Super Yacht Ind SK78

SuperYach t Indus t r y | November 2006 | 37

RIGGING & DECK EQUIPMENT

Dyneema® SK78 fi berSetting New Standards in Running Rigging

In the last analysis, winning a nine-month, round-the-world competition like the 2005/2006

Volvo Ocean Race can hinge on subtleties – slightly better positioning, a minor hull design

modifi cation, or less creep in the running rigging. Although many factors contributed to the

respective fi rst- and second-place wins of ABN AMRO ONE and Pirates of the Caribbean,

one fact stands out – these teams were the only competitors to adopt running rigging

featuring next-generation Dyneema® SK78 fi ber from DSM Dyneema.

This super-strong high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) material

offers signifi cantly improved creep performance for better

stability under static loads. Combined with Dyneema® SK78’s

unsurpassed strength-to-weight ratio and its excellent low

stretch, abrasion and UV resistance, reduced creep can

result in longer life and higher performance under the extreme

conditions of offshore racing.

The Dyneema® DifferenceSince the introduction of Dyneema® fi ber in the yachting

industry in the early 90s, this high-performance material has

been widely used in the running rigging of all kind of yachts.

Dyneema® SK75 has been the standard for many top sailing

teams in the Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup for nearly

a decade.

The material is used in sheets, runners and halyards. Besides

the use in these applications this fi ber is also a perfect material

for woven and laminate sails for the yachting industry.

The benefi ts of Dyneema® fi ber include:

- Strength – Yachting lines made with Dyneema® are the

strongest in the world.

- Light weight – Compared with aramid ropes of the same

strength, yachting lines made with Dyneema are 30% to

40% lighter. They are half the weight of polyester ropes.

And thanks to excellent UV resistance, halyards made with

Dyneema® have even been used without cover for further

weight reduction.

- Greater control – With very low elongation, ropes made with

Dyneema® allow sails to be trimmed with high precision.

- Durability – Halyards made with Dyneema® last fi ve to 10

times longer than those made with competitive fi bers.

- Reliability – Dyneema® is very resistant to abrasion, and

ropes using this material perform exceptionally well in

tension fatigue and bending tests. >

36 | SuperYach t Indus t r y | November 2006



Dyneema® SK78 fi berSetting New Standards in Running Rigging

In the last analysis, winning a nine-month, round-the-world competition like the 2005/2006

Volvo Ocean Race can hinge on subtleties – slightly better positioning, a minor hull design

modifi cation, or less creep in the running rigging. Although many factors contributed to the

respective fi rst- and second-place wins of ABN AMRO ONE and Pirates of the Caribbean,

one fact stands out – these teams were the only competitors to adopt running rigging

featuring next-generation Dyneema® SK78 fi ber from DSM Dyneema.

This super-strong high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) material

offers signifi cantly improved creep performance for better

stability under static loads. Combined with Dyneema® SK78’s

unsurpassed strength-to-weight ratio and its excellent low

stretch, abrasion and UV resistance, reduced creep can

result in longer life and higher performance under the extreme

conditions of offshore racing.

The Dyneema® DifferenceSince the introduction of Dyneema® fi ber in the yachting

industry in the early 90s, this high-performance material has

been widely used in the running rigging of all kind of yachts.

Dyneema® SK75 has been the standard for many top sailing

teams in the Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup for nearly

a decade.

The material is used in sheets, runners and halyards. Besides

the use in these applications this fi ber is also a perfect material

for woven and laminate sails for the yachting industry.

The benefi ts of Dyneema® fi ber include:

- Strength – Yachting lines made with Dyneema® are the

strongest in the world.

- Light weight – Compared with aramid ropes of the same

strength, yachting lines made with Dyneema are 30% to

40% lighter. They are half the weight of polyester ropes.

And thanks to excellent UV resistance, halyards made with

Dyneema® have even been used without cover for further

weight reduction.

- Greater control – With very low elongation, ropes made with

Dyneema® allow sails to be trimmed with high precision.

- Durability – Halyards made with Dyneema® last fi ve to 10

times longer than those made with competitive fi bers.

- Reliability – Dyneema® is very resistant to abrasion, and

ropes using this material perform exceptionally well in

tension fatigue and bending tests. >




Rigorous Testing ProcessCreep is defined as gradual extension over time under high

constant load. In other words, if you keep a rope under

tension for a long period, depending upon what the rope is

made of, it will slowly and permanently elongate to some

degree. Obviously, creep is undesirable in running rigging,

where it can negatively impact handling, control and stability.

Prior to the 2005-2006 VOR, several teams were looking

for innovation partners – including rope manufacturers and

fiber suppliers – that could help supply better running rigging.

DSM Dyneema welcomed the opportunity to work with

rope manufacturers to deliver a new generation of running

rigging that could improve upon Dyneema® SK75,

the current standard.

“In the end, rope performance in running rigging is a result of

fiber properties in a certain rope construction with cover and

coating technologies,” said Rolf van Beeck, Business Manager

Sports, DSM Dyneema® . “In the Volvo Ocean Race, it is all

about the endurance of materials.”

Developing & TestingThe desired specifications for the running rigging were agreed

upon by each individual team and its chosen rope manufacturer.

The most critical properties desired by the teams were:

- Reduced creep to provide greater stability under static loads.

- Highest strength-to-weight ratio to reduce weight and enable

smaller diameter size for the rigging.

- Higher modulus for low stretch that can improve accuracy

and control when sailing.

- Small diameter for easier line handling.

- Improved resistance to abrasion, UV light and chemicals

for extended life of the rigging.

After receiving the specifications, DSM Dyneema scientists

went to work to develop an enhanced fiber grade that could

further reduce creep and provide other specific properties.

Using proprietary technology, DSM Dyneema developed a

next-generation HMPE fiber and then submitted it to a three-step

testing process:

- DSM testing – In-house laboratory testing of the key fiber

properties, including strength-to-weight ratio and elongation/

modulus. The company also developed a model to simulate

creep performance and thus predict residual lifetime and

residual properties of the fiber.

- Rope manufacturer testing – DSM Dyneema customers

created rope using the new fiber and conducted an

extensive performance evaluation, maximum breaking load

and elongation tests.

- VOR team testing – Once the rope was been approved by

the manufacturers, the VOR teams tested their rigging before

deciding whether to use it for the race. This was typically

done during training.

Following this rigorous testing process, DSM was able to launch

its new fiber – Dyneema® SK78.


According to van Beeck, “The creep performance of Dyneema®

SK78 is improved by a minimum of a factor of 2 in comparison

with Dyneema® SK75. This means the rope will elongate

much slower, retaining optimal tension over time which

improves control of the sails and overall yachting performance.

Handling characteristics did not change – only the amount

of creep.”

Ultimate TestThe Pirates of the Caribbean was the first VOR team to

adopt running rigging made with the new Dyneema® fiber.

The rigging used on its boat, the Black Pearl, was supplied by

DSM Dyneema customer Gottifredi Maffioli. Because Skipper

Paul Cayard and his team were a late entry in the Volvo

Ocean Race and had limited preparation time compared to the

competition, they relied on the expertise of DSM Dyneema and

the rope manufacturer to achieve optimal rigging performance.

This team used Dyneema® SK78-based rigging throughout

the race, winning the last leg and ultimately achieving a

second-place finish.

The new Dyneema® material helped the running rigging on the

Black Pearl withstand extremely high load levels during harsh

weather conditions in the Southern Ocean.

Cayard said, “Our success in the Volvo Ocean Race was a

team effort. Working with expert suppliers such as Gottifredi

Maffioli and DSM Dyneema gave us complete confidence in

our running rigging throughout the Volvo Ocean Race.”

First-place winner ABN AMRO ONE also benefited from the

improved performance of Dyneema® SK78 when they switched

part of its running rigging that used Dyneema® SK75 to ropes

based on Dyneema® SK78 at the stopover in Baltimore.

Roy Heiner, Technical Director of Team ABN AMRO,

commented, “In the extreme conditions of offshore races

like the Volvo Ocean Race, small differences in material

performance can determine the fine line between winning

and losing. Team ABN AMRO has proven successful in

combining the best hull design, best performance materials

and a very talented team.”

Future LookDSM Dyneema, the inventor of the world’s strongest fiber,

is continuously seeking new market innovation in cooperation

with key partners to better serve the needs of the yachting

community. In addition to current applications in running rigging

for racing yachts, the new Dyneema® SK78 fiber offers the

opportunity to expand into semi-static applications such as

backstays.

Van Beeck concluded, “We believe Dyneema® SK78 has set the

new standard in running rigging. Ongoing collaboration between

the sailing teams, rope manufacturers and our company will lead

to more innovations in running rigging that will enable faster and

more reliable sailing.”

i. www.dyneema.com

<



Rigorous Testing ProcessCreep is defined as gradual extension over time under high

constant load. In other words, if you keep a rope under

tension for a long period, depending upon what the rope is

made of, it will slowly and permanently elongate to some

degree. Obviously, creep is undesirable in running rigging,

where it can negatively impact handling, control and stability.

Prior to the 2005-2006 VOR, several teams were looking

for innovation partners – including rope manufacturers and

fiber suppliers – that could help supply better running rigging.

DSM Dyneema welcomed the opportunity to work with

rope manufacturers to deliver a new generation of running

rigging that could improve upon Dyneema® SK75,

the current standard.

“In the end, rope performance in running rigging is a result of

fiber properties in a certain rope construction with cover and

coating technologies,” said Rolf van Beeck, Business Manager

Sports, DSM Dyneema® . “In the Volvo Ocean Race, it is all

about the endurance of materials.”

Developing & TestingThe desired specifications for the running rigging were agreed

upon by each individual team and its chosen rope manufacturer.

The most critical properties desired by the teams were:

- Reduced creep to provide greater stability under static loads.

- Highest strength-to-weight ratio to reduce weight and enable

smaller diameter size for the rigging.

- Higher modulus for low stretch that can improve accuracy

and control when sailing.

- Small diameter for easier line handling.

- Improved resistance to abrasion, UV light and chemicals

for extended life of the rigging.

After receiving the specifications, DSM Dyneema scientists

went to work to develop an enhanced fiber grade that could

further reduce creep and provide other specific properties.

Using proprietary technology, DSM Dyneema developed a

next-generation HMPE fiber and then submitted it to a three-step

testing process:

- DSM testing – In-house laboratory testing of the key fiber

properties, including strength-to-weight ratio and elongation/

modulus. The company also developed a model to simulate

creep performance and thus predict residual lifetime and

residual properties of the fiber.

- Rope manufacturer testing – DSM Dyneema customers

created rope using the new fiber and conducted an

extensive performance evaluation, maximum breaking load

and elongation tests.

- VOR team testing – Once the rope was been approved by

the manufacturers, the VOR teams tested their rigging before

deciding whether to use it for the race. This was typically

done during training.

Following this rigorous testing process, DSM was able to launch

its new fiber – Dyneema® SK78.


According to van Beeck, “The creep performance of Dyneema®

SK78 is improved by a minimum of a factor of 2 in comparison

with Dyneema® SK75. This means the rope will elongate

much slower, retaining optimal tension over time which

improves control of the sails and overall yachting performance.

Handling characteristics did not change – only the amount

of creep.”

Ultimate TestThe Pirates of the Caribbean was the first VOR team to

adopt running rigging made with the new Dyneema® fiber.

The rigging used on its boat, the Black Pearl, was supplied by

DSM Dyneema customer Gottifredi Maffioli. Because Skipper

Paul Cayard and his team were a late entry in the Volvo

Ocean Race and had limited preparation time compared to the

competition, they relied on the expertise of DSM Dyneema and

the rope manufacturer to achieve optimal rigging performance.

This team used Dyneema® SK78-based rigging throughout

the race, winning the last leg and ultimately achieving a

second-place finish.

The new Dyneema® material helped the running rigging on the

Black Pearl withstand extremely high load levels during harsh

weather conditions in the Southern Ocean.

Cayard said, “Our success in the Volvo Ocean Race was a

team effort. Working with expert suppliers such as Gottifredi

Maffioli and DSM Dyneema gave us complete confidence in

our running rigging throughout the Volvo Ocean Race.”

First-place winner ABN AMRO ONE also benefited from the

improved performance of Dyneema® SK78 when they switched

part of its running rigging that used Dyneema® SK75 to ropes

based on Dyneema® SK78 at the stopover in Baltimore.

Roy Heiner, Technical Director of Team ABN AMRO,

commented, “In the extreme conditions of offshore races

like the Volvo Ocean Race, small differences in material

performance can determine the fine line between winning

and losing. Team ABN AMRO has proven successful in

combining the best hull design, best performance materials

and a very talented team.”

Future LookDSM Dyneema, the inventor of the world’s strongest fiber,

is continuously seeking new market innovation in cooperation

with key partners to better serve the needs of the yachting

community. In addition to current applications in running rigging

for racing yachts, the new Dyneema® SK78 fiber offers the

opportunity to expand into semi-static applications such as

backstays.

Van Beeck concluded, “We believe Dyneema® SK78 has set the

new standard in running rigging. Ongoing collaboration between

the sailing teams, rope manufacturers and our company will lead

to more innovations in running rigging that will enable faster and

more reliable sailing.”

i. www.dyneema.com

<

Documents

Super Yacht Ind SK78