doyle’s Stratis development program as its reputation grows internationally.

Our success has created an opening for a Stratis ‘sails man’ who can walk the talk in top level racing project management. The position is based in Auckland, New Zealand and offers huge potential.
To find out more about this position and where Stratis can take you, get in touch with Chris McMaster at Doyle Sailmakers New Zealand.

Doyle Sails Chris McMaster, Mike Sanderson and Richard Bouzaid at the Stratis loft

Stratis GPx sails from Doyle Sails New Zealand have been chosen to power Team Sanya around the globe in the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Mike Sanderson, skipper of Team Sanya and director of Doyle Sails New Zealand; “It was an easy decision for Team Sanya to make, notwithstanding the fact that I have a boot in both camps!

“The tremendous results that we are achieving with Stratis sails now in terms of both performance and durability certainly give me a lot of confidence and comfort going into the race. The Team and I will be working with Richard Bouzaid and the rest of the Doyle Sails design team in New Zealand to develop the optimum wardrobe for the race. The sail programme has been made all that much harder for this lap compared to any of my others because the boats will be carrying so few sails on board and they get replaced less frequently as well!”

Mike Sanderson’s sailing CV certainly makes him very well qualified to make a rational decision on sails to match the task ahead. Being a sailmaker by trade, having wins in two previous Volvo Ocean races as well as transatlantic and 24 hr speed records under his belt, Mike knows that as well as being fast, the sails have to be engineered and built with an extreme level of durability, particularly as sail wardrobes are so limited for the race.

“I think that the properties of Stratis make it ideal for the application, and with the practical expertise of the design team behind us, we are very excited about taking delivery of our first set of sails.”

Links:
Sanderson to Helm Chinese Entry
Team Sanya to Race in Refitted Renamed Telefonica Blue

Q&A: Mike Sanderson, Skipper of Team Sanya

ICAP Leopard with Doyle Stratis Main

Production at Doyle New Zealand has been pushed to near capacity since Mike Sanderson became a very active part of the company in recent weeks. The grand prix side of the business has taken off with the design and production teams at full speed on major international projects.

Super-maxi Leopard 3, fitted with a new Stratis main for the Annapolis – Newport Race, continued on her successful road with an excellent third overall on IRC and a very satisfying result of a lead out of the Chesapeake of 10 miles.

Alex Thomson’s full new set of Stratis race sails for Hugo Boss is due for fitting next week for the European circuit. From Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson commented: "The team at Alex Thomson Racing are looking forward to the next generation Stratis sails arriving on board Hugo Boss. The design and backup that Doyle New Zealand provides has been fantastic and the input form Richard Bouzaid into this type of program is invaluable."

On top of that the very successful Reichel Pugh race boat Shockwave has also ordered Stratis sails for its forthcoming campaign.

Doyle New Zealand believes that the future for high tech sailing in New Zealand is going from strength to strength. Mike Sanderson comments, "The New Zealand marine industry is acknowledged as a world leader when it comes to developing technologies, and the 100% Kiwi owned and operated Doyle New Zealand Stratis facility is certainly a showcase example. High tech sail making in New Zealand is continuing to lead the industry, and I am excited to be able to combine my experience with the already successful team here. The efficiencies that have developed at the Stratis plant allow us to continue servicing our customers in the local markets where we also have a strong presence. We have some very very exciting projects in the pipeline so all in all exciting times."

Doyle Sailmakers is proud to have sponsored the St. Barths Bucket Regatta held March 25-27, 2011. This year marked the 25th year of Bucket racing – and the 15th edition of the St Barths Bucket. Of the 40 superyachts competing in this legendary event, 15 were new to the Bucket fleet. The average length of yacht was a staggering 64 meters. Lined up bow to stern, the yachts would measure almost three kilometers.

It was a spectacular sight to be seen with the 89m dyna rig Maltese Falcon, 75m Mirabella V and 58m Kokomo III all on the same starting line at the 2011 St. Barths Bucket with 100% Doyle Sails.

During three days of racing, the fleet of 40 superyachts raced around the volcanic island counterclockwise on day one, tackled the infamous “Not So Wiggly Course” on day two, and on day three raced around the island clockwise. The fleet is divided into three categories: Les Elegantes des Mers for the J Class, Les Grandes Dames des Mers for the Cruising Class, and Les Gazelles des Mers for the Racing Class, making the racing more equally competitive and safer. The races are pursuit format, with staggered starts according to each yacht’s rating. The slowest boat is first off the line, and the rest of the fleet starts at time intervals determined by each boat’s predicted elapsed time around the course. Theoretically in a pursuit race, all the yachts will cross the finish line at the same time.

Mirabella V and Kokomo III carried the latest Doyle Stratis sails, while Maltese Falcon carried her 25,791 square feet of Dacron Doyle sails that have taken her over 90,000 miles.

The 96´sloop Symmetry with a full inventory of Doyle Stratis upwind and Doyle downwind sails came in 3rd Overall and 2nd in Les Gazelles.

Perhaps the belle of the ball was the 37m AXIA, one of the smallest yachts in Les Grandes Dames, who won her class with her new Doyle Stratis sails.

The Ron Holland designed Blue Too came in 3rd in Les Grand Dames. Blue Too was delivered to its new Owner just six weeks before the Bucket. Blue Too was powered by Doyle Stratis Carbon/Vectran sails and Doyle downwind sails. This was the owner’s first Bucket as an Owner and what an impressive first Bucket it was for him, the Captain and Crew.

In addition to coming in 3rd in class, Blue Too won the Alloy Cup, for best performance by an Alloy Yacht. The four Alloy Yacht competitors included: Kokomo III 58m, Genevieve 38m, Blue Too 34m, and Paraiso 32m.

The 38m P2 won the Perini Navi Cup, awarded to the Perini-Navi Yacht with the best result. Of the 40 yachts competing, the seven Perini-Navi yachts include: Maltese Falcon 88m, Parsifal III 54m, Klosters 47m, Antara 46m, Helios II 45m, and P2 38m.

Maltese Falcon won the Vitter’s Shipyard Seamanship Trophy, awarded to the yacht that demonstrates the best seamanship and sportsmanship in the interest of promoting safety on the race course. This award recognizes the yacht that best demonstrates the understanding that superyachts have serious limitations operating safely in close quarters and value safety well above performance.

In addition to coming in 1st in Les Grand Dames, AXIA also successfully defended the Skullduggery Cravat, holding the trophy for the best Bucket humor for 3 years running. The Skullduggery Cravat is awarded to the yacht and crew who display the best Bucket humor and promulgates non-adult behavior.

To view more photos click here of the 2011 St. Barths Bucket.

by John Hearne

Congratulations to Geoff Boettcher and crew on SMB3.5 (Secret Men’s Business 3.5) who have just won the Audi Victoria week.

The IRC GP fleet had 27 of the best boats and crews in Australia. Geoff has had a difficult couple of years of sailing so it is great to see him back on top.

At Hamilton Island Race Week a couple of years back the old SMB2 (RP47) was the unfortunate meat in the sandwich in a collision on the first start line of the regatta. Unfortunately, the boat was written off and unable to compete during the rest of the week.

Then while getting trucked back to the shed, the mast was broken. The decision was made to save some parts of the old boat and build a new hull and deck (SMB3 RP48). With the designs from Reichel Pugh office getting a little extreme, the new boat unfortunately performed a little under expectations.

So back to the shed again… With a new hull SMB 3.5 (RP51) was back in the water. With some recut sails from the old boat (budget was getting a bit tight) and some new Doyle Stratis sails, the RP guys look like they have got it right and the boat is obviously performing well.

Well done boys after a frustrating couple of years!

At the same regatta Surprise won Division 3 in both IRC & AMS with all Doyle sails, Stratis Main, J1, J2, J3 and 2 Spinnakers. Also Swordfish Trombone, who won AMS Division 2, had Doyle Stratis J1, J2 panel J3 and new masthead Spinnaker.

Geoff Boettcher and crew on SMB3.5 also just won the Lincoln Week regatta in South Australia.

Kokomo – the 3rd in a series of Dubois designed Superyachts for the same owner – had her sails fitted and trialed on the Auckland Harbor over the last week by Doyle NZ. She hosts a complete inventory of Doyle Stratis membranes designed and produced in New Zealand, and easily boasts many records in sail construction and sizing world wide. At 2,227 square meters (23,971 square feet) the Gennaker is thought to be the largest sail ever constructed. The working inventory comprises of a total of 3,038 square meters (32,688 square feet) of Stratis membrane sails, and many innovations in sail handling systems and detailing. The Mainsail has a custom designed boom furling system that utilizes the conventional bolt rope system of the Southern Spars, but also a self loading batten car system jointly designed and tested by Doyle and Southern Spars over the last 18 months, which addresses many of the weak points of boom furling systems with the advantages of full battens in a yacht of this size.

Building and designing Stratis membranes for this sized boat facilitated the need for a new view on the engineering and safety margins along with a new custom built 6,500 square meters Stratis lamination facility in Auckland. Over the period of 12 months Richard Bouzaid and Peter Heppel utilized the fabric structural design program Relax 2 to accurately model potential loads and redesign the previously used structural load paths to better address the enormous loads that this boat will generate. The investment and lessons learned from this new generation of Superyacht places Doyle well and truly at the leading edge of this market and the future of these high performance luxury yachts.