Industry-leading French Sailmaker, Incidence Sails introduces ALUULA Composites aboard Biotherm in the Around the World Ocean Race

May 29, 2023

Team Biotherm — Credit: The Ocean Race

Canadian advanced materials technology firm, ALUULA Composites (TSX-V: AUUA) is pleased to report the addition of a new brand partner, Incidence Sails of France, to introduce a new generation of ultra-light, strong, and recycle-ready composite material for use in sailmaking.

After two years of thorough testing both on and off the water, Incidence Sails is the first to commercialize ALUULA Durlyte™, primarily for critical sail reinforcements such as batten pockets, bolt ropes and high wear points such as stanchions and spreaders, but additional applications include decksweepers and sail bags. With 10x the abrasion resistance of competing materials and an extremely low friction surface, ALUULA Durlyte™ is changing what’s possible in both sail design and performance.

Incidence Sails is supplying team Biotherm with high-performance sails for The Ocean Race, one of sailing’s greatest round-the-world racing challenges. With a decksweeper and various critical reinforcements made with ALUULA Durlyte™ on team Biotherm’s boat, the initial applications of this material are proving to exceed expectations in the world’s most extreme conditions.

In addition to being a world leader in performance sail design, Incidence Sails is committed to creating a more sustainable future. As an inherently recycle-ready material, ALUULA Durlyte™ is a key ingredient towards sustainable sailmaking.

ALUULA Composites uses a patented fusion technology to bond technical films to a UHMWPE core, resulting in a new generation of performance composite fabrics that deliver unique and superior performance results.

This “process, rather than a product” allows for a wide range of iterations to meet a broad range of applications. “Given the astounding performance impact ALUULA has had on kiteboarding and wingfoiling, sailing is a natural next step. The combination of Durlyte’s extreme abrasion, tear and UV resistance coupled with zero water absorption make it an attractive choice for a technical sail brand such as Incidence Sails in reducing the weight of their sails while greatly improving durability.” Said ALUULA Composites Director of Partner Innovation and Design, Dave Westwood.

ALUULA Durlyte™ Quick Facts:

* ALUULA is a new generation of ultra-light, strong, and recycle-ready composite material for sailmaking and critical applications.
* With 10x the abrasion resistance of competing materials and an extremely low friction surface, ALUULA Durlyte™ is changing what’s possible in sail design and performance.
* Absorbs no water, and is bacterial growth resistant.
* Proven by Incidence Sails in Transat Jacques Vabres, Route du Rhum, and The Ocean Race.
* Accepts heat welding, can be seam taped and is thermoformable.
* Single polymer and recycle-ready.
* Initial applications of ALUULA Durlyte™ in sailing include critical reinforcements such as batten pockets and bolt ropes, high wear points such as stanchions and spreaders, and sail bags.

Incidence Sails Quick Facts:

* Currently, Incidence Sails is supplying IMOCA 60 race boat team “Biotherm” with sails for The Ocean Race, one of sailing’s greatest round-the-world racing challenges.

Sailing for weeks on end in open ocean conditions, Biotherm is regularly sailing at speeds of 25-30 knots (55km/hr). These extreme conditions are the ultimate test on sails, and the materials they are made with.

 

About ALUULA Composites
ALUULA Composites Inc. (TSX-V: AUUA) is a new class of composite materials built from components with eight times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, and yet lighter than nylon, polyester or aramid. Using a patented and proprietary approach to increase fiber strength at the molecular level, ALUULA core weaves and outer facing films are fused without the use of heavy glues. This remarkable process allows ALUULA to achieve strength to weight ratio materials that have been previously unachievable. The company continues to add patented innovation to its product offerings and specialized core competencies to its growing team.

Partnering with world-class brands, ALUULA Composites is quickly becoming the top choice for innovators seeking to set a new standard of high-performance. The company is growing exponentially and has gained presence among bigger international brand partners and well-established Canadian companies such as Ocean Rodeo and Thin Red Line Aerospace.

ALUULA is a Canadian company founded by a team of highly experienced chemists and engineers who share a common passion for exploring and enjoying the outdoors. They have created a new realm in dimensionally stabilized multilayer materials that are the result of an innovative bonding of co-polymer layers, creating composites which are extremely light, highly tear and stretch resistant, and are easily fabricated into a multitude of products across a wide range of markets. ALUULA Composites strives to develop products and processes that are not hazardous to our environment and minimize the footprint we leave behind.

Learn more about ALUULA Composites at: http://www.aluula.com/