Aeroweb Tape Drive Sails have been discussed for some years and will again be on the agenda at the Fireball International open forum this September during the World Championships in Slovenia. If agreed at this meeting the proposal will be sent out to each National Association around the world for their feedback and a possible vote to use this type of sails in the future.
At present Aeroweb Tape Drive Sails are not class legal contravening Rule 20.3.2 Secondary reinforcement:
"Secondary reinforcement of woven or laminated ply shall be within a distance from the sail corner measurement point or Cunningham eye of: Mainsail - 960mm, Foresail - 840mm, Spinnaker - 840mm. Stiffening of the secondary reinforcement by the addition of bonding agents, “close stitching” (consisting of parallel, or nearly parallel, lines of stitching, which are 40mm apart or less and are not sewing the edges of reinforcing patches) or otherwise is not permitted."
Tape Drive Sails are illegal because the tape creates a second layer throughout the sail and breaks the Secondary reinforcement Rule.
Vince Horey - UKFA Technical Committee.
