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Contender Sailcloth (USA) (ID: 3339)
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Contender Sailcloth Unique understanding of the Sailcloth Market... Formed in Holland in 1986 by Guus Bierman, Contender Sailcloth is a worldwide organization devoted to supplying sailmakers with the best available fabrics for all their sail making requirements. Sailcloth and the related hardware for the manufacture of sails is our principal business. Our offices are run by sailors who actively participate in the sport at all levels, from one-design to Grand Prix to cruising. We understand the needs of the sailmakers and work with them to provide the best materials for the job. The result is a range of fabrics renowned for its quality and performance. Cruising yachts spread across the oceans, Olympic medals, and the America's Cup all share the common thread of Contender Sailcloth. Wovens Premium woven and finished sailcloth. Laminates High tech composites using latest fibre and laminating technology. Spinnaker Cloth The ultimate selection for downwind performance. Hardware Carefull selection of highquality sailmakers hardware. Contender News Press Releases News & Product Updates From the Race Course Latest Updates 32,000 NM with Contender Dacron and still in excellent shape. Spectacular photo of Contender Sailcloth powered Skiff in photocontest. World record set with new Heavyweight Contender Nylon Spinnaker Fabric Explained Glossary Yarn Properties Design & Development by Sailing1st.com Productions - 2003 All rights reserved Contender Sailcloth BV - 2003 Home | Privacy | Disclaimer Contender woven sailcloth is a careful combination of fibres, construction, and finishing, all engineered into a fabric built to perform and provide years of service. We start with only the best polyester fibres, selected for their high tenacity, UV resistance, shrinkage, and uniformity. Fibre quality is critical because we weave these fabrics on looms specially modified to handle our extremely tight weaves. These high speed, heavy duty looms produce fabrics that have a high degree of stability just from the fibre density. Finally, we finish these fabrics using formulations and processes that have been refined through years of experience. Heat setting further tightens the weave and a melamine impregnation adds stability. The result is a range of woven sailcloth that is durable and performance oriented. Contender High Aspect styles are characterized by smaller denier, high sley warps used to lock larger denier fill yarns in place without crimp. Because they are not crimped in weaving, the high tenacity fill fibers go directly into tension when loaded so they work at maximum efficiency to reduce cloth stretch. This makes these styles particularly suited for applications with high thread line loading, like mains and #3 Genoas. The tightly packed threads also minimize movement of the weave for better bias stability. Fill / Warp ratios range from 2.8 - 6.8 : 1 to optimise fill thread line performance. These styles are very dense due to the high sley and heavy beat-up constructions. High tenacity Dacron and Diolen used. For main and genoa applications where the aspect ratio is 2.5 or greater. Low Aspect styles feature the same extremely dense warps found in the High Aspect fabrics, but the fill yarns are smaller in denier and higher in count. These styles compromise a little of the fill thread line strength for improved bias control and an overall softer hand, making these fabrics especially suitable for lower aspect cross cut mains, jibs and genoas. Fill / Warp ratios range from 1.5 - 2.8 : 1 to offer better bias stability with good fill specs for main and genoa applications where the aspect ratio is less than 2.5 : 1. Very densely woven for superior performance and durability. High Tenacity Diolen and Dacron used. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For radial sail constructions requiring a woven fabric. Contender's RADIAL WIDE styles are the perfect choice. Based on high sley warps with matching denier fill yarns, the Radial Wide fabrics provide a good balance between the warp, fill, and bias stretch. The sails stay smooth and are easy to trim. Warp fabrics based on tightly woven constructions featuring high tenacity warp and fill. Radial Wide fabrics greatly reduce the risk of mildew typically associated with cruising laminates. Yarn balance develops a bias, which will stretch and recover unlike un-balanced constructions where the bias may yield -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contender Heavy Weight fabrics feature dense balanced constructions woven in high tenacity fibres. As a result these fabrics have a nice soft hand for greater ease of handling an important consideration for large and heavy sails. Excellent tear and UV resistance Soft hand for ease in handling The new Passage .32 range compliments the Supercruise range with a set of high aspect constructions that provide excellent performance and outstanding value. With fill-warp aspect ratios that progressively increase in the 7 to 9 oz range. Passage constructions also feature a distinctive fill-on-fill ripstop that sets them apart from conventional cruising styles. Passage .32 weaves use the same high quality fibres found in our premium high aspect and low aspect styles and use the efficiencies we have developed on new high speed looms to keep the price point competitive. For applications in high aspect mains and jibs, the Passage range of material brings a new high tech look to cruising cloth with the quality you have come to expect from Contender Sailcloth. For cruising sails Contender Sailcloth offers Supercruise. Developed along the same lines as seen in our Premium range SUPERCRUISE meets the requirements for high performance cruising sails at an economical price. Supercruise styles combine quality fibre selection with high-beat-up Low Aspect constructions for good stretch resistance, bias stability, and fabric recovery -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the racing sailor, Contender's range of performance Polykote woven fabrics feature our quality woven constructions coated with our proprietary hard urethane chemistry for the ultimate in low stretch performance and fabric durability. Polykote materials are available in a wide range of weights designed to meet the performance needs of a variety of one-design, international and Olympic classes where Polykotes have won more medals than any other fabric -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Laminate ranges are engineered to optimize fabric performance and durability so your sails will start fast and stay fast. The performance features of these styles are built-in with state of the art formed scrims that have been tuned specifically for sailcloth applications. These scrims are carefully formed with an emphasis on consistent warp end tension and filament flatness. The results are extreme low stretch and linear elongation throughout the load curve - something both inserted aramid and carbon constructions cannot achieve. We use only high modulus Twaron 2200 fibres for our aramid styles while our APEN laminates feature our exclusive EURO-PEN fibres, a high modulus polyester that raises Pen laminate performance to new levels. Our cruising laminates are reinforced with quality polyester scrims for added durability and stretch resistance. We laminate these scrims using a purpose built laminator to achieve the correct tension and pressure controls required for long term strength and reliability. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Contender AK Smoke range incorporates the latest in fibre selection, scrim formation and laminating technology to create a line of laminates which will meet a wide range of performance Grand Prix applications. Our SMOKE finish incorporates a proprietary UV absorber to better shield the fibres from UV damage. Twaron 2200 High Modulus Fibres for optimal performance Graduated fill strength for improved durability Dyneema 35 grid for off-angle stability and increased tear strength Smoke UV inhibitor reduces strength loss due to UV. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the club racer emphasizing on both performance as well as durability Contender developed an aramid range AKW. AKW fabrics feature a durable woven aramid substrate in combination with an aramid scrim for increased performance. Twaron 2200 High Modulus Fibres for optimal performance Graduated fill strength for improved durability Dyneema 35 grid for off-angle stability and increased tear strength. Contender exclusively uses KoSa Euro PEN, a superior fibre in terms of performance and durability to earlier PEN versions. PEN fibre has over twice the modulus of conventional polyester, meaning it will stretch half as much. This performance makes PEN the ideal choice for classes where aramids are not allowed. Contender APEN is available in a range of film / film laminates in the distinct Smoke look or in clear for those preferring a more traditional combination. Features: High Modulus KoSa Euro PEN 35 off angle support Smoke adhesive with proprietary UV blocker. Graduated fill count for better fabric strength and durability. For ultimate performance cruising sails, the DWX range utilizes the Dyneema fibre in a rugged woven construction. Dyneema is a high modulus fibre with a very high breaking load. It has excellent UV stability and chafe resistance, making it the perfect fibre for quality cruising sails for larger boats. DWX fabrics are constructed with woven substrates on either side of the film and a 35 Dyneema grid for added stability and tear strength. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Durability, Manageability and Performance, these are the three major parameters for cruising sails demanded by the ever more discerning cruising racing sailor. Contender Astro Cruising Laminates are a range of sandwich laminates developed to meet each of these criteria. The sandwich taffeta construction provides superb abrasion resistance and all round durability. Scrims of un-crimped warp yarns ensure excellent shape holding. ACL is available in Polyester or Euro PEN fibre for those looking for even higher performance. Contender offers the widest selection of spinnaker material available to meet every downwind sail requirement. High tenacity nylon fibres woven on special looms create constructions that are light, low porosity, and durable. We finish these constructions with either a PU or silicone coating, or impregnated, depending upon the design application of the cloth. These fabrics have set the standard in both performance and durability, having swept the last three America's Cups as well as the recently completed Volvo Around the World race on Illbruck. The Superlite Range incorporates the two lightest constructions in our PU coated family of high performance spinnaker fabrics. Superlite 40 comes with a consistent weight of 30 Gr/Mtr? (.70 Sm.Oz.). The 30 denier high tenacity warp provides warp strength and overall durability. Long term zero porosity performance is achieved with a 20 denier filling and our proprietary coating process. Superlite 40 is the ideal VMG fabric for classes like the Farr 40. Slightly heavier at 34 Gr/Mtr?, Superlite 50 has a wide range of applications due to its high strength and light weight. Universally used for VMG spinnakers, Superlite also fits the requirements for Runners where excellent flying stability is required in the lower end of the sail 's range. Superlite 50 provides a unique balance between the weave and the coating to produce chutes that are fast out of the bag with good flying stability in all sea states. Unlike competing .5 oz. styles, Superlite 50 is woven with a 20 denier filling, which allows for a tight weave without compromising weight. Our PU coating is designed to provide adequate stability to promote easy trimming without having too firm a finish that results from over resinating an open weave construction. Our heavier constructions that share the same PU coating as in Superlite are placed in the Superkote Range. Ranging in weight from 38 up to 60 Gr/Mtr , these styles all use the same finish chemistry for zero porosity performance and rugged durability. Superkote 60 and 75 are woven with the same 30 denier high tenacity nylon warp but vary in fill-count to control the designed weight of each style. Weighing 38 Gr/Mtr (.88 Sm.Oz.), Superkote 60 is slightly heavier than Superlite 50 but features higher tear strength with the 30 denier fill and is a good choice for lighter weight all round spinnakers. With a higher fill count, Superkote 75 is a more balanced construction and an excellent choice for use in cross-cut as well as radial applications. This added fill count imparts higher tear strength and allows for a slightly firmer finish compared to Superlite 50.Superkote 75 comes in consistently at 40 Gr/Mtr and is the ideal cloth for classes like the J-24 and Melges 24. With better tear strength than competing styles, Superkote 75 is an excellent choice for Runners that have the right finish for the lower end of their range and the durability and stretch properties for when the breeze comes on. At the next level up in weight and strength is Superkote 90. With 30% more yarn in the warp direction and a 40 denier filling, Superkote 90 is designed for the higher loads generated by larger yachts and in chutes for heavy air applications. Finished with the same coating formulation as the other styles in the Superkote Range, Superkote 90 can be mixed with "75" to provide step-up constructions that will provide smooth transitions between fabric weights. Designed for specialized applications, Superkote 130 is the perfect choice for performance heavy air reaching and running chutes. This style utilizes a high tenacity 70 denier warp but reduces fabric weight using a 50 denier filling, making it lighter than conventional 1.5 oz. Styles, but with equal warp strength. Like all the Superkote styles the "130" is coated for zero porosity for improved performance. This fabric has the strength and durability to handle the collapse-and-fill burst loads that can be part of trimming heavy air kites. Step-down constructions can employ the Superkote 90. By incorporating our hard silicone polymer coating to more of our constructions we have expanded our Dynalite Range of fabrics from Dynalite 40 up to Dynalite 90 . The unique properties of our Dynalite finish make these styles an excellent choice for many spinnaker applications. Dynalite fabrics shed water so spinnakers stay light and fly better even in wet, rainy conditions. The silicone finish also provides a high slip quality to the fabric that allows the chutes to be hoisted quicker and blow through gybes faster, particularly on boats with large A-sails. Another feature of the Dynalite finish on these styles is the increased tear resistance created. Dynalite fabrics have the highest tear strength of any fabrics in their comparable weight ranges. It is almost impossible to tear these styles because the cloth will easily slip over most surfaces rather than catching. Consider the Dynalite styles for applications on sport boats and dinghies where spinnakers typically get wet or are launched from a bow tube. A-sail handling can be dramatically improved with the use of Dynalite materials and standard symmetrical kites also benefit from the water resistant finish and high tear strength. Contender offers the most extensive range of heavy weight performance spinnaker fabrics available. With the introduction of the Maxilite Range, we have put together a complete line of heavy air and Mega yacht downwind materials. We have selected these yarns, designed these constructions, and Co-ordinated the finishing details of these fabrics to create a range of weights that will work well together in multi-weight spinnaker designs for both symmetrical and asymmetrical kites for large yachts. Our 70 x 70 denier high tenacity Maxilite 150 is a well-proven performance fabric for heavy air reaching and running chutes on a wide range of boats. Melamine impregnated, Maxilite 150 exhibits excellent bias stability without sacrificing durability and tear resistance. This fabric has the warp thread-line strength to handle the higher loads generated in heavy air runners and reaching chutes together with great recovery for a long working life. The Maxilite 250 and 350 styles are our new heavy weight constructions for Mega yacht applications and storm chutes. Based on a 140 x 140 construction, the "250" is exceptionally rugged with excellent shock absorption properties to handle the burst loading that can occur in storm conditions. Finished with our proven melamine impregnation, Maxilite 250 serves as a step-up fabric for multi-weight constructions where Maxilite 150 is the lighter material. The "350" construction features a 210 x 210 weave for the ultimate in durability and strength. With the advent of larger and larger Mega yachts, Maxilite 350 provides designers with a high-end fabric to meet their most demanding applications. Used in combination, the 150,250 and 350 styles can optimise sail weight without compromising strength and durability. Our polyester Stormlite 210 has achieved legendary status in races like the Volvo Round the World Race where strength and stability are at a premium for these high performance racers. Woven with high tenacity 150 x 150 denier polyester, Stormlite 210 features several unique properties that make this fabric the perfect choice for extreme sailing applications. As a hydrophobic fibre, polyester will not absorb water so Stormlite 210 chutes stay lighter compared to nylon. And since nylon fibres stretch more when they are wet, Stormlite sails retain their shape more effectively in extreme heavy air conditions. For additional strength, Stormlite 210V incorporates a high modulus Vectran grid woven into the polyester weave. As the overwhelming choice of competitors for storm kites in the last Whitbread,"210V" 's increased strength and durability provided the edge necessary to push the boats to the limit in the most demanding conditions. Nylite has been the benchmark for quality and consistency against which all other .75 oz. spinnaker fabrics are judged. Featuring a 30 x 40 denier construction, Nylite is an all purpose spinnaker cloth with excellent performance and durability. Sailmakers will find Nylite to be consistently finished from lot to lot and offered in a wide range of popular colours. Nylite is the perfect choice for cruising and club race spinnakers where the downwind inventory is limited and required to provide long-term service. Formed in Holland in 1986 by Guus Bierman, Contender Sailcloth is now a worldwide organization devoted to supplying sailmakers with the best available fabrics for all their sail making requirements. Sailcloth and the related hardware for the manufacture of sails is our principal business. Learn more about our Products Our offices are run by sailors who actively participate in the sport at all levels, from one-design to Grand Prix to cruising. We understand the needs of the sailmakers and work with them to provide the best materials for the job. Learn more about our Offices | People As a converter, Contender enjoys strong working relationships with yarn suppliers, weavers, and finishers in Europe and North America. With our unique understanding of the sailcloth market, we use the resources of these partners to meet the demands of the market with innovative fabrics using the latest in fiber, weaving, and finishing technology. The result is a range of fabrics renowned for its quality and performance. Cruising yachts spread across the oceans, Olympic medals, and the America's Cup all share the common thread of Contender Sailcloth. Learn more at our News pages The result is a range of fabrics renowned for its quality and performance. Contender Sailcloth (USA)