Doyle Stratis Sails, already offering a high degree of customization between fiber combinations and surface types, offers an entirely new customization in printing of any graphics on the sail surface before the sails are laminated, resulting in the most-detailed sail art to date.
Having long realized the need to offer special images for customers and commercial sponsorship, Doyle has created a number of stunning sail graphics over the years, but has taken it to the next level with Comar Yachts’ Shadow – the first yacht to have been fitted with Stratis Sail Art sails. The 100’ yacht, launched in 2011, was fitted with Doyle Stratis Membranes complete with a photo-quality octopus finished by the team at Doyle Sails Palma.
Moving away from the traditional technique of painting directly onto sail, the new procedure allows the the image to be printed directly onto the sails surface with incredible accuracy before the membranes are laminated in New Zealand. The printing process means that detail, form and subtle nuances are transferred to the sail with unerring accuracy, making for the most detailed sail art to date. In the case of the Shadowthis meant an octopus stretching down the sail on each side – carefully aligned to stretch across the Main and Jib.
The mosaic-like print has layers of colour, shapes and overlaid details which bring the two octopi to life as the sail fills. Despite the layers of detail, the end result is noticeably lighter than the sail would be if the image was created using the traditional approach of layering paint by hand – something which at this size would normally add 10-15kgs to a sail.
Lightness is a known characteristic of Stratis. Forming the base for Stratis Sail Art, the underlaying Stratis membranes have a formidable reputation for high performance and resistance to flex fatigue.
The unique Stratis Sail Art process doesn’t compromise the sails’ integrity, compared with the traditional paint process which can result in brittle sail membranes. Full photo images can be translated onto the sails – drastically increasing the appeal of sails as a billboard to sponsors – with a high definition finish that’s as effective close up as it is from a distance.
‘Stratis Sail Art is the next generation in sail art,” says Doyle Sails New Zealand managing director, Chris McMaster.
“It adds negligible weight to the end product, while maintaining the integrity of the sail and performance Stratis is known for.”
Doyle Sails New Zealand’s Auckland loft is the biggest in the southern hemisphere and is well-known for its innovation; creating Stratis, Stratis ICE and a range of other products. Now, adding Stratis Sail Art to its stable of products, the Doyle Sails New Zealand team is proud to not only be able to offer sails which perform unlike anything else on the water, but look unlike anything else on the water.
