27,000 SQUARE FEET OF INLAID FIBER

Red Dragon during sail commissioning in New Zealand

Doyle Sailmakers has launched into the new year with one of the largest projects to come from the Stratis^tm manufacturing facility in New Zealand.  

The 52m Red Dragon, the latest Dubois Superyacht from Alloy yachts, had sails fitted and commissioned in January, marking a milestone for Stratis^tm - by far the largest sails produced to date, and by all accounts probably the largest custom inlaid fiber sails produced by anyone in the world.

Since Doyle New Zealand embarked on the Stratis^tm project over five years ago in conjunction with Technology New Zealand , Doyle New Zealand has produced over 2,000 racing and cruising sails. Stratis^tm  sails have been exported to almost every country with Doyle Sailmakers locations worldwide purchasing the sails in either completed form or as a blank sail membrane to be finished with their own personal touch.

The total Stratis^tm membranes on board Red Dragon account for over 27,000 square feet of sail area – an impressive feat by anyone's standards, with the reacher alone coming in at just over 8,500 square feet.

New Zealand innovation products are always at the forefront of the marine industry, and the Stratis^tm Membrane Sails from Doyle New Zealand are being selected by a very high percentage of the new and existing Superyachts being produced due to the weight savings, performance increases and benefits of a sail that can be specifically engineered to address the exact load path on each corner of the sail. Every specific fiber sandwiched between the polyester or mylar laminates is engineered from propriety software and then mapped to a fully automated manufacturing process. Various fibers such as vectran, carbon fiber and kevlar are selected dependant on the owner's requirements.

Super Maxi Maximus also selected exclusively GPx Stratis^tm Membrane sails for their bid to compete in the 2007 Sydney to Hobart race, but unfortunately Maximus had to withdraw prior to the race start with keel problems.